Creating sporting opportunities in every community

1. Supporting Talented Young Performers Talent Development in England Emyr Roberts Strategic Lead Excel Sport England DKH Legacy Trust National Conference 1st April 2010 1 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

2. Sport England 2009 – 2013 high level targets 1 million people doing more Sport by March 2013 Reduction in post 16 drop off in at least 5 sports by 25% Quantifiable increase in satisfaction of the sporting experience Improved talent development systems in at least 25 sports Major contribution to the 5 hour sport offer Create a world leading community sports system 2 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

3. Sustain (60% of investment) Grow (15% of investment) Excel (25% of investment) More people satisfied with the aspects of sport that are important to them 25% fewer 16 to 18 year-olds dropping out of selected sports One million adults taking part in more sport by 2012/13 Helping more young people to access five hours of sport each week Appropriate talent support systems for each sport so that more talented performers move onto elite programmes 3 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

4. Excel – where does it fit in the landscape World Class Podium UK Sport World Class Development Athlete/Coach Competition Development WC Talent Selection & Confirmation Governing Bodies Talent Development Quality Clubs; Coaches and Competition Sport Eng Excel High Quality PE Support for gifted and talented YST 4 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

5. Approx 25% of SE investment on developing talent. Annual Targets and 4 year outcome regarding size and / or quality of talent pool agreed with each sport SE investing in 46 sports - of which 34 currently have £ in excel related activity. Improved talent development systems in at least 25 sports High level strategy 2009 – 2013 recap 5 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

6. Hockey - young players entering player pathway increase 20,000. Tennis - regularly competing juniors 22,000 up to 39,000 Rugby League – no of players within talent pool 2,000 up to 6,000 Athletics – no of Eng athletes achieving a performance standard. Golf – reducing the average handicap of players in talent pool Table Tennis – no of junior boys ranked top 50 in Europe A few sports – no of athletes who progress onto W. C Programmes. Excel + - medals at world and European level / world ranking ( netball; water skiing; squash; women’s rugby) Excel outcomes – England talent pool quantity / quality / both 6 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

7. Excel outcomes Across the 34 sports – 57 initially agreed XL outcomes; 37 quantitative; 8 qualitative; 12 hybrid. Shift balance – much bigger focus on quality of talent pool and strengthening the system of talent development – based on quality of the 3 C’s ( coaches; clubs and competition) Revisiting; re shaping and sharpening up 4 year NGB outcomes; annual targets to measure progress and better demonstrate impact of £ Need to be very clear - how measuring talent pool size & quality; baseline; metrics and eradicate any anomalies and ambiguity. 7 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

8. Terminology - let’s be clear Talent Pathway – part of broader player pathway & participant model; - where does Eng talent pathway start; finish; how does it connect with above and below; how many levels and tiers; approx timescale and length of pathway. Athlete numbers and broad age ranges. Talent Pool – broader group of athletes / players who the NGB labels or perceives as talented; could be loose; larger numbers engaged in competition within the sport. On NGB radar – but not necessarily engaged in or benefitting from discrete NGB talent dev activity. Talent Programme - defined group of athletes who are provided with a specific programme of NGB talent dev activity and support. 8 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

9. Excel – top spenders 2009 - 2013 Rugby League £8.066m. Swimming £7.378m Cycling £7.198m Netball £6.579m Rugby Union £6.018m Badminton £5.301m Tennis £4.983m Tennis £4.983m Athletics £4.983m Squash £4.668m Golf £3.297m Canoeing £3.200m Gymnastics £3.175m Sailing £2.554m 9 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

10. Water Skiing 67 % Modern Pentathlon 55 % Canoeing 38 % Netball 37 % Squash 35 % Swimming 35 % Orienteering 31 % Triathlon 30 % Cycling 28 % Gymnastics 28 % Rugby League 27 % Sailing 26 % Golf / Fencing / Badminton / Table Tennis 25% Athletics / Equestrian / Basketball 24% Lowest – Angling; Football; Snowsport; Shooting all < 10% Excel – spend as % of SE award 2009 - 2013 10 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

11. Typical NGB talent pathway Identified talent development clubs District / Borough / sub county satellite squads County squads at U13 / U15 / U17 Regional squads or regional academies Super regional activity – north / midlands / south England squads at u15 / u17 / u19 / u21 Entry standards; selection criteria / process; progression; is the talent pathway defined; clear; coherent; flexible. 11 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

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13. A good talent pathway should have; Effective leadership and management A seamless connection with what sits above and below. A clear delivery plan; be coherent; progressive; flexible; entry points; performance standards; talent profiles. Have full time quality specialist talent coaches; Right balance of training and access to quality competition Have SS / SM support & athlete / parent education. Vibrant; inspiring and high quality environments. Emphasis on quality more so than quantity 13 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

14. The workforce supporting talent People - the key ingredient Need to build up accurate picture on the talent workforce. Who is leading Talent Development within NGB; Nationally employed NGB personnel – managers / coaches. Quality coaching - fundamental – NO 1 priority. Who are the coaches; how many; - full time / half time / part time / volunteers – are they connected & supported. Talent ID specialists; selectors; team / squad managers; science and medicine personnel; lifestyle support. Role models / athlete mentors. Parental and peer group support. 14 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

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16. Competition structures Structure in some sports needs modernising realigning; bespoke to needs of participants, challenging and fun. Single competition framework overlapping schools & clubs Stream line; de clutter; eliminate duplication and over competition where it exists. Can accommodate early specialisation and later developers. Quality and quality of officials is important. 16 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

17. NGB Talent Programme - geography Build up a geographical profile of each sports talent programme. Where is it happening. Talent clubs; county centres; regional bases; HPC; links to World class training venues; Sport specific hot spots - and gaps. Realistic coverage; NGB capability; athlete numbers; Centralised / de centralised – who travels; proximity to athlete; peripatetic coaches. Related facility issues and requirements. 17 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

18. Excel activity – external relationships and other landscape partners Commonwealth Games England SportsAid. UK Sport – connect and links with World Class Youth Sport Trust – gifted & talented; UK School Games DKH Legacy Trust and others. TASS AASE / Skills Active Coordinated approach; alignment; connectivity; integration; clarity on roles & responsibilities; ensure no duplication of effort / resource 18 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

19. Excel and Community Sport links Recognition and acknowledgement that lower tiers of NGB talent pathway operate at county / sub county / local level. How can we jointly strengthen connect between NGB talent programme and LA’s / CSP’s / local infrastructure. Top down and bottom up. Promote current examples and increase awareness 19 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

20. A more holistic approach to athlete support Balancing educational programme with sport Life skills; communication; planning; goal setting; time man. Access to mentors Coping with stress and anxiety; winning and losing. Dealing with the media; presentation skills Nutrition; physiology ; psychology; fitness; conditioning Parental and peer group support – athlete well being Athlete / parent / coach interface. Financial support and recognition 20 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

21. DKH Legacy Trust – Backing Talent programme One solution for sports to consider providing holistic support. Flexible product / programme can be customised for each sport. Multi sport talent opportunity offers variety; broadens horizons Uniqueness – use of trained retired world class athletes as role models and mentors; sharing their own experience Credibility and inspiration. What does it take to become a world class athlete – they know; Provision of these key holistic life skill elements in an applied manner from an expert who has seen / done it 21 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

22. Sport England’s role in talent development Strategic investment through NGB. Strategic leadership and coordination - helicopter view. Support / advise / challenge / scrutinise – critical friend. Monitor and track progress. Capture and cascade / share good practice. Forums for talent managers / coaches Ensure cross agency connection and partnerships with NGB led talent plans. Promote and recognise - newsletter; website articles 22 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

23. Conclusions – the big C factors for NGB’s to consider Clarity on England talent pathway / programme / pool. Content / Curriculum – clear plan of intervention delivery Coaching - quality Clubs and facilities Competition Contact between athlete and coach - quality Culture and environment – quality / inspirational Coordination and Connect with world class 23 Creating sporting opportunities in every community

24. Supporting Talented young performers THANKYOU ANY QUESTIONS 24 Creating sporting opportunities in every community