Future Champions
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR FUTURE CHAMPIONS
Working together, partners in the Tees Valley - national governing bodies of sport, Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton councils, Tees Active and Tees Valley Leisure trusts and Teesside University - want to help young people achieve their sporting potential.
Future Champions has been designed to support Tees Valley's talented athletes and players, aged 12 - 18 years, participating in regional and national squads in selected sports. The squads must be led by the sport's national governing body (NGB), young people already receiving support from other programmes, for example, the world class programmes, will not be eligible to apply to Future Champions.
Two options are provided, either or both can be selected
1. free or subsidised access to selected local sports facilities
2. high quality support to enhance the physical development which underpins top class sports performance, delivered by Teesside University
1. Access to local sports facilities
Free or subsidised access to local sports facilities will be provided in the following districts;
- Darlington - facilities operated and managed by Darlington Borough Council
- Hartlepool - facilities operated and managed by Hartlepool Borough Council and Hartlepool College of Further Education
- Middlesbrough - facilities operated and managed by Middlesbrough Council
- Redcar and Cleveland - facilities operated and managed by Tees Valley Leisure
- Stockton-on-Tees - facilities operated and managed by Tees Active
Young people selected for Future Champions will be able to access facilities in all 5 districts - Darlington, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool.
Where young people attend organised club or squad sessions for which payment is made to the club or squad this will continue. Free or subsidised access will be provided for additional training sessions, for example, to undertake strength and conditioning training, or rehabilitation following an injury.
2. High quality performance support
Through an exciting partnership with Teesside University up to 80 young people and their coaches will be offered bespoke physiological testing, strength and conditioning advice and training programmes and tailored coach and athlete support.
To achieve success at the highest level young people need more than just a talent for their chosen sport. Laying the right foundations needs both athletes and coaches to ensure that the physical development needed to underpin top class performance is delivered through the training programme followed by the athlete.
A team of postgraduate sport and exercise students will provide the selected athletes with specialist support and advice.
The team will be led by Matthew Wright with additional expertise from Julie Sparrow (Click here for video) and Matthew Portas.
Young people interested in applying for this support will be invited to attend an information evening at Teesside University prior to final selection. Coaches and parents will also be asked to attend the session. Providing this level of support requires a high level of commitment from the sport scientists, athletes and their coaches. Support will initially be provided for 12 months and athletes and coaches will be asked to sign an agreement detailing their commitment to the programme.
