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Our vision for the Talent Cymru Development Programme is to create an athlete centered, competency based, talent development model that delivers podium success at the highest level.
To achieve this, two key performance objectives have been identified:
- Olympic Games success.Our priority is to create a pathway from Welsh Judo clubs to the British Judo Centre of Excellence (CofE), ensuring that Welsh athletes have the mental, physical, technical and tactical abilities to succeed at the highest level.
- Commonwealth Games success. Welsh Judo have set the target of becoming the most successful Welsh sport at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in South Africa, determined by the total gold medals won.
This page provides a brief overview of the Talent Cymru Development Programme. It details the application process, athlete identification and a brief insight into programme design, delivery and expectations.
Eligibility for the programme
To be eligible, players must meet the following criteria:
- Be a Welsh resident or
- Be born in Wales or
- Have a parent born in Wales
- Hold a Welsh Judo license
- Hold a British passport
Delivering Performance
We recognise that Welsh Judo can only achieve sustainable Olympic and Commonwealth success through a holistic, integrated and systematic method of developing talent. With limited resources, our focus must be directed where it can have the most significant impact.
The Talent Cymru programme will provide resources around athletes that have demonstrated performance competencies and behaviours that we believe make future high-performance success at Olympic or Commonwealth Games possible. As our aim is to ensure we are able to provide individual, bespoke service to athletes on the programme, we have identified a maximum number of fifteen athletes, split between three age groups: Cadet (under 18), Junior (under 21) and Senior; with a priority towards athletes with the possibility and desire to progress to Olympic success.
| Cadet year 1 | Born 2001 |
| Cadet year 2 | Born 2000 |
| Cadet year 3 | Born 1999 |
| Junior year 1 | Born 1998 |
| Junior year 2 | Born 1997 |
| Junior year 3 | Born 1996 |
| Senior | Born 1995 + |
Talent Cymru Development Application Details
Application forms should be completed in full and submitted together with a letter of recommendation from the applicants person coach with any supporting evidence they feel appropriate.
There are two application windows in 2016:
- 16th January – 5th February
- 16th July – 5th August
Application forms and supporting documentation should be forwarded to the Welsh Judo Association, either directly by email, or by hard copy to:
Talent Cymru Development Programme
Welsh Judo Association
Sport Wales National Centre
Sofia Gardens
CF11 9SW
If anyone would like further clarification on any aspect of the Talent Cymru Development Programme, please contact Darren Warner, Chief Executive Officer on 07867 385031