Welsh Triathlon Performance Development Strategy 2009-13

Current Situation

The Welsh Academy is currently fulfilling a role that is a combination of development and performance. Historically the academy has been based in Swansea and run in by the Swansea Performance Centre Coach and volunteer coaches. With the closure of the Swansea Performance Centre, and lead volunteer coach stepping down, the Academy has had minimal activity since April 2009, until August 2009 with the appointment of the Welsh Performance Development Coach, upon which 2 training days where held in preparation for 2009 Inter Regional Championships.

• Positives in current programme:
   Good relationship with athletes and coaches
   Keen triathletes and supportive parents
   Good physical environment
   Safe environment for athletes to have a go
   Coaches motivating athletes and encouraging them to have a go
   Skill development focus with differentiation by outcome
   Clear session/ academy leadership
   Sufficient staff to athlete ratio
• Negatives in current programme
   Participation, ‘have a go’ attitude
   Lack of true performance environment and culture
   Limited individual athlete focus
   Limited relationship with clubs.
   Uncertainty of position in national programme and long term athlete development
   Plans are not always annualised or are far too short
   Focus too short term- on events not on pathway and development and the next step.
   Communication with athletes, parents, clubs etc between sessions
   Limited athlete evaluations
  
• What next?
• Within Wales there is still a need for the Triathlon Academy to focus on development for the Tri-Star athletes and club coaches whilst delivery performance coaching for Youth and Junior athletes.
  The Aims of the Welsh Triathlon Academy are:
  1. To provide an opportunity and access to a sustainable high-quality coaching environment that will allow the athletes to flourish, enter BTF world class programmes and eventually become world leading performers in the sport.
  2. To grow and develop coaches capable of developing the next generation of athletes.
  3. To become the focal point for performance development within Wales.
  4. To support the growth of the sport by providing a clear pathway, role models and aspirations for young athletes.
  The National Strategy for Talent Development
  
• Core Values:
  At the core of this strategy must be:
   High Quality Coaching- not training
   A clear performance environment with the focus on maximising long-term athlete development
   Integration of the many variable and components in athletic development
   Engage the region
  
• Key Characteristics:
  The key characteristics of each regional academy must be:
   Positive relationships with the clubs, national body, athletes, parents and coaches
   Annual programme
   Communication with athletes, parents etc on timely basis
   Develop competition plan and strategy to deliver adequate competitions and meet competition requirements for athletes within Wales
   Integrate with Olympic Talent Squad
   Appropriate staffing levels and qualities
   Athlete/ Parent/ Coach agreement
   Branding – team uniform.
   Limited or no cost to athlete
  
•  Implementation Plan

The Welsh Triathlon Academy will need to be split in to two tiers. The lower tier focused on the development of Tri Star Athletes, in time the being split to provide a North and South Tri-Star Academies. The upper tier for youth and junior athletes will have a performance focus and be centralised.  Development for coaches, with occur across both tiers allowing for a wide range of skills and experiences to be gained. Operational direction, for both upper and lower tiers will come from the Welsh Performance Director and Performance Development Coach.

• Aims for the Tri Star Tier:
•  Provide a fun and enjoyable environment.
   Participation for all Standards
   Skill development
   Education of ‘what it takes’ to reach the next level
   Advise and motivate athletes and coaches
• Aims for the Yth/Jnr Tier:
•  Provide a performance focused environment.
   Select athletes using a hostillic process
   Offer individualised coaching, advice and mentoring.
   Provide a gateway on to BTF Olympic pathway.

Academy training for both tiers will be held monthly (to be reviewed in March 2010), with further training made available to youth and junior athletes where appropriate during School Holidays. The focal base will be Swansea, but locations will vary according to facility requirements.