WCL Strategic Plan

World Class Lifting has worked closely with key partners to develop a strategic plan for 2