The Pathway

On 1 April 2006, UK Sport assumed full responsibility for all Olympic performance-related support in England, from the identification of talent right the way through to performing at the top level to help improve performance and drive success in the future. In taking on this new responsibility, and remaining focused on a 'no compromise' approach, UK Sport has redefined the terms under which funding and support will be provided. It operates a World Class Performance Pathway at three key levels:

• World Class Podium Programme
• World Class Podium Potential Programme
• World Class Talent Programme

To aid a wider understanding amongst all sports the terminology for each programme will be the same.

World Class Podium (WCP)

This Programme will support sports with realistic medal capabilities at the next Olympic Games (i.e. a maximum of four years away from the podium). At this level, an assessment of realistic medal projections determines the required investment per sport using the models introduced post-Beijing for Olympic sports. Athlete places will be distributed to a sport based on a combination of the sport's: results at the last Games; competitive track record; project medal capability in the future; demonstrated ability to constantly produce athletes through the pathway. Support is provided through a performance programme with the governing body and an athlete personal award.

This programme is managed by the National Performance Director.

World Class Podium Potential (WCPPP)

This Programme will support the stage of the Pathway immediately beneath the Podium Programme. For other sports it will comprise athletes that are typically six years away from the Podium. This is thought, due to the length of development time for a Modern Pentathlete to be slightly un-realistic and an extended time will be implemented. A well established and accepted Selection and Review Policy for both the WCPPP and Youth Team Selection for International Competitions is in place, this is supplemented with a set of consideration criteria. Funding by means of an APA has been set at 3 levels for WCPPP athletes.

Level D APA

• Athlete must be in full-time training at the Bath National Training Centre
• Meets individual performance targets set
• Complies in full with contract/charter

Level E APA

• Athlete must be within a maximum of 18 months of the year of reporting for full time training at the Bath National Training Centre and commit in writing to do so
• Meets individual performance targets set
• Complies in full with contract/charter

Level F APA

• Athlete must have agreed in principle in writing that they will report for training at the Bath National Training Centre when eligible by age or stage of education to do so
• Meets all WCP performance targets
• Complies in full with contract/charter

World Class Talent Programme (WCTP)

This programme is will be designed to support the identification and confirmation of athletes who have the potential to progress through the World Class Pathway with the help of targeted investment. Although there will be no direct payment of APA to WCTP athletes, funding will be provided to raise the level of sophistication and coaching through centralised training for the athletes that will be new to this programme.

It is expected that these athletes will have the right attributes to go on and effectively compete effectively on the world stage. Selection for GB teams and Internationals will see no change for these athletes.

Additional schemes working alongside the World Class Pathway Programme

Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS)

The intention of the scheme is to help talented athletes who wish to progress with a formal academic programme but maintain an involvement in performance sport. Strategically, the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) will provide a coherent support system, driven through partnership working between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Further Education Colleges (FECs), National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGB's) and other sports organisations. The scheme will operate around a national network in England of 9 regional consortia, based around a hub or core cluster of Higher Education Institutions working in close partnership with other interested institutions in the area. TASS will normally be offering scholarships of up to £3,000 to students aged 19 to 25, and bursaries of up to £1,000 for any talented young person aged 16 to 19 not in higher education. TASS athletes will from 1st April be invited to National Training with World Class Talent athletes.

English Talent Programme (ETP)

The England Talent Programme (ETP) has been created as part of Pentathlon GB's 2013-17 Whole Sport plan for submission to Sport England in order to develop a clearly defined and mapped talent development pathway between grass-roots sport and the Pentathlon GB Performance Programme.

For more information about the English Talent Programme and how it works see the ETP section of this site.

Athlete's Charter

Introduction

Our continued success in the future as a sport is through a closely-knit partnership where we all work together to help develop a strong, well respected, successful sport. The World Class Performance Programme of Pentathlon GB is responsible for the World Class Pathway within the Olympic disciplines of Modern Pentathlon.

Through the World Class Pathway Programme we are planning and establishing a new programme and initiatives that will provide clear winning pathways for our young athletes and help them aspire to your level of performance. It is because we want to help you and every talented athlete reach their full potential, that we feel it is important in 2013 and beyond, to introduce a document in which we openly clarify our respective responsibilities.

