Talent development programmes offer youngsters access to high-quality coaching
of programmes to establish and develop sustainable water polo clubs and produce players for competition at all levels. Thousands of children are involved in
ASA clubs and there is a clear develop- ment structure to progress those that have the potential through to national squads. Once a young person’s talent is identified it is nurtured to help them reach their full potential. Specific talent development pro-
grammes take those youngsters who have already shown promise in water polo and gives them access to high-quali- ty coaching, athlete educational schemes and sports science facilities in a training camp environment to prepare them for future international competition. To be selected, players must reach cer-
tain levels of attainment for swimming, basic technique and game awareness. They then receive varying support depending on their level – including training camps, anthropological mea- surements and lifestyle management.
School and club-based projects Responsible for delivering and develop- ing new players through robust school and club links, there are established pro- grammes in Manchester and at Crystal
Issue 1 2012 © cybertrek 2012
Swimming clubs are crucial in supporting the talent pathway and many water polo clubs are being assisted towards achieving the ASA’s swim2 accreditation to raise standards
Palace in London with other centres being developed in locations such as Sheffield and Basildon. School swimming lessons at Crystal
Palace use the British Gas ASA Learn to Swim Pathway, the national syllabus pro- duced by the ASA. Beginning with the ASA Foundation Framework for early years’ water confidence, the pathway progresses from stages one to seven for fundamental movement skills and the core development of learning to swim. Learners progress to the final three
stages where specific aquatic skills are developed – including one specifically for water polo called mini-polo. These stages identify young hopefuls from the 800 or so young children who have learnt to swim at the facility. Programmes such as these are very
much a long-term investment designed to produce performance athletes to eventually move into a world-class
programme, which focuses primarily on selecting and preparing the Great Britain national squads for major European and world competitions. Within schools, the ASA and the
English Schools’ Swimming Association (ESSA) are piloting a joint initiative to try and expand the sport and encourage participation. Cadet Polo is a small-sided version of the game which has been in- troduced with simplified rules. Additionally, a pilot called RAPIDS
seeks to involve teenagers in the sport through activities, which first take place in the sports hall – replicating many of the aquatic skills needed so that they can fully appreciate the nature of the game when played in water. Swimming clubs are crucial in support-
ing the talent pathway and many water polo clubs are being encouraged and as- sisted towards achieving the ASA’s swim21 accreditation, which raises the standard
Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84