“The impact of sporting role models is difficult to quantify, but their ability to inspire those around them is without question immensely powerful.”
Inspiring talent is central to the very best Gifted and Talented programmes and is the final pillar of the JAE framework.
Research and experience has demonstrated PE teachers, coaches and sporting heroes all play critical roles in inspiring young talented performers to take up and excel in sport.
Inspiration takes many forms and can be as simple as posters or celebrating success notice boards, awards evenings and fairplay awards. Sometimes the most powerful source of inspiration is less tangible and comes from simple but immensely powerful words of encouragement at times of particular challenge.
In any Gifted and Talented program, schools can use a variety of individuals to model positive attitudes and behavior towards building sporting and academic success. In more challenging areas and with harder to reach talented young performers the use of local role models can be highly effective in supporting Gifted and Talented programmes.
The Young Ambassador programmme can be used as an integral part of a schools or partnership wide G&T program to encourage G&T Young Ambassadors to understand their function as role models and to:
- Mentor other young G&T students.
- Support Multi-Skill Academies or co-deliver parts of the JAE Life-skills workshop series.
- Develop, sign up to and award school/partnership wide fairplay awards.
Some schools will have the opportunity to engage sporting role models into their programmes, through local connections or through national role model programmes like athletesDIRECT, Sporting Champions or changingLIVES.
Click here for JAE Talent Support Resources