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Historically there were two main pathways for
aspiring athletes
EDUCATION
e.g. PE
lessons
SHOOL
i.e.
School
team
CLUB
e.g. local
social
club
LOCAL
JUNIOR
CLUB
e.g.
Playing in
local
league
REGIONAL
TEAM
e.g.
County
team
ELITE CLUB
e.g.
First
division
team
SENIOR
CLUB
e.g.
Playing in
regional
league
ELITE
CLUB
e.g. First
division
club
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This was largely determined by the sport but
some took both routes e.g. Rugby, netball
UK Sport has made more of an emphasis on
club structure.
PESSCL and Sports Colleges have brought the
two pathways together.
Private schools dominated the traditional
pathways. In the last fifty years 50% of all
Olympic medal winners come from this sector
but it only accounts for 5% of the population.
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School sport meant friendly competitive
fixtures in a range of sports.
There is a large number of school sports
associations running both regional and
national competitions e.g. English Schools FA
The main criticism is that this only caters for
only a small percentage of the population as
only around 5% of pupils are involved in
competitive sport.
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The traditional pathway for sporting
excellence in school is
School

e.g.
Bangor
High
School
District
e.g.
North
Gwynedd
County
e.g.
Gwynedd
Regional
e.g.
North
Wales
National
School sport is run by volunteers – i.e.
teachers
e.g.Wales
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Universities provide opportunities for all levels of
performance. They have an extensive range of
facilities. Inter mural sport allows a greater range
of students to participate at a lower level.
Many Universities e.g. Loughborough, Bath have
allowed elite athletes to train alongside their
academic course. Some award scholarships and
bursaries to help students fund sports training
and development.
There are also sport specific degrees.
There are University sports competitions e.g.
UAU, BUSA and varsity games like Oxford v
Cambridge.
The government have recently developed and
published a range of documents and policies
that set out its objectives for the 21st century.
1. National Framework for Sport is a joint
policy developed by the government and
key sports agencies which sets out a vision
for Sport England under the heading “
Making England and Active and Successful
Nation – a vision for 2020”
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It aims to change the culture of sport and
physical activity in England to increase
participation across all social groups.
It identifies 20 priority sports and 10
development sports.
It is a conceptual model which challenges all
involved to consider what the issues are and then
works towards the changes needed in terms of
culture and provision so that England becomes a
successful sporting nation both for mass
participation and excellence.
2. Game Plan was developed in 2002 as a strategy
for delivering sport and physical activity
objectives for the nation.
Aims are to increase participation because of the
significant health benefits they bring and
therefore reduce the growing costs of inactivity.
Also to gain a sustainable improvement in
success in international competition in sports
that matter to the public.
It’s targets are to get 70% of the population
reasonably active by 2020 and that British /
English teams and individuals sustain top 5
ranking.
The UK government and the sports agencies
hope that the streamlined structure reduces
beaurocracy and releases sporting potential
in as many as possible.
3. Sport Search Programmes. The identification
of sports talent in young people should be a
priority in a run up to the 2012 games. This
is an online system which allows 11-17 year
olds to assess their suitability in over 150
sports and giving links on where to pursue
these sports.
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This is the process of identifying potential in
young people and providing supportive
pathways that allow them to progress and
fulfil this talent.
This is not an easy process as most physical
characteristics are mapped against specific
sports but this can not identify desire,
determination and mental toughness needed
for success.
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Talent Identification works best in closed
loop sports which are repetitive in nature e.g.
Rowing, cycling, weight lifting, swimming
where there is a clear link to defined
characteristics
Open looped sports e.g. Tennis, football
involve decision making, spacial awareness
etc so talent identification is less accurate.
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Explain the role schools, colleges, and
universities play in providing a pathway for
sports progression.
Outline recent initiatives that have been
introduced to raise the standard of school
sport and physical education.