2023 Youth Academy & Speed-Power Academy

“We believe physical & technical preparation and a performance mindset are critical for athlete development and we must create a challenging, supportive, open and professional environment where athletes and coaches can fulfil their potential.”

Athletics Northern Ireland's Academies aim to identify and develop talented junior athletes and raise their potential for senior success. We are focused on improving physical qualities, sporting knowledge, psychological skills and performance behaviours in young athletes whilst educating parents and coaches on what it takes to perform consistently on the international stage as seniors. In doing so we believe Northern Ireland will develop a pipeline of junior athletes who will become successful seniors representing Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games and Great Britain or Ireland at major championships.

Since establishing the Academy in 2014 supported Athletes have achieved Commonwealth Youth Games Medals, European Junior Medals & World Para Medals & made breakthroughs to compete at European Team Championships, Senior Commonwealth Games, European & World Indoors. At the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 there were five Academy Graduates on the team who achieved 3x top 10 finishes and a silver medal.

Eligibility

• Youth Academy… an athlete must be eligible for NI Commonwealth Games selection by fulfilling one of the below criteria
  • Being born in NI
  • Having at least 1 parent or grandparent born in NI
  • Having 3 years residence in NI.

• Speed - Power Academy… an athlete must be either NI eligible (as above) or Ulster eligible (from one of the additional 3 counties of Ulster.)

Youth Academy

The Athletics Northern Ireland Youth Academy has proven popular and successful and now has bases at Jordanstown and Coleraine. The 2023-2024 recommenced launched in October 2023 supporting 30 athlete-coach pairs.

In 2023-2024 Academy support will include:

• Weekly speed development and strength and conditioning
• Quarterly strength diagnostics
• Integrated Physiotherapy clinics
• Athlete, parent and coach education
• Performance planning support for athletes and coaches

Speed Power Academy

The Speed-Power Academy, delivered at Ulster University Jordanstown recommenced in October 2023 with 18 athletes from NI & Ulster aged 14-18 years old selected. Speed-Power Academy assists athletes and their coaches with improving physical preparation & performance behaviours. Athletes have the opportunity to sample aspects of the Youth Academy curriculum and access strength and conditioning, speed development and strength diagnostics. The Speed Power-Academy has previously proven useful in accelerating a number of young athletes towards Youth Academy.