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KICK OFF FOR P2P TALENT ASSESSMENTS

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UK Sport/EIS 25 March 2009

Pitch2Podium hopefuls are set to be put through their paces in the coming weeks as a series of talent assessment events got underway in Sheffield yesterday.

The initiative, now in its second year, sees UK Sport and the English and Scottish Institutes of Sport (EIS/SIS), together with the major football and rugby union authorities, offer released academy players the chance to take up a new challenge and switch their talents to Olympic sports.

Kicking off at the Sheffield Arena yesterday, further talent assessment events will follow in Reading and Glasgow over the coming weeks, with the hope of unearthing more potential future Olympians after a successful first year piloting the scheme with the English football authorities.

Of those tested in 2008, 82% were of interest to at least one Olympic sport, whilst an impressive 39% were of interest to two or more sports, illustrating the versatility of the talent pool and demonstrating the good work of the academies in nurturing young players.

EIS Regional Director for the North, former Olympian Peter Elliot, said at today’s event in Sheffield:

“Pitch2Podium is offering these athletes the opportunity to put their athletic abilities to the test and identify those Olympic sports which they may become Olympic champions in. They are already equipped with a good mentality for training hard and will have several key skills which could see them excel within another sport if their first choice of football or rugby doesn’t work out.”

The UK World Class Talent Team expect to assess up to 200 released academy players over four assessment days, with the hopefuls being put through a range of physical tests.

All will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of James Hoad, a former Watford FC Academy goalkeeper and 2008 Pitch2Podium participant, who was selected for trials with bob skeleton, cycling and hockey.

“When the invitation for Pitch2Podium first came through my door I didn’t think much of it but I went into it with a ‘give-it-a-go’ attitude," said Hoad. "Here I am, nine months later, on a training camp in Norway with bob skeleton, one of Britain’s Olympic medal winning sports.

“After being released, a return to the professional game can never be guaranteed, but now I have a real chance of getting somewhere in elite sport. Pitch2Podium is a great idea and I would recommend it to anybody who gets the chance after experiencing it first hand – what have you got to lose?”

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