CLEAR PATHWAY IN PLACE FOR BRITISH DIVING
British Diving is redefining its structure as it looks to
provide a clear pathway for athletes to fulfill their Olympic
potential in Beijing 2008, London 2012 and beyond.
And key personnel have been introduced to enhance the new
look by providing the support necessary as athletes prepare
to qualify for next summer's games as well as continue their
development in time for the London Olympics.
National Performance Director Steve Foley will oversee the
development process and will be assisted by Kim White, the
former Junior Olympic Programme Manager, in his new role as
High Performance Manager.
"Our programme has been labelled junior and senior,"
explained Foley, "but under the new World Class Pathway,
established by UKSport, there will only be British Diving
athletes on either Podium or Development funding but under
one umbrella.
"My role is to oversee the entire programme but I'll
be helped by Kim White who has special responsibility for
looking after our High Performance Centres in the South while
I have a stronger presence at our centres in the North."
White will assist with the implementation of regular synchronised
diving training in the South and work closely with elite coaches,
World Class Pathway divers and a National Synchronised Diving
Coach.
"White will also support me in my role as NPD by helping
to define Podium and Development diver plans and preparations,
managing the budget, coach education and competition and camp
planning," explained Foley.
"The role will also involve having an oversight of training,
sports science, sports medicine and any issues at the performance
centres in Plymouth and Southampton while I can involve myself
with our centres in Sheffield and Leeds. These centres will
be assisted on a daily basis.
"We realise out presence is more important on the pool
deck where we will be supporting and getting our hands dirty.
This is something that will help us to achieve our Olympic
ambitions."
Foley believes the new structure will have real benefits
as divers developing within the system won't be held back
by the fact they've been limited to being within a junior
system.
"Whether a British Diving athlete is taking part in
a junior or senior competition, it's part of a bigger picture
with one pathway as we head towards Beijing and then London,"
said Foley.
"At the moment we have a group of 10 and 11-year-olds
within the pipeline and the process is taking them towards
2012. Our programme is focused on achieving best results at
both the Beijing 2008 Olympics and four years later in London
as well as beyond."
British Diving will also ensure that athletes who dive as
a pair in synchronised diving events have greater opportunity
to train together either full time or at least three times
a week to promote the understanding required in those events.
"The benefit of this is that divers create a subliminal
understanding of their routines and each other," said
Foley. "It promotes seamless performances and will be
the difference for us in qualifying our teams for the Olympics
next year.
"We have real opportunities for Olympic success with
our synchro pairs but it's such a fine line between standing
on an Olympic podium and not actually qualifying for the Olympics
at all. It's that close at the top at the moment and we need
to ensure we actually qualify first.
"It also provides an opportunity for coaches to work
together. We have a great team supporting our athletes and
when they get together they share their knowledge and skills
and everyone benefits."
To help support the new-look programme British Diving will
also be recruiting a Chinese diving coach, already identified,
who will work with both centres in the south. The plan is
to have them in place by October.
This person will help to coach a group of identified divers
who are within the World Class Pathway and have real potential
to deliver British Diving's Olympic goals.
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