Playground to Podium County Athlete Assessment Day

24 June 2010

Young people from Derby City and Chesterfield School Sport Partnerships have taken part in a county athlete assessment day as part of the national Playground to Podium programme.

Playground to Podium, led by Sport England (in partnership with the English Federation of Disability Sport), the Youth Sport Trust and Paralympics GB, will help to create a clear and professional disability sport pathway from school sport, through to club participation and on to elite performance.

The assessment day was held at Moorways Sports Complex, where those attending took part in one hour sessions in athletics, football and table tennis, led by coaches from England Athletics, Derbyshire County FA/Derby County Football in the Community and the English Table Tennis Association.

The coaches organised several tests, skill practices and games, and each athlete was given a score for each test and a recommendation for which level they should progress to.

The aim of the programme is to identify disabled athletes who have the potential to develop through a national governing body player pathway and onto the Paralympic level for the sports that are in the programme.

Two athletes were identified by the national governing body coaches to progress on to specific opportunities within their sports.

Cameron McLean, from Ecclesbourne School, achieved under 40 seconds in a time trial for the 100m wheelchair racing event and coaches from England Athletics are now working to support him access a racing wheelchair and find appropriate training opportunities for his event.

Alec Lander from Newbold School was identified by England Athletics for his performances in the 60m sprint and javelin events, and also showed a high level of ability in football and table tennis. He was advised by coaches where he could access local training opportunities within these sports.

Other athletes who attended the assessment day have been signposted to local disability football opportunities and table tennis clubs across the county.

Students with a range of disabilities from all three school sport partnerships were invited to attend the assessment day after showing a potential talent at Identifying Ability Days within their area.

The County Athlete Assessment Day was led by Derbyshire Sport and coordinated by Champion Sports Coaching & Development with the support of the School Sport Partnerships and National Governing Bodies.

This is a recurring programme and the vision is to have all ten school sport partnerships in Derbyshire involved in the programme for 2010-2011. An evaluation of this year’s programme is underway and will be complete by July 2010.

For more information about Playground to Podium 2010 contact Emma Champion on (01298) 71431 / 07725 739 834 or emma@elcsport.co.uk.

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