This Charter should be seen as a step forward in your development. Its main purpose is to clarify our desire and commitment to help you plan and develop your athletic career as a nominated and selected performing athlete. The Charter summarises the services that we intend to provide to you and informs you of our policies and procedures. It also indicates the responsibilities that we want you to observe as one of our leading young athletes. The Charter also lists certain obligations that are a requirement of the UIPM.

Pentathlon GB has managed to secure funding for our World Class Pathway Programme from UK Sport and Sport. Funding does not come without responsibilities and in return for Lottery and Exchequer Funding, as a sport, we are expected to achieve specific performance targets in various major championships and competitions each year.

Funding enables us to provide and co-ordinate services that will help you develop your athletic career. During your career with Pentathlon GB you will probably have already benefited directly from these services either nationally or regionally. We hope that this will continue.

Membership of Pentathlon GB World Class Pathway Programme in 2013 is conditional on entering into this Charter as it confirms the responsibilities of all parties working at a World Class level. You should therefore carefully read the statements and consult the Pathway Programme Manager if there is anything you do not fully understand. When re-selected or as a new programme athlete you will be required to sign in agreement to the Charter.

Download the charter in pdf format.

Identifying and Developing World Class Talent

The Selection Panel has met to select the athletes that will attend the 2014 PGB World Class Talent Identification Camps. The athletes selected to attend camps in January and February 2014 can be found here.

The process for PGB Athletes accessing the Series of National Talent Identification Camps is detailed in the "Eligibility for PGB World Class Youth Programmes Policy" which is available here. For the 2014 TID Camps the selection was taken from the National Biathlon with an additional shoot being available. November is the month when we select for camps in January and February the following year. In 2014 the National Triathlon is to be held in May and there will be a review of results to capture any athletes that have improved shooting skills in first half of 2014.

TASS

The overall aim of the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) is to help talented athletes who wish to progress with a formal academic programme but maintain an involvement in performance sport.

The scheme will operate around a national network in England of 9 regional consortia, based around a hub or core cluster of Higher Education Institutions.

The Aim for Modern Pentathlon

The TASS programme will aim to provide a seamless transition for Modern Pentathletes on the World Class Talent and Development Programmes, filling the gap in current provision.

TASS is an integral part of Pentathlon’s World Class Performance Programme and Long Term Athlete Development model (LTAD).

Due to the level of support for the whole Performance Programme Pathway from UK Sport and Sport England which has resulted in a smaller number of funded athletes on the Talented Athlete Programme, the TASS programme will have a greater impact in supporting those athletes wishing to combine studying with training.

Pentathlon GB has a track record of success at the highest level and are committed to build and continue this. The level of support that TASS offers the athletes makes it an integral part of delivering this aim.

A copy of the framework document can be found here.

English Talent Programme

The ETP is financially supported by Sport England with the aim of increasing the number of entry-level athletes achieving a pre-determined performance standard to underpin the Pentathlon GB Pathway at grass roots level in England.

It is an opportunity for willing individuals to engage in training for Modern Pentathlon, to acquire necessary technical skills and improve general fitness. Commitment to training is essential because the most important objective is to 'learn to train' followed by ‘learning to compete’. These are elementary requirements for any entry-level athlete to progress through the Pentathlon GB Pathway system to sporting excellence.

ETP athletes voluntarily accept that they will make the best efforts to fulfil a regular training schedule, taking into consideration geographic location, school demands, and training facility availability to create a realistic and achievable training programme.

The ETP programme will support committed athletes who demonstrate continued delivery of the training programme. The ETP coaches will monitor, care and assist.

Athletes can enter ETP Consideration standard by achieving the criteria shown below.

• Athletes in all applicable age groups must achieve a minimum of one of the physical (run/swim) entry standards to be considered for the English Talent Programme. This must be at any of the British Championships listed below.
• The shoot criteria will be used for progression onto the English Talent Programme.
• Proficiency in the fencing and riding may be used as additional consideration factors, but not as a measured criteria.
• The standards in the swimming have been set for the 25m swimming pool.
• The standards for the running have been set over a measured 1600m course.
• At the British Modern Triathlon, Tetrathlon and Youth Pentathlon Championships athletes reaching the criteria in the swim and shoot disciplines, will be required to do a run time trial before invitation to the ETP consideration, due to these events being comprised of the Shoot and Run combined discipline.

Athletes in the under 13 years age group will not qualify for the consideration level of ETP until the Biathlon Championships at the end of the year when the distances for their age group are the ones for the forthcoming competition year, as shown below.

Table 1 English Regional Talent Program Consideration Standards for Boys.

