The National Talent Orientation Camp (NTOC) is held annually in January. The aim of the NTOC is to prepare talented young sports people aged 14-16 for the personal, sporting, academic and vocational challenges beyond compulsory education and 2012.
The camp is a unique opportunity for talented young sports people to experience a multi-sport camp and train alongside other like minded young people. They get to meet hugely successful and respected role models from their sport and from other sports as well as find out from Paralympians and Olympians what it really takes to be the best in their sport.
The success of the camp is down to close collaboration with the six National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (sailing, canoeing, cycling, rowing, hockey, and wheelchair basketball). They select the young people, deliver of some of the workshops and organise the physical training sessions.
The camp is a blend of training sessions, workshops and key note speeches. The athletes will undergo several scenarios that may happen in the life of a real high performance athlete. Parents and teacher mentors are encouraged to attend the final day workshop. There is also a university road show to help the young performers find out about the sport support at those universities.
The Camp is funded through the Gifted & Talented strand of the government PE and Sport Strategy for Young People (PESSYP).
Objectives of NTOC
- To provide identified young people with the knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence to fulfil their potential in their chosen sport.
- To offer insights into the world of performance sport for young people, both exploring the expectations and demands, and allow them time to reflect on their own talent and ability, attitudes and ambition.
- To stimulate creativity and desire within the young sports people through an understanding of the history of their sport and the endeavours and innovation of the greatest performers within it.
- To prepare young people for life beyond compulsory education either through AS and A2 examinations or vocational education and training.
- To encourage the young sports people to continue in education and move into further and higher education where appropriate and relevant.
What the young Athletes had to say about the camp
"This camp has been one of the best experiences in my life up to now. I have loved meeting new people it has been fantastic and I would love to do it again."
"This has been an amazing experience and I have benefited from everything. I would love to do it all again and I think other people would too."
"I would like to say thank you to everyone that has made the camp work. Hopefully I will be standing on that podium in 2012, 2016 and 2020."
Click here to download a National Talent Orientation Camp information sheet
Click here to view the 2009 camp video
For further information about the National Talent Orientation Camp please email sport@youthsporttrust.org