The programme is built on 3 key pillars:
– Performance Readiness
– Actions & Behaviours
– Physical & Wellbeing
The above pillars are the at the centre of each of the below 4 stages of the Aspirational Athlete Pathway:
- 3rd Form – Learn to Train
- 4th Form – Training to Train
- 5th Form – Training to Perform
- 6th Form – Compete to Perform
The programme is designed to provide for each year group via a number of sessions delivered in different formats based on the above pillars. Pupils will have access to different topics for each of the key stages in order to develop specific competences related to sport.
The below details the overall aims of each strand, however the Head of Aspirational Athlete Programme, the Director of Sport and the Assistant Director of Sport will hold the right to introduce new and varied topics as they see fit and appropriate for the stages of pupils’ development.
Performance Readiness
This strand aims to support pupils develop specific understanding in their sports. Many of the elements of this strand will be delivered through the high-quality coaching delivered within sports, but it will also be supported by processes such as understanding the different stages of sport performance. This strand will include aspects such as performance analysis, video analysis, individual performance plans, goal setting and the difference between playing sport at School, University or Club level.
Actions & Behaviours
This strand focuses on a variety of topics with the aim to support pupils to understand themselves, understand others and subsequently how they can manage themselves and those they engage with in their sport, from coaches to fellow athletes. Part of the contents are focused on how to understand pressure and also discussions around understanding what high performance is. This will include but will not be limited to learning how to manage workload, understanding leadership in sport and also external factors such as social media and gambling in sport.
Physical & Wellbeing
This strand aims to build understanding of the role of physical preparation and athletic development in sport performance. It also looks to educate about the best practises in nutrition, wellbeing and personal lifestyle. Support in this area will include things such as: understanding the basic principles of strength and conditioning and have access to high quality support, practical nutrition workshops and lectures around how to manage injuries, sleep and mental health within sport.
The programme will include a specific series of sessions and contents dedicated to support the sporting development of Girls. In addition to the above areas, we will be covering specific topics such as the impact of the menstrual cycle in sport and performance with the aim to give pupils the tools to better understand their physical development alongside their sport performance.
