Irish Hockey Association launches its ASPIRE programme
GREATER SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES ANNOUNCED BY IRISH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
Friday, 18 May 2007
The Irish Hockey Association has unveiled a new programme to provide improved financial support for its international hockey athletes.
The new ASPIRE programme will see selected international athletes receive increased financial assistance to help unleash their full potential and drive Ireland’s national hockey teams to Olympic Games and World Cups. The unprecedented move will see ASPIRE hockey athletes contracted centrally to the IHA and provides important support to elite hockey athletes’ increasing arduous training and competition commitments.
“This is fundamentally a big step for Irish hockey, as we are at last reaching a position where we can start providing our international hockey players with the financial support that they desperately need and deserve,” said IHA Chief Executive Paul Varian today. “We’ve put in place strong High Performance planning, professionalised important coaching staff and secured key high performance service providers. ASPIRE, and what it represents, is the next important step.”
A minimum of €200,000 has been committed to ASPIRE for the remaining campaign for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, from government, corporate and private donor contributors. And the IHA aims to expand the Programme towards 2010 World Cup and 2012 London Olympic Games goals.
“We’re only taking baby steps at the moment, but our ultimate goal is to bring our senior national squads to a level of semi-professionalism,” continued Varian. “ASPIRE at present is really only helping cover players’ costs in training and playing for Ireland, but we’d ultimately like to take it further. We know that if we are serious about competing at the highest levels of international hockey, this is a fundamental step that we have to take.”
Key contributors are the Irish Sports Council, through its International Carding Scheme and Performance Planning Grant for 2007, and Sport Northern Ireland (formerly the Sports Council for Northern Ireland), who is channelling the Living Costs component of its Athlete Support Programme through ASPIRE. ESB and Howard Eurocape have also pioneered corporate sector support for the Programme through joining as Corporate Champions. Private donations can also be made directly to specific players through the IHA’s fundraising vehicle Friends of Hockey. And in an important move, athletes’ employers are being encouraged to increase time away from work for hockey internationals under a new Employer Supporter Programme. Under this Programme, which also falls under ASPIRE, employers will be given branding and corporate hospitality benefits in return for heightened flexibility and cooperation with athletes’ leave.
“We couldn’t even start this programme without the generous support of the Irish Sports Council, Sport Northern Ireland and pioneering Corporate Champions ESB and Howard Eurocape,” continued Varian. “We are hugely grateful to them all for their crucial support to this Programme, not to mention the members of Friends of Hockey and the Employer Support Programme who have already come on board with ASPIRE.”
Under the ASPIRE Programme, selected athletes will receive extra support to cover basic subsistence, out-of-pocket training costs and unpaid leave from work. Forty-eight men’s and women’s players have currently been contracted, the bulk of whom are senior squad members. However, a special scholarship programme has been included in ASPIRE to provide mentoring and basic financial support for exceptional youth players. The selection of athletes to be awarded ASPIRE contracts is reviewed after each major tournament campaign, meaning all current contracted players would be reassessed after this August’s Eurohockey Nations Championships.
Ends.
For Further Information, Please Contact:
Paul Varian, Chief Executive Officer, Irish Hockey Association
Tel: 01 260 0028; Email: paul.varian@hockey.ie
ASPIRE DETAILS
A programme to increase support to Ireland’s hockey international athletes and fulfil their potential to achieve World Cup and Olympic goals for Irish hockey.
Key Contributors
Government
Irish Sports Council (€125,000)
Sport Northern Ireland
Corporate Champions
ESB
Howard Eurocape
Friends of Hockey
A private fundraising programme of the IHA, through which support can be geared to a specific athlete (or group of athletes)
Employer Supporter Programme
An arrangement between the IHA and the employers of athletes, whereby extra time away from work is granted to athletes in return for some branding and corporate hospitality benefits.
Funding Committed To ASPIRE Until 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
At least €200k
ASPIRE Athlete Grades
All athletes receiving ASPIRE support are centrally contracted to the IHA, binding them to training, competition and conduct commitments.
Band A (receiving more support than Band B)
Core national squad athletes performing well internationally and training at the highest level
Band B
Talented national team players capable of developing into top, senior internationals
Can be playing in Development or Senior international squads
No age restrictions (but most likely 19-24 yr old group)
Benefits Received For Band A & B Athletes
Carding support:
Full conditioning support/Gym membership (non SINI)
Local sports science/medicine support (Physio’/nutrition/specialists/scans)
Subsistence support:
Cover costs of all training (regional travel etc)
Fulfil Program:
Cover unpaid leave or those who can reduce working days (ie 4 days per week)
Prevent students etc having part time jobs
Olympic Scholarship:
U16-U18 players with exceptional talent, where support is required to ensure their progress.
Goal is to ensure the athlete continues playing hockey and develops an elite-minded approach early in career
Benefits Received For Olympic Scholarship Athletes
Assignment of individual, local mentor and ‘buddy’
Included in national team development squad’s preparation regime and services
Financial support towards travel costs (relating to Irish team involvement)