Talent Cymru Development Programme 2017

Introducing the Talent Cymru Development Programme (TCD) Our vision for the Talent Cymru Development Programme is to create an athlete centred, competency based, talent development model that delivers podium success at the highest level. To achieve this, two key performance objectives have been identified: 1) Olympic Games success. Our priority is to create a pathway from Welsh Judo clubs to the British Judo Centre of Excellence (CofE), ensuring that Welsh athletes have the mental, physical, technical and tactical abilities to succeed at the highest level. 2) Commonwealth Games success. Welsh Judo have set the target of becoming the most successful Welsh sport at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in South Africa, determined by the total gold medals won. This document provides Welsh Judo Association members, with a brief overview of the Talent Cymru Development Programme. It details the application process, athlete identification and a brief insight into programme design, delivery and expectations. The content will be reviewed and updated annually (January).

Eligibility for the programme To be eligible, players must meet the following criteria: • • • • •

Be a Welsh resident or Be born in Wales or Have a parent born in Wales Hold a Welsh Judo license Hold a British passport

Delivering Performance We recognise that Welsh Judo can only achieve sustainable Olympic and Commonwealth success through a holistic, integrated and systematic method of developing talent. With limited resources, our focus must be directed where it can have the most significant impact. The Talent Cymru programme will provide resources around athletes that have demonstrated performance competencies and behaviours that we believe make future high performance success at Olympic or Commonwealth Games possible. As our aim is to ensure we are able to provide individual, bespoke service to athletes on the programme, we have identified a maximum number of fifteen athletes, split between three age groups: Cadet (under 18), Junior (under 21) and Senior; with a priority towards athletes with the possibility and desire to progress to Olympic success. Cadet year 1

Cadet year 2

Cadet year 3

Junior year 1

Junior year 2

Junior year 3

Senior

Born 2002

Born 2001

Born 2000

Born 1999

Born 1998

Born 1997

Born 1996+

Once identified and selected, the athlete will receive a bespoke performance programme with multi-disciplinary support provision, such as psychology, nutrition and strength & conditioning. This will be designed by the National Performance Coach and support staff in consultation with the athlete and personal coach and parents (depending on age), along with agreed targets and expectations for the year.

Entry Level Assessments The ‘Entry Level Assessments’ outlined in this document, measure competency in four performance areas: Performance behaviours, technical/tactical ability, physical capability and competition results. Whilst the assessments may not be exhaustive, they are extensive enough to measure an athlete’s current capabilities and potential Technical, physical and lifestyle assessments underpin the application process for Talent Cymru Programme selection. Following the initial application, athletes will be invited to attend a competency based assessment day at the Welsh Judo National Academy in Cardiff. Talent Cymru investment will be directed towards athlete’s demonstrating the physical, technical, tactical and performance behaviours, as well as competition results. All applicants must be fifteen years old during 2017. Entry-level applicants will be expected to have a good understanding of the generic effects of lifestyle factors and how that impacts on their training. They should also be able to demonstrate evidence performance behaviours that highlight best practice.

Assessment 1: Performance Lifestyle interview There are a wide variety of lifestyle factors that influence an individuals training and progression. Some factors have a positive effect, whilst others negative. This informal lifestyle interview helps us to understand the needs of the athlete. We recognise the importance of understanding the factors to provide support and advice to the individuals to maintain training commitments and improve performance. The lifestyle factors that affect training and performance include stress, alcohol, drugs, sleep, work, education demands, medical history, level of activity, diet, weight, gender, culture and level of competition and training.

Assessment 2: Technical & Tactical Assessment This assessment focuses on fundamental judo skills and core movement competencies that involve controlling yourself, progressing onto more complex techniques with an Uke (partner). As a governing body, our priority is to ensure core physical literacy skills are in place first. Thus stage one of the technical/tactical assessment is 'control yourself', testing Tandoku-Renshu (individual practice), movement such as Ayumi-Ashi (normal walking) and Tsugi-Ashi (following foot) and newaza ebi (ground mobility exercises). What we are looking for here is excellent balance and control through slow functional movements. Example One: Seoi-nage Tandoku-Renshu

Example Two: Ebi Shrimp

Stage two, 'control your partner' introduces a variety of Sotai-Renshu (partner practice). This begins with essential closed technical skills working with an Uke (partner), such as Kuzushi (breaking balance) and Tai-Sabaki (body positioning). What we are looking for here is good understanding of what is required to work together and an athletes ability to control their partner. Example Three: Kuzushi

Stage three is more comprehensive, progressing to Nage-waza (throwing techniques) were players will execute two techniques of their choice from each of the five sets of Nage-no-kata: Te-waza (hand techniques), Koshi-waza (hip techniques), Ashi-waza (foot techniques), Ma-sutemi-waza (forward sacrifice techniques) and Yoko-sutemi-waza (side sacrifice techniques). Example Four: Seoi-nage (shoulder throw)

Stage four evaluates open skills through Kakari-geiko (situational practice) and randori (free practice). This moves more towards a tactical assessment assessing a wide variety of skills. At this stage we are looking for how well an athlete can dominate their opponent, kumi-kata (gripping) strategies and variety of throwing techniques. Within newaza (ground technique), we are looking for athletes that are comfortable offensively and defensively in all fours situations and in between the legs.

Assessment 3: Physical Assessment Physical literacy is of paramount importance. By including this type of assessment we can establish the athlete’s ability to handle the demands of the judo and the level of resiliency to compete at the highest level in the future. They also help in highlighting areas in need of improvement to reduce the risk of injury and provide a clear direction for the training programme. This assessment covers the core physical attributes essential to all sport, as well as some judo specific performance markers. The physical competency assessment consists of five key areas: Functional movement screen – Lunging, Squatting, Jumping, Landing, Balance

Strength – Bench press, Back squat, Pull-up, Grip strength test

Power – Medicine ball throws, jumps for height and distance

Endurance – Yo-Yo test, rope hangs for time and supine rows

Gymnastic ability – Forward roll, backwards roll, cartwheels etc.

Assessment 4: Competition Results Cadets applications (Under 18) Whilst competition performances and results are likely to always play an integral part in the identification of athletes with the potential to deliver in the future, it is important to recognise that the importance weighting we place changes dependent on an athletes age and stage of development. At cadet age band our focus is directed toward training behaviours and work ethic, key fundamental judo skills and core physical literacy. Competition results at this stage are less important than at junior (under 21) and senior but will still be considered. Key tournaments within the UK: Welsh Closed, British Cadet Championships, Midland Age Bands, North West Age Bands, Sportif, Welsh Open. Key tournaments internationally: Cadet European Cups: Spain, Italy, Turkey, Croatia, Russia, Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, Poland, Portugal. Major events: Cadet European Championships, European Youth Olympic Games, World Cadet Championships. Junior applications (Under 21) At this age group, tournament results and performance gain more importance. Athletes hoping to progress to the Great Britain Performance Programme will have the objective of winning World and European medals by the end of the junior stage of their career. For this reason, more significance will be placed on an athletes ability to deliver performance at international events. Key tournaments within the UK: Welsh Closed, British Junior Championships, Junior Welsh Open, Junior Northern Ireland Open, Junior English Open, Junior Scottish Open. Key tournaments internationally: Junior European Cups: Portugal, Greece, Italy, Russia, Lithuania, Spain, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Romania. Major events: Junior European Championships, Junior World Championships. Senior applications (21+) The importance of an athletes ability to deliver performance in tournaments is paramount once they have reached the senior age group. Key tournaments within the UK: British Championships. Key tournaments internationally: Senior European Cups: Switzerland, Bosnia, Croatia, Russia, Slovenia, Great Britain, Germany, Slovakia, Serbia, Finland, Spain, Sweden. Continental Opens: Tunisia, Bulgaria, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Peru, Morocco, Argentina,Chile, Spain, El Salvador, Taipei, Estonia, Great Britain, Australia, Mauritius.

Athlete Identification Most of the assessments are scored from 1-5, allowing us to provide both quantitive and qualitative feedback. Once the assessment has been completed, individual feedback will be provided on the day. All applicants will then be notified if they have been successful in writing, as well as receiving an individual report on their assessment. For successful athletes, this will be followed by an initial contact meeting with the Welsh Judo Performance Coach, Personal Coach and Parents. Here the focus is on needs analysis, identifying levels of support before establishing expectations and agreeing programme design and delivery. Athletes maintain the Talent Cymru status for the next 12 months, dependent on a six month review considering adherence to their programme. Annual reviews will determine their status for the following year, considering adherence to the programme and achievement of their individual development targets.

Programme Structure Talent Cymru operates within a three tiered 'AAA' structure offering progressive levels of support:

Aspirational - This is our entry level to the Programme, with athletes still based at home, working within their own clubs. Our Entry Level Assessments’ measure competency in four performance areas: Performance behaviours, technical/tactical ability, physical capability and competition results. Whilst the assessments may not be exhaustive, they are extensive enough to measure an athlete’s current capabilities and potential. Entry-level applicants will be expected to have a good understanding of the generic effects of lifestyle factors and how that impacts on their training. They should also be able to demonstrate evidence performance behaviours that highlight best practice.

Apprenticeship - Athlete's relocate to train at our National Academy in Cardiff, often moving their studies to a Cardiff school or college. Talent Cymru investment will be directed towards athlete’s demonstrating the physical, technical, tactical and performance behaviours, as well as competition results relevant to their age group. Most multi-disciplinary support will be based around group workshops, with some individual support in identified areas. Athlete player awards (APA) are awarded though food and accommodation, with a value of up to £10,000.

Academy - Once identified and selected for our Performance Academy each athlete will receive a bespoke performance programme with multi-disciplinary support provision, such as psychology, nutrition and strength & conditioning. This will be designed by the National Performance Coaches and support staff in consultation with the athlete and personal coach and parents (depending on age), along with agreed targets and expectations for the year. Athlete player awards (APA) are awarded though food and accommodation, with a value of up to £10,000 as well as performance related financial subsistence of between £1,800 - £3,600.

Talent Cymru Development Application Details Application forms should be completed in full and submitted together with a letter of recommendation from the applicants person coach with any supporting evidence they feel appropriate. There are two application windows in 2017: 20th January - 6thFebruary 17th July - 7th August Application forms and supporting documentation should be forwarded to the Welsh Judo Association, either directly by email: [email protected], or by hard copy to: Talent Cymru Development Programme Welsh Judo Association Sport Wales National Centre Sofia Gardens CF11 9SW If any Athlete or Coach would like further clarification on any aspect of the Talent Cymru Development Programme, please contact George Bountakis, National Performance Coach on 07867 385006

Sport Wales National Centre Sofia Gardens CF11 9SW