Scottish Athletics

Scottish Athletics
Sport Athletics
Abbreviation SA
Founded 1 April 2001
Affiliation UK Athletics
Replaced Scottish Athletics Federation
Official website
www.scottishathletics.org.uk

Scottish Athletics,[1][2][3] stylised as scottishathletics, is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Scotland. Established as a limited company on 1 April 2001, it succeeded the Scottish Athletics Federation (SAF) and is a member of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland. Scottish Athletics is part of UK Athletics, the national governing body for the United Kingdom.

The organisation has a small staff, but is largely supported by volunteers. It deals with approximately 150 athletics clubs and roughly 12,000 members. Individual clubs differ in size from less formal and small number of members to customary clubs with hundreds of members. There are specialist clubs and other clubs which incorporate all areas of athletics.

Squads

Scottish Athletics has three main development squads that cater for junior inexperienced athletes right through to senior international athletes.

Countdown Regional Squad

The regional squads launched by Scottish Athletics are focused on introducing athletes to the fundamentals of athletics. This squad consists of athletes who achieve standards set by the governing body and are in the age group categories under-15 and under-17. The squads are made up of approximately 244 athletes and 70 coaches. The aim of the squads is to introduce and teach athletes and coaches about the foundations of athletics.

Criteria for Selection

Athletes have to fulfil at least one of the following selection criteria:

Age GroupSelection CriteriaSelection CriteriaSelection CriteriaSelection CriteriaSelection Criteria
U15Power of 10 top 100 rankingScottish U15 top 10 rankingRoad top 10 rankingTop 10 finish at National Cross CountryWildcard designation (at Regional Manager’s discretion.)
U17Power of 10 top 100 rankingScottish U17 top 10 rankingRoad top 10 rankingTop 10 finish at National Cross CountryWildcard designation (at Regional Manager’s discretion.)

Coaches can also be selected based on the following criteria:

  • Athlete is selected via the criteria above
  • Both athlete and coach are based in Scotland full-time

Countdown Development Squad

The countdown development squad is focused on developing athletes which are achieving high standards at a young age. The aim of this squad is to aid athletes in their progression through their athletics career and assist them in achieving their full potential. The squad consists of athletes in the age groups; under-23, under-20 and under-17. The squad is made up of 131 athletes and 74 coaches.

Age GroupSelection CriteriaSelection Criteria
U23Power of 10 top 10 rankingWildcard designation (at Regional Manager’s discretion or National Event Manager.)
U20Power of 10 top 20 rankingWildcard designation (at Regional Manager’s discretion or National Event Manager.)
U17Power of 10 top 30 rankingWildcard designation (at Regional Manager’s discretion or National Event Manager.)

Coaches can also be selected based on the following criteria:

• Athlete is selected via the criteria above • Both athlete and coach are based in Scotland full-time

Countdown National Squad

The national squad is aimed at supporting senior athletes who are the best in their event in Scotland and also possibly the UK. Being a member of the senior squad provides many advantages to Scotland’s elite athletes. As an endurance athlete in the squad, an athlete has the opportunity to take part in a warm weather training camp which in based in South Africa. There is also an opportunity for athletes in all events to participate in a warm weather training camp in Monte Gordo, Portugal. Both camps are fully funded and are no cost to the athlete is incurred. The National Squad also encompasses athletes who achieve relay standards and these relay athletes are partly funded to the warm weather training camp in Monte Gordo.

Criteria for Selection

The criteria for selection to the national squad are very strict and there are several high standards which need to be achieved by the athletes to become a member of the squad. The exact criteria for individual and relay athletes can be found at the Scottish athletics website.

Sponsors and partners

sportscotland

The major partner for providing funding for Scottish athletics is sportscotland. They are Scotland’s national agency for sport and greatly believe that there are great benefits to be gained from sport. The benefits they believe that can be gained include enjoyment and achievement from taking part and the shared pride that is created from national success. Their mission is to encourage the people of Scotland to take part in sports and develop a sporting experience. Therefore, increasing the number of participants and the performance in sports in Scotland. They aim to reach their goals by assisting and inspiring their partners and applying funding in key areas while advising on future strategies and policies.[3]

Bank of Scotland

The Bank of Scotland has a Bank of Scotland Talented Young Athlete (BoSTYA) Programme which has now been running for nine years. This program is the result of an alliance with Scottish Athletics that is dedicated to assisting young athletes in the development of their talents across Scotland. By providing valuable technical and logistical support they are enabling the progress and success of athletes at international level. In the last 5 years, Bank of Scotland has invested over £500,000 in the program that benefits 150 of our top young athletes per year and has contributed in the reversing the trend of young athletes leaving the sport in their teenage years. In addition to this the bank of Scotland award special prizes in the annual Scottish athletics awards held in November. These special prizes help recognise young athlete’s achievements from the previous twelve months.[4]

Puma

The official supplier of athletics gear to Scottish Athletics is Puma, who provide kit to all Scottish international teams, their coaches and officials until the Commonwealth games in New Delhi 2010.[5]

Stewarts of Edinburgh

They are the sponsors of the Scottish Road Race Grand Prix series and the Cross Country Grand Prix series. They are also Edinburgh’s oldest printing solutions firm and a great supporter of Scottish Athletics.

Highland Spring

They support all Scottish Athletics championships events as well as the jogscotland programme.[6]

Lloyds Development Capital (LDC)

Lloyds Development Capital are the sponsors of the club first programme helping selected clubs achieve Clubmark (club accreditation scheme). They also assist junior member recruitment and the development of coach through funding coach education places. They are also one of the UK’s foremost private equity specialists.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Home - Scottish Athletics". scottishathletics.org.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2018. Copyright © 2014 Scottish Athletics
  2. ↑ McGhie, Laura (8 May 2018). "Scottish Athletics chief executive Mark Munro backs new testosterone rules". BBC.com. BBC Scotland.
  3. 1 2 "Scottish Athletics celebrate a further year of Lottery Funding". sportscotland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  4. ↑ "Bank of Scotland Sponsorship Photocall". snspix.com. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  5. ↑ "BIG CATS PUMA CONFIRMED AS NEW SPONSOR". jogscotland.org.uk. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  6. ↑ "Highland Spring Sponsorship". highland-spring.com. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  7. ↑ "LDC Sponsorship and Charity". ldc.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
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