SPORT SPOTLIGHT
JERSEY SPARTAN ATHLETIC CLUB
The Jersey Spartan Athletic Club are the main hub for athletics on island.
The club has significantly invested into the development of their volunteer workforce over the last year, with support from Jersey Sport’s Volunteer Workforce Grant. A special thanks is also shared with the Jersey Community Foundation who match funded this project allowing a combined 90% contribution towards associated costs for these opportunities.
The club supported the upskilling of four new Level 2 and two new Level 1 officials across different disciplines through qualifications with England Athletics to help support the sustainability of their local competition offer. These newly qualified officials have allowed the club to maintain the licences required for on-island events, ensuring their athletes performances can be considered as qualification marks for Inter-counties, National Championships, Island Games and English Schools competitions. Several coaches have also been working towards their Level 2 Athletics Coach qualifications, allowing them to lead sessions with the required licences and insurance and give more in-depth knowledge to support and develop their athletes. This has enabled the club to begin to grow their junior offer whilst decreasing numbers on their waiting lists.
After successful performances throughout the 2022 season, two athletes from the club were selected into the England Athletics Youth Talent Programme. The programme aims to complement club provision and add value to the athlete/para-athlete and coach plan to help develop a broad range of skills, abilities and behaviours needed for senior success. This is delivered through practical training sessions with like-minded athletes in their event group, performance support sessions and workshops. There is also the opportunity for coaches to access additional qualifications, mentoring and support delivered through the England Athletics YTP coaches. This funding supported the coaches of these athletes to attend the programme, gaining expertise in their respective events, which they have brought home to share with other athletes, coaches and officials locally within their club.
The club also invested in opportunities to bring experienced, professional coaches to the island, providing mentoring opportunities for both athletes and coaches, whilst helping to build the technical knowledge within the club across several disciplines. We are excited to see similar opportunities continue throughout this year as a result of their successful application to the Jersey Sport Volunteer Workforce Grant.
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