Age	Swim		or	Run	Shoot Score
	100m	200m		1600m	10 shot static
Under 13	1.15.00 (1.20.00)			6.15.00 (6.30.00)	70
Under 14	1.09.00 (1.18.00)			5.45.00 (6.05.00)	70
Under 15		2.25.00 (2.30.00)		5.30.00 (5.44.00)	75
Under 16		2.20.00 (2.26.00)		5.12.00 (5.36.00)	75
Under 17		2.20.00 (2.26.00)		5.12.00 (5.36.00)	75

Table 2 English Regional Talent Program Consideration Standards for Girls.

Age	Swim		or	Run	Shoot Score
	100m	200m		1600m	10 shot static
Under 13	1.15.00 (1.20.00)			6.25.00 (6.45.00)	70
Under 14	1.09.00 (1.18.00)			6.15.00 (6.35.00)	70
Under 15		2.35.00 (2.45.00)		5.55.00 (6.20.00)	75
Under 16		2.30.00 (2.35.00)		5.36.00 (5.52.00)	75
Under 17		2.30.00 (2.35.00)		5.36.00 (5.52.00)	75

The consideration times shown in red on each table are the minimum standard to be achieved if meeting the actual in the other physical discipline

These standards need to be achieved at any one of the four Pentathlon GB British Championships listed below in the order they are scheduled in any calendar year.

1. Pentathlon GB British Modern Triathlon Championships
2. Pentathlon GB British Modern Youth Pentathlon Championships
3. Pentathlon GB British Modern Tetrathlon Championships
4. Pentathlon GB British Modern Biathlon Championships (See note for under 13s)

The results from The British Schools Biathlon Championships will be monitored but direct athlete invitations to consideration will not be issued as with the above competitions.

Training and Competitions

Training dates suitable for all levels of ETP athlete and consideration athletes can be downloaded here for the North and here for the South.

Also available is a downloadable competition calendar giving suggested key important competitions to attend as an ETP athlete.

Please note that you should also regularly check the main calendar which contains the definitive list of training and competition activity.

Progression Through The English Talent Programme

• Athletes achieving the standard will be invited on to the Consideration level for The English Talent Program.
• On acceptance the athletes start a four to six month probation period.
• Also athletes will be required to complete an online questionnaire, regarding their sporting background and training schedule. This will enable the ETP coaches to assist with their development in the disciplines of Modern Pentathlon.
• During the probation period the athletes, depending on their previous experience across the disciplines will develop the skill disciplines of pentathlon - shoot/fence/ride.
• Added support is given by signposting the athletes to additional training at local single discipline clubs/training facilities.
• Athletes entering the consideration standard probation period, from either Schools Biathlon or National Biathlon will be required to achieve the shoot certificate and progress to entering a Triathlon at minimum of Regional level.
• Athletes will be promoted on to the English Talent Programme following their probation period, subject to maintaining the minimum consideration standards or higher and showing a commitment to the sport through regular attendance at the monthly ETP training sessions.

Being an ETP athlete and fulfilling your potential

• On acceptance of the invitation for the ETP, parents and athletes will attend an induction day when further information about future training and competitions will be provided and athletes will receive their training diaries.
• ETP athletes will be required to attend monthly training days. At these sessions combined with developing all disciplines of the sport athletes will receive support and advice to establish their individual training requirements.
• Athletes on the Programme will also be monitored on their progression by achieving the necessary certificates in fencing and riding, enabling them to compete in Tetrathlon and Pentathlon. This will be combined with twice yearly testing and monitored attendance at both Regional and National Competitions.
• Competitive experience is important for athlete development and therefore all athletes are encouraged to enter competitions, thereby gaining confidence and understanding. The ETP Coordinator and coaches can advise athletes on the appropriate level of competition.
• Progression onto National English Talent Programme (NETP) can be achieved by developing all disciplines of the Sport and progressively competing to a high standard at Triathlon or above. These athletes will be selected in consultation with The World Class Programme Manager.

Exit from the programme can be either by request from athlete/parent or by Pentathlon GB officials if they feel the athlete is not making the necessary progression required. This will only take place after a personal appraisal with consideration of the twice yearly tests, combined with competition attendance and results It is possible for an athlete to step off the program but return at a later date if all the standards of the criteria are achieved.

Think you have what it takes and can achieve this standard? Want to know more? Contact Ann Marshall on 07590 444370 or email ann.marshall@pentathlongb.org