SWAS helps Australia find next generation of sports stars in remote regions
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As part of a unique initiative by the National Talent Identification and Development (NTID) program, South West Academy of Sport (SWAS) is working with the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) to support their efforts in establishing a network of Talent Assessment Centres to help fast-track talented athletes from around Australia into selected Olympic Games and World Championship sports.
The ASC’s NTID program aims to find and develop new athletes and to transfer existing athletes between sports to possibly represent Australia at major national and international competitions leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games and beyond.
Australian Sports Commission Director of Sport Performance and Development, Greg Nance said that in 2006 the ASC’s vision to develop a truly comprehensive national talent scheme was rewarded with Australian Government funding of close to $20 million over four years.
‘With the London 2012 Olympic Games not too far away, the focus on talent identification has become a priority for the Australian Sports Commission with the newly formed NTID program.’
Being broad-based and multi-faceted, the NTID program requires input from many people across all aspects of sport. A major part of its structure is the development of a network of national systems and partnerships to ensure more opportunities will exist for talent identification.
Strong and integrated networks are essential to the success of any national program, and in this case much of the work undertaken has involved wide consultation with, as well as the ongoing support of, State and Regional Institutes and Academies of Sport.
Collaborations with Australian University Sport have also presented several exciting new opportunities and university support is an integral part of the program’s new innovative web-based self-identification system, eTID. eTID is an online tool that allows athletes to enter their own results for a set of predetermined physical screening tests and then be provided with feedback on their results comparative to normative data for their age and gender. Those athletes participating in the online screening are then encouraged to attend a follow-up screening at one of the several Talent Assessment Centres located around the country.
By working with SWAS and over 25 other universities and Academies of Sports from across the country, NTID has been able to establish almost 30 registered Talent Assessment Centres, which will assist in validating athlete’s physical performance results generated from eTID.
Greg Nance said that through partnerships such as these the talent identification program aims to increase the number of results received and improve talent detection opportunities.
‘For Australia to retain its current high ranking in world sport and become competitive at an international level across a wider range of sports, it is important that we use these already established and effective networks to seek out and fast-track talent in Australia,’ Nance said.
South West Academy of Sport Executive Officer, Jeff Mutsaers said “We are very excited about this partnership and through our association with South West Institute of TAFE, we will taking the TAC on the road throughout South West Victoria between September and November and will be able to provide exclusive sessions to secondary schools on request in the future”
The NTID program has already made considerable progress with significant results being achieved across a number of sports including cycling, canoeing, rowing and boxing; the latter having completed the selection of several indigenous boxers into the AIS full residential scholarship program.
To access eTID visit www.ausport.gov.au/etid
For further information on the NTID program and Testing Centres visit ausport.gov.au/participating/got_talent
SWAS and NTID at a glance
• SWAS has become a Talent Assessment Centre for the NTID Program
• SWAS will deliver this program in partnership with South West Institute of TAFE
• SWAS will be using mobile testing facilities and will visit regional centres throughout Southwest Victoria
• Secondary Schools and sports clubs across South West Vic can arrange exclusive testing sessions on request. (minimum numbers apply)
• The current NTID sports are Athletics, Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling, Diving, Hockey, Judo, Rowing Shooting , Skeleton and Triathlon
• Target age of athletes is 12 – 25 years old
• Confirmed Testing dates for 2009:
Tuesday September 8, 2009 Brauer College
Monday October 26, 2009 Portland Secondary School
Tuesday October 27, 2009 Hamilton & Alexandra College
Wednesday October 28, 2009 Mercy Regional College
Sunday November 8, 2009 Warrnambool Stadium (the ARC)
