RYA Volvo Youth Programme 

The Youth Pathway explained

Introduction

 The RYA Volvo National Youth Squad programme is designed to enable the best British sailors to develop their racing skills so that they can succeed on the international stage. It is aimed at sailors with the potential for world-class performance.  RYA Volvo National Youth Squad sailors have the potential to meet one of three criteria: 

• To qualify for Team GBR for the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships
• To win a medal at the World or European Championships
• To successfully follow an Olympic pathway

The RYA employs a specific National Class Coach and contracts a series of performance specialists to oversee the development of the sailors. They are directed and managed by the RYA Youth Racing Manager.

Classes

The following classes are included in the RYA Volvo National Youth Squad programme:

• Laser Radial girls or boys
• Laser Standard boys
• 420 girls crews and boys crews
• 29er girls crews, boys crews, mixed crews
• Windsurfers RSX boys and girls

The Training Programme

The RYA Volvo National Youth Squad programme consists of up to 8 weekend camps over the course of the year. The majority of these camps take place over autumn and winter, although sessions are planned in to help sailors prepare for summer international events.

 Fitness training and conditioning support forms an integral part of all our RYA Volvo National Youth Squad programmes. Fitness testing takes place at three squad camps each year. Core stability training and specialist strength and conditioning education is also provided at this time.

The programme takes place at a variety of inland and coastal locations. Further training camps may be run as required.

What Support is available?

Support given to RYA Volvo National Youth Squad sailors As part of the RYA Volvo National Youth Squad programme sailors will normally:

• Attend all the RYA Volvo National Youth Squad camps over the course of the year;
• Receive assistance from the RYA National Coach as required in preparing training and competition plans;
• Attend fitness and sports science support days;
• Follow a needs based training and coaching programme;
• Have access to remote support from the RYA National Coach;
• Receive direct support and guidance from an RYA Volvo Youth Squad sports psychologist;
• Receive further sports science support including information and advice on nutrition, strength and conditioning and hydration;
• Compete in a number of mandatory domestic competitions;
• Compete in a number of international competitions;
• Have access to a subsidised Musto National Squad jacket & T-shirts.
• A small number of international competition grants are available for selected sailors. Details of how to qualify for these grants are published on the RYA website.

Eligibility and selection

To be eligible for selection, sailors must:

• At the time of selection be eligible to compete for Great Britain at an ISAF sanctioned event as defined in ISAF Regulation 17.
• For the International Competition period be aged U19 on the 31 December 2010, or exceptionally U19 on the 1st September 2010 (see below).
•  For the Main training period be U18 on the 31 December 2010, or exceptionally U18 on the 1st September 2010 (see below).
• In exceptional circumstances, sailors who do not comply with 3.1 may nevertheless be eligibly if expressly confirmed by the RYA Racing Manager. Such sailors will be  required to carry GBR on their sails and may be required to sign a written declaration of intent to comply with 3.1

In order to help sailing partnerships stay together, and allow sailors to progress at a rate consistent with the maturation of their academic peers sailors remain eligible for selection for the international competition phase when a member of the team is U19 on the 1 September 2010, provided they were born between 1 September and 31 December inclusive. For the main training phase sailors remain eligible for selection when a member of the team is U18 on 1 September 2009, provided their date of birth is between 1 September and 31 December inclusive. This is also applicable to singlehanded sailors.

It is anticipated that this will help older sailors, who in some cases may be in their final school year, to remain part of the programme. Previously they would not otherwise have been eligible due to their sailing age.

Selection to the RYA Volvo National Youth Squad (NYS) is conditional upon a full commitment to all squad training requirements and adherence to a personal competition and training programme. Class specific  RYA Volvo NYS information can be found on each of the individual class pages

To make and application for the RYA Volvo National Youth squad, download the full selection policy or view the training dates and current squad members please click on the following link Youth Squad