National Junior Squads 

The RYA National Junior Pathway explained

Introduction

 Since 2000, the RYA has run one of the world's most extensive racing and race training programmes for sailors under 16. The overall aim for the Junior programme is:

"To develop sailors of the appropraite age and ability to win medals for RYA Team GBR at major international regattas at Youth and Olympic level"

After progressing through Class Association Open and Zone/Home Country squad training, the top young sailors can gain selection to the RYA National Junior Squads by competing on the class national competition series' which are usually also the National Junior Squad Indicator Events.

The RYA Junior programme aims to give young sailors the best start in their careers to enable seamless progression through the junior classes and into the Youth Programme.  It is important young sailors enjoy their sport so they can successfully reach their fully potential.

Sailing is a complicated sport, and fitting it all in around school and family commitments can be a challenge.  The programms fully embrace enrolling parents in helping the young sailors develop some basic planning and personal skills.

Key to this is having an effective plan covering all these different areas - School, family, exams, sailing. By the end of the junior programme the sailor should be familiar with the plan and how to use it.  If young sailors can start to become aware of the weekly schedule and begin to run their own checklists and reminders for their sailing, these are skills that will help them be successful as youth sailors where non-dependence is most important.

National Junior and Intermediate squad sailors are encoraged to consider themseleves as sports people, attending appropriate international competitions and develop robust routines within their training and racing to provide the perfect foundation for Youth and Olympic sailing. .

Junior sailors who are not initially invited for additional RYA Squad Training, and who continue participating within Open Training Programmes, can still be selected to Zone Squad training and National Junior Squad Training at a later date should they perform well and make strong progress. 

RYA National Junior Classes

• Optimist
• Topper
• Cadet
• Mirror
• Laser 4.7
• Bic Techno
• RS Feva

The Training Programme

The training programme usually commences in October or November and consists of a comprehensive range of National Squad training weekends, off-water workshops and international competition support to nurture the sailors towards achieving success at key international regattas the following summer. Support and information is also provided to parents so the development of young sailors can be mutually managed. 

What Support is available?

As part of the National Junior Squad programme sailors will normally:

• Attend all National Junior Squad training sessions
• Have the oppurtunity to access remote coaching support from the National Squad coach
• Receive sports science support including advice on psycology, fitness, meteorology, nutrition, hydration, growth and maturation
• Access international competition grants to international regattas
• Access discounted Henri Lloyd National Junior squad clothing
• Receive transitional advice for their National Junior coach to assist progression into a recognised Youth Class.
   

How to qualify?

In order to gain selection sailors must normally meet the eligibility criteria and compete in the National Junior Squad selection series detailed on the class specific pages and the relevant class association websites.

Please visit the following Junior Squad Selection page for further information on making an application, downloading the selection policy and viewing the specific class indicator events.

Squad Size

Depending on the class pathway you take the squad sizes can vary any where from 12 -32 sailors.

Whats next?

 Following participation in the National Junior Squad programme sailors are encouraged to progress into one of the RYA recognised Youth classes. Once they have got their boat sailors will go straight into the Open Training programme organised by the relevant Class Association/ RYA. A number of sailors will also be invited to receive additional RYA Volvo Transition Training throughout the winter in order to assist them in making the jump into the demanding Youth Classes.

 Further details regarding RYA Volvo Transition Training can be found on the RYA Volvo Transition Training specific pages.