Ability

Athletes abilities are tested in two ways;

1)  Yearly swim and run performance trials.

2) Race performances over the previous season.

Yearly swim and run trials:

British Triathlon uses a swim/run points table to indicate an athletes age and stage potential at this level of the Pathway. Levels will vary from region to region according to numbers and current Academy standards but a general minimum standard for invitation to the trials would be around 300 points. 

The points table can be found here ( https://www.britishtriathlon.org/gb-teams/talent/english-talent/talent-id-tables ) Scores are calculated from the combined total of the corresponding points awarded for personal best times in each discipline.

Race performances: Some athletes perform better in races than in time trials and also demonstrate the ability to think and show racing skills that are not given the opportunity to be shown in a straight time trial. Therefore race results are also taken into account when selecting athletes onto the academy.

South West Regional Academy athletes will:

• Score approx 320 points or above on the Regional Academy Points Table*.
• Continually post times competitive to their peers in the Regional Academy and other children their age nationally at national events such as swim galas, cross country and regional triathlons (if competing as Tristar 3) or national triathlons if competing as a youth or junior athlete.
• Perform promisingly at national super-series races by demonstrating ability to finish highly and think, act and perform as expected of a performance athlete.

*Final ability level will be dictated by the quality of other athletes involved within the South West Academy selection process.

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 South West Regional Academy will be expected to:

• Help create a positive environment where they are open to furthering their own learning and development which will encourage their own potential and that of other academy athletes to thrive.
• Demonstrate commitment and the willingness to train to the standard required to become a world class triathlete
• Maintain in regular contact with the regional head coach to ensure development continues away from training weekends
• 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 weekends. 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.

We do appreciate that at this age athletes will have many commitments to swimming and running clubs as well as school however, we are very willing to take these into account and discuss suitable attendance across the activities the academy provides.  As a result South West Regional Academy athletes will: 

• Be expected to attend at least 80% of the training weekends from October to May every winter while they are part of the academy.