Future Champions Update
Young athletes and players showing the potential to compete in future Olympic and Paralympic Games are being supported in the Tees Valley. Future Champions was launched in September 2010 as part of the Tees Valley Sport's 2012 legacy plan. 65 of the Tees Valley's most promising young sports stars have already become Future Champions and the Partnership is seeking to attract more young people.
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 young players and athletes are provided with free access to leisure and fitness in all 5 districts - Darlington, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool. They are also provided with high quality support to enhance their physical development through Teesside University.
Tees Valley Sport Partnership Board Chair Mike Crawshaw says 'Future Champions is an exciting part of the Tees Valley London 2012 Legacy Plan and we are delighted at the support that we have received from local authorities, leisure trusts, national governing bodies and Teesside University. It is fantastic to see so many talented young people receiving support that will hopefully see them performing at the highest level in the years ahead'.
20 different sports have been represented with the first year of recruits including cycling, athletics, rugby union, netball, squash and hockey. The Future Champions can attend weekly physical development sessions at Teesside University working under the direction of highly qualified members of the University Sports Science Team and a group of Student Interns. The University Team has produced a range of physical tests based upon long term athletic development. The Future Champion recruits are put through a series of tests to measure core stability, strength, flexibility and basic movement patterns. They are then provided with a full assessment of their performance and a programme of exercises designed to improve their physical development.
Future Champion, Jack Tennyson, Downhill Mountain Biker "Free access to the leisure and fitness facilities has been brilliant and I have thoroughly enjoyed the support at the University and I regularly attend the physical development sessions with the students. I am finally old enough to compete in the Northern Downhill series and have my first competition this season in October. Hopefully all of this extra support and training will earn me a place on the podium"
Tees Valley Sport Executive Director Jean Lordon says' We are also keen to support coaches through Future Champions and a training and development programme is being provided to help them develop skills and knowledge to support the physical development of young athletes and players in clubs. We have worked with around 20 coaches to date and the response to the support has been excellent'.
Young people can apply to become Future Champions through Tees Valley Sport.
The next deadline for applications is October 31st 2011. Application forms can be accessed by clicking here.
