Talented Canterbury students latest to benefit from schools project

The next phase of the TASS Potential schools project is underway with forty youngsters from four schools in Kent having attended sports nutrition workshops.

TASS Potential aims to recognise and develop talent in schools and the Scheme are now partnering with SportsLab at Canterbury Christ Church University, in addition to Teesside University who began the programme in January.

The project is offering a meaningful introduction to the support services that are part of a TASS Award through bespoke workshops for students aged 11 to 18.

The local schools with pupils who will be benefiting from the collaboration are Langton Boys’ School and The King’s School, both in Canterbury, as well as Homewood School in Tenterden and Highworth Grammar School for Girls in Ashford.

All selected athletes have been identified as showing potential in Olympic or Paralympic sports. TASS hopes that the partnership will help to educate the school children about how to balance life as a student-athlete and prepare them for a dual career.

The first workshops focusing on sports nutrition took place this week and were delivered by ultra-runner Phil Anthony who is the current world record holder for treadmill 100km.

Over the next two months the youngsters will attend further workshops covering topics such as sport science testing, sports psychology, strength and conditioning, balancing the demands of a busy lifestyle and anti-doping.

The workshops are designed to offer a taster of the Scheme’s support services, with practical exercises and activities being delivered by qualified practitioners from the University.

Lucinda Howland, a sport scientist and certified strength and conditioning coach at Canterbury Christ Church University, said:

“This is a great opportunity for talented young sports people in Kent to experience scientific support similar to that available to full-time national and international level athletes and their own sporting role models.

“The standard of young athletes taking part in this project is impressively high including county, regional and national level athletes in sports such as hockey, swimming, cricket, athletics, rowing, judo, windsurfing and sailing.

“We hope that the workshops and additional support will be highly motivating, educational and enjoyable for all those athletes involved”.