YOUNG DIVEING TALENT TO START APPRENTICESHIPS
A group of the nation's brightest diving talents have been
introduced to a pioneering Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting
Excellence (AASE) programme designed to provide athletes with
the necessary skills to become champions while continuing
their education.
The Amateur Swimming Association - one of the first sports
governing bodies to sign up for the scheme - will welcome
170 aquatic athletes, across all disciplines, onto Government-funded
AASE schemes throughout the next couple of months.
And a group of 17 divers will be the first to undergo the
diving element in Sheffield this weekend where they will be
given an overview of the eight units that make up the NVQ
Level 3 qualification.
As part of the programme, athletes will learn about such
key subjects as time management, career planning, nutrition
and training, and communications. This valuable experience
will go towards preparing them for international competition.
The new AASE programme will work towards enhancing that talent
by offering a valuable insight, at an early age, as to what
is required to succeed on the international stage.
Developed by Skills Active, in association with industry
experts and sports governing bodies, AASE is funded in England
by the Learning and Skills Council and aims to meet the needs
of young people to achieve excellence in their sport as their
main career goal while continuing with their education.
The successful diving inductees were identified after finishing
in the top eight of the junior national championships this
year.
Former Olympic diver Karen Smith, ASA National Development
Manager for Diving, will lead the weekend introduction and
sees the apprenticeship scheme as a valuable resource in helping
the young athletes to achieve.
"AASE is going to be a massive help to these talented
divers. The resources available to them and the guidance they'll
receive is completely new and far better than when I was at
their age," said Smith.
"It will help them to get to the highest level. They'll
learn about goal setting, time management, how to analyse
their strengths in and out of the water and to make the most
of them.
"The whole scheme is designed to make the difference
between succeeding or not. They'll be given the tools to go
with their obvious talent which will make the difference."
|
