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.

It comes following a consultation with landscape partners Youth Sport Trust, Paralympics GB , UK Sport and a review of existing programmes and initiatives.

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. Information on the initiative may be found here.

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 coordinated by English Federation of Disability Sport and development centres.

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.

Plans and targets

• 3,600 teachers to be trained to recognise potential talent in young disabled people.
• 22,500 young disabled people will receive quality coaching in partnership clubs.
• 13,500 young disabled people will be recognised as having higher ability in physical education or sport.
• Assessment and further development will be provided to 8,500 talented young disabled people.
• 2,000 adults with a disability will be introduced to high quality coaching in a community setting.
• 5,000 disabled athletes and players will be directed to appropriate high quality coaching opportunities in performance environments.
• More talented performers will move onto elite programmes and sporting success.