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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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UKA Futures Programme

UKA

The UKA Futures Programme - which was initiated in December 2009 with 42 athlete-coach pairings - underpins the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) and was borne out of the restructure of UKA’s WCPP and the drive towards more targeted support for athletes and their coaches.

UKA Futures Programme: 2011-12

Programme Outline

“Futures” is a UKA programme which underpins the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP). 

The Futures programme supports athletes who show the potential to ultimately achieve a top eight place at the IAAF World Championships or Olympic Games and who have the potential to be selected to the WCPP within two years.

Futures targets athletes in the 17- 20 age range although athletes outside of this age range who are deemed exceptional cases may also be considered. 

The programme supports athlete-coach pairs based on their agreed annual plan, allowing for flexibility and individual discretion around distribution of resources.

For the 2011-12 programme, unlike in previous years, there will be no requirement for an athlete to apply.  Athlete-coach pairs will be considered and, if selected by the selection panel [1], invited to join the programme. 

Athletes retained or invited onto the programme will be asked to submit, with their coaches, an annual plan, including competition and training plans and a proposed budget which must be received before the programme start date of December 1 2011. Failure to do this could result in the athlete being removed from the programme or their invitation withdrawn.

Programme Benefits

COACH

  • Financial assistance (up to £750 [2]) towards support for their individual development plan and supporting the athlete(s) in training and competition
  • Mentoring and support as appropriate  - linked into the UKA Development Coaches, National Event Coaches and the National Coach Development Programme (in England) if applicable

ATHLETE

  • Financial assistance (up to £1500) towards training and competition costs
  • BOA Olympic Passport
  • Medical Insurance 
  • Access to doctor network at National and Regional Centres
  • Physiotherapy via UKA National Centres or approved providers
  • Other service access by agreement, either via UKA National Centres or partner organisations /approved providers (via athlete’s budget)

Note: Athletes selected for Futures who attend University may receive some of the above support services via the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS). Therefore, athletes who achieve a performance in 2011 which exceeds the Futures selection guidelines and have confirmed their place (or are already studying) at University, should contact UKA Development Manager (jjennings@uka.org.uk). 

NB: Not all Universities may be part of the UKA TASS scheme and places for TASS support are limited.

Selection process

The 2011/12 Futures programme is limited to 25-30 athlete-coach pairs, therefore there will be athletes who meet our criteria who will not be invited onto the programme. 

The purpose of the UKA Selection Panel [1] is to prioritise those qualified athletes who have the best chance to meet the aims of the programme.  The Panel will make their selection at the end of November 2011, following the World Class Performance Programme selection process. The Panel will consider athletes in the following categories:

1.       Athletes currently on the Futures programme, depending on their 2011 season performances and individual circumstances. 

2.      Athletes not currently on the Futures programme who hit performance standards within 2011

3.      Athletes not currently on the Futures programme but considered a ‘wildcard’ by the relevant UK National Event Coach

For developing athletes in the tier just below WCPP, analysis of performance alone is not an adequate predictor of future success. Therefore the selection process will strongly consider factors which make reaching the WCPP within two years a realistic prospect e.g. athletes with rising profiles, positive championship results and positive training environments. Any special circumstances around these or other factors may also be considered when making selections.

Only athletes eligible to compete for TeamGB at the Olympic Games can be included on the Futures programme.

Athletes with existing injuries or illness would not normally be added to the programme; athletes with a history of past serious injuries or illnesses will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All athletes invited onto the 2011/2012 programme will be required to complete a medical form and, if deemed necessary by UKA’s Chief Medical Officer, undergo further examination to assess their medical status.  Any falsification on the medical forms may lead to removal from the programme.  

Performance criteria

Athletes must achieve at least the standards outlined in the table attached below in 2011 (the age group refers to their age during the 2010/11 season) to be considered for the Futures programme.  

 

 

All athletes currently on Futures will have their position on the programme reviewed, based on their 2011 season performances, individual circumstances, input from UKA Development Manager and National Event Coach (or UKA nominated individual to act in this respect).

An additional group of athletes considered to have high potential for future World and Olympic success will be identified by the National Coaches (or nominated individuals to act in this respect) and presented for consideration by the panel.  This “wild-card” group could include athletes outside of the 17-20 age range.

PLEASE NOTE that approximately 25-30 athlete-coach pairs will be selected for the Futures programme – therefore meeting the criteria to be considered by the panel DOES NOT automatically result in acceptance onto the programme.  The panel will take into consideration athlete performance, consistency, ranking, championship ability/record etc, coach’s previous history and experience of developing talented athletes, training environment and other contributing factors.

SportsAid

UKA will recommend a number of the unsuccessful Futures candidates to SportsAid for a Priority Award.  However, in order to be considered for SportsAid awards, athletes must complete a SportsAid online application form.  Details of how to apply will be available from Home Countries athletics websites.

Coaches of these athletes will still be considered for priority nomination for development opportunities and should contact the relevant National Event Coach or Jo Jennings, Development Manager, for further information if required - jjennings@uka.org.uk

Appeals

Grounds for appeal are limited to cases where it is felt that a decision has been reached on the basis of an error of fact or the selection process was not followed.  Only individuals excluded from the programme are entitled to appeal regarding their own individual case.  All such appeals should be made within 10 working days of the announcement of the Futures Programme on the UKA website (November 2011) to UKA’s Development Manager, Jo Jennings - jjennings@uka.org.uk   UKA’s Head of Coaching and Development, Development Manager and the relevant National Coach (or nominated individual) will consider the query and if necessary, refer the decision back to the Selection Panel for re-consideration.  The athlete will be notified of the decision in writing along with reasons for the decision.

Notes

[1] UKA Panel will consist of

Voting members

Strategic Head of Coaching and Development

One representative of each event and/or event group as nominated by the Head Coach

          (normally the UKA National Event Coaches)

Non-voting members

Development Manager (Chair)

Statistician

Head of Performance Operations

Medical representative(s)

Note taker to keep meeting records

[2] Maximum award for any coach will be £1500, regardless of number of athletes coached who are selected. UKA employed coaches will not qualify for a coach award.