Trials for the 2024-2025 North West Academy squad will be held on 28th September 2024

The trials for both new and current North West athletes follow the below process:

Stage 1. Complete an online application form (available soon)

Stage 2. Successful athletes will then be invited to attend trials on which consist of a swim trial and run trial covering the below distances:

• Selection trials format

  Swim: 25m pool

  Age (on the day)	Distance
  13-15	200m
  16-19	400m

  Run: 400m track

  Age (on the day)	Distance
  13-15	1,500m
  16-19	3,000m

*Athlete age for academy trial distance is taken as age on 1st September 2024, accounting for athletes turning 14 between Sept-Dec 2024.  

There will also be a short bike handling observation session at the end of the day (please see further information below under standards).  This will not form part of the decision to take forward to stage 3 but will help coaches understand athlete's current cycling ability.  

Stage 3.  Following on from Stage 2, all succesful athletes will then be invited to attend a full training day in October.  

Athletes will then be offered a place as either a full Academy member or the opportunity to attend training days as a Guest throughout the academy year (see below).

Standards

• To be considered for a trial in the North West, athletes should be looking to achieve around the region of 300 points.  Athletes should be aiming to achieve a score of 320 points to be conisdered for a full place in the North West Academy (please note this does not guarantee your place as is dependent on yearly standards and performance behaviours). 
• To work out your points score please use the Regional Academy Points Calculator which is located at the bottom of the Talent Identification pags.  Times calculated are based on those of triathlete's single discipline performances.
• Selection to the Academy is based on information provided and seen through the selection process, however accredited performances for swimming on ASA Swimming Results, running on Power Of Ten, alongside triathlon performances in 2024, will also be considered when making the final selections.
• Swimming, running and the requisite performance behaviours play a big part in Academy selections and are the priority at this stage of the Pathway.  Athletes who do not have any cycling or triathlon experience are very much encouraged to apply and if selected into an Academy will be expected to have a real focus on developing their riding.

Guest athletes

• Athletes who may be new to the sport or who may need a little more time to develop in a particular discipline may be offered the opportunity to attend some academy training days as a guest rather than a full academy member at the discretion of the Academy Lead.

Attitude

Athletes who have a desire to perform at an elite level often show particular characteristics.  These include but are not limited to perseverance, dedication and an openness to coaching. As such athlete on the North West Regional Academy will:

• Help create a positive environment where they are open to furthering their own learning and development.
• Demonstrate commitment and the willingness to train to the standard required to become a world class triathlete.
• Maintain in regular contact with the Regional Lead coach to ensure development continues away from training days.
• Have an understanding of the Athlete Development Framework (ADF) and where their strengths and weaknesses lie in relation to this.

Attendance

In order to fully benefit from the academy, athletes are expected to both physically and mentally attend activities both during and outside of academy training days and camps.

Face to face activity is held monthly, with a week camp held in February half term.  Remote support is also available where needed to help complement the athlete's daily training environment.  It is important to remember that athletes who accept a place on the academy and do not attend are effectively preventing another athlete from benefitting from the services the academy provides.

Athletes who are given a full Academy place are also expected to race at the National Super Series. 

We do appreciate that at this age athletes will have many commitments to swimming and running clubs as well as school and we are very willing to take these into account and discuss suitable attendance across the activities the academy provides.  

A provisional schedule will be made available and shared at Stage 2.

All information can be found in the Academy Handbook or for any further questions please get in touch with:

Katie Hewison; NW Regional Academy Lead

northwestacademy@britishtriathlon.org

Thank you to our Regional Academy Sponsors