PARAMLYMPIC TALENT SEARCH! When: 12pm - 4pm, 12th October 2013 Where: Victorian Institute of Sport, Lakeside Stadium, 33 Aughtie Drive, Albert Park Paralympic Talent Search Program Fact Sheet: What is the Paralympic Talent Search Program? The Paralympic Talent Search Program is an initiative of the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC). Its main goal is to identify people with physical disabilities, vision impairments or intellectual disabilities who display the athletic potential to one day make it to Paralympic level competition. A secondary goal is to help introduce people with disabilities to enter into regular sport and physical activities. Who is eligible to participate? The Paralympic Talent Search day is only open to people with disabilities which would enable them to participate in events currently on the Paralympic Games schedule. This includes but is not limited to amputees, people with cerebral palsy, limb deficiencies, people in wheelchairs, people who are blind or have vision impairments and people with an intellectual disability. There are limited sports on the London Paralympic Program for people with an intellectual disability. These include Table Tennis, Athletics and Swimming and as such only these sports will be targeted for participants with an Intellectual Disability. All age groups are welcome to participate in the program however it is difficult to provide specific pathway advice to participants under 10 years of age. What sports can I do? On the day we conduct general sport tests and activities in addition to some sport specific tests for sports that are on the Paralympic program, which include; Archery, Athletics, Boccia, Cycling, Equestrian, 7 a-side CP Football, Goalball, Judo, Powerlifting, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Tennis, Wheelchair Rugby and Winter Sports. Participants are encouraged to take part in all activities. Sport specific testing is dependent on coach and facility availability. Therefore we are unable to guarantee that sport specific testing in all PPP sports will be available at all Talent Search Days. The APC will forward results from the Talent Search day to coaches from these sports for their information and suggested follow up. If you require further information on any of the sports listed above, please visit our website at paralympic.org.au What do I need to do before the Talent Search day? Participants are required to complete a registration form prior to attending the day. Registration forms are available from paralympic.org.au and follow the links to Talent Search. Directions and final information will be provided to all registered participants one week prior to the day. What do I need to bring? Participants will need to wear clothing that is suitable for physical activity participation. Suggested items to bring are: Shorts or tracksuit pants and a t-shirt Running/jogging shoes Swimmers and towel Lunch and adequate water Note: lunch may be provided at Talent Search days but please check with the Development Coordinator in your state. If there is follow up with me after the day, does this mean I’ll make the next Paralympic team? No. This is the first step in the process of identifying people with disabilities who display the potential to make a future Australian Paralympic team. In most cases it will take years of training and preparation to reach the standards required to compete at Paralympic level. Teams are selected for international competitions, including Paralympic Games according to pre-determined selection criteria. When available, these can be viewed from the APC website or the relevant National Sporting Federation website (ie Athletics Australia). A minimum requirement is that you are competing at the national championships at an international standard for your respective disability classification at the time of selection. There are no “teams” or “squads” associated with the Toyota Paralympic Talent Search Program - these are managed by the sports (e.g. Athletics Australia). Depending upon the future potential, participants will be encouraged to take the next step in their sporting pathway, which will vary from sport to sport and person to person. Examples of what these next steps are likely to be are: Committing to a regular training program with an identified coach. Joining the relevant local sporting club and taking part in regular competition. Displaying a high level of commitment and dedication to achieving goals. Updated 25/05/12 I already compete in events for athletes with disabilities. Should I attend a Talent Search Day? The fact that you are already participating or competing and are “in the system” is good. The direction and feedback that you receive following a Talent Search day may not differ greatly from what you are currently doing. You are more than welcome to attend and participate in the Talent Search Day as it may provide an opportunity for interaction and feedback from coaches who you have not worked with in the past or expose you to sports you did not know you were eligible to participate in. Please keep your expectations of what happens following the day in line with what has been outlined in this fact sheet. What happens if I’m not ‘selected’ for follow up? The reality of competitive sport is that not everyone is destined to make it to the elite level. Some people may not possess the physical attributes, the competitive spirit or the desire to reach an international level. Some people may love sport and want to continue their involvement at a recreational level. If this is the case, there are many organisations and sporting groups that can assist with your sporting goals and may present new opportunities for you to pursue. If you require further information or would like to discuss any of the information that is included in this fact sheet, please don’t hesitate to contact APC Manager Development & Pathways, Tim Matthews on 03 8633 9002 or e-mail [email protected] Contact details for APC Development staff in Victoria are listed below: Vic/Tas - Jacob Hardiman 03 8633 9000 [email protected]
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 03:42:37 +0000
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