Academies

sportscotland is helping Scottish Governing Bodies of sport (SGBs) to set up regional programmes that will improve and develop athletes and coaches at that stage of the pathway. These programmes combine sport-specific coaching with support services and education, and are known as Academies.

Academies aim to:

• improve the quality of athletes entering SGB national performance development programmes,
• develop coaches working with promising athletes at a regional level and club coaches at a local level, and
• increase the retention of athletes within sport.

Nine SGBs are currently delivering sport-specific coaching and coach development programmes nationally through the Academies Programme.

In addition to this, an athlete support service and education programme is being developed in each of the two pilot Sports Partnerships (Sport Central and Sport Tayside & Fife), involving seven sports at present.

It is our long-term aim that the complete Academies Programme will be delivered nationally, for selected sports.

To find out about how Academies work in practice take a look at Basketball Scotland’s Talent Development Programme.

For further information about sportscotland’s work in Academies contact the Partnership Manager, James Steel, james.steel@sportscotland.org.uk.