Playground to Podium

  

Playground to Podium is a dedicated initiative designed to identify and nurture disabled young people and disabled adults with the potential to be elite athletes.

 

The scheme focuses on six sports:

• Athletics
• Boccia
• Football
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Wheelchair basketball

Playground to Podium offers a framework to enhance existing player pathways and provide increased opportunities to achieve at the top end of performance.

 

The initial focus is on disabled young people with an additional pathway being designed for all disabled athletes to be given equal opportunities to nurture higher ability.

 

The scheme identifies at least 15 young disabled people a year per school sport partnership who demonstrate a high ability in generic skills. They are invited to attend the County Athlete Assessment organised by Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent on behalf of the English Federation of Disability Sport.

 

Only those young people with physical or visual impairments can take part in the Paralympics thus achieving a podium place through this programme.

 

There are other performance routes and opportunities for young people with learning disabilities and deaf/hearing impaired athletes, and that these too can lead to international competition and success.

 

Although the Playground to Podium initiative is about identifying potential talent it also provides an opportunity for all disabled children to try out sports and then be directed to clubs so they continue in the activity even if they don't progress through the talent pathway.

 

The dryside multisports events are designed for ages 11-16.

The swimming events are designed for ages 7-14.

Playground to Podium Events

 This year was very successful with over 40 children being invited to the County Athlete Assessment Days. Several of these athlete have been highlighted as potential talent for the future. We will look to keep you up to date with their progression.

 

Below are some photographs from the day to show some of the great things that happened.