THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

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THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
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Elitism Optimum Performance

• Excellence in sport has two meanings Elitism
  
• Optimum Performance
• Optimum PerformanceThe more people performing
  at their optimum performance could result in
  more people reaching the top of the triangle.
• Elitism
• The emphasis is on the few the best. Look
  for the best and ignore the rest!

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Elitism Optimum Performance

• ElitismActivities confined to an exclusive
  minority, usually the best.
• But, you can have elitism through age, gender,
  and social class.
• Optimum Performance
• Should be the target of every individual.
• Each person has potential and the sports system
  should help to fulfil this objective.
• E.g. PE in the UK
• Very few societies are concerned with this model,
  as it does not bring short-term responses.
  

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The Development of Excellence
Selection of Talent
Development of Talent
Providing support for performance
Administration Funding
Structured Coaching Instruction
Pyramid Theory
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Selection of Talent

• Australia has recently implemented a system of
  screening every child at high school level using
  sport related tests. Again this will predict
  which sports they are most suited to.

• Soviet Union used to
• screen every child in
• the education system for
• potential. This would
• involve motor skills and
• skills tests that would channel the
• performer into certain
• sports.

Pyramid Theory
In the UK we have tended to stay away from this
approach. Performers will specialise later on in
their development to allow a greater range of
activities to be covered. Which do you think is
the best method and why?
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Development of Talent
Structured Coaching Instruction
The children selected will be coached, instructed
and nurtured to become champions. In many
countries this process is achieved through the
education system, predominately in sports schools.
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Providing Support For Performance

• How else is the top class performer helped in
  the UK? Who helps them?

• UK SPORT
• ?Psychologists, dieticians, physiotherapists
• ?Access to top quality facilities. National
  Sports Centres with the United Kingdom Institute
  of Sport (UKSI) as the central force.
• Sports Councils World Class Performance
  programme, funded by the National Lottery. This
  Sports Fund has three levels
• World Class Start (aimed at developing talented
  youngsters)
• World Class Potential (assisting the development
  of teenagers, helping with educational support)
• World Class Performance (supporting our elite
  athletes through competitions, tournaments,
  games, etc.

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FUNDING

• Q. How is sport funded in the UK?
• Disproportionately! ? The vast majority of money
  goes to the elite performers. Whatever is left
  goes to the masses.

Performance Pyramid. Funding Pyramid
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Where does the money come from?
State Aid Sponsorship National
Lottery Private Funding Trust
Funds
STATE AID - Local government funding
(minimal). SPONSORSHIP National sponsorship
deals. Advertising. Endorsements. Local
sponsorship of clubs. NATIONAL LOTTERY Supporting
sports charities. Money to Sport England/Sports
Council/SAF. PRIVATE FUNDING Membership
fees. Scholarships. Selling of T.V.
rights. Shareholders/ownerships. TRUST
FUNDS Grants to cover loss of earnings/training
expenses due to time taken off of work. Cover
travelling and equipment costs. Money held in
trusts until the end of the athletes career,
allowing only withdrawals for expenses. Trust
funds often negotiated by agents of the
performers.