Playground to Podium National Framework

Playground to Podium is the development of a framework and key interventions to identify and develop the ability of disabled players and athletes.

Research has found that not enough athletes are progressing from local or county based competitions to performance clubs and squads, and a significant number of adults who come into disability later on in life are not being provided with information that would enable them to participate in sport or physical activity.

Following national consultation with a wide range of partners and a review of existing programmes and initiatives, a framework has been developed to enhance existing player pathways and provide increased opportunities in sport for disabled participants.

The Framework aims to develop structured pathways in disability sport from schools to community clubs and onto performance environments. The Youth Sports Trust (YST) are leading on the education element of the framework through School Sports Partnerships, specialist schools and Higher and Further education. Sport England are responsible for the community element of the framework incorporating Sports Unlimited, voluntary community clubs and adult identification through health related networks.

Linking into this framework is the player /performance pathways from National Governing Bodies of Sport, providing performance environments and high quality coaching for identified talented participants to enter County, Regional and National squads through the National Competition Framework, which is delivered in conjunction with UK Sport.

Playground to Podium (P2P) is a dedicated initiative and six focus sports have been chosen specifically for the project. Football, athletics, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and boccia have been identified through consultation with NGBs, relating to their ability to deliver against the P2P framework.

Playground to Podium National Framework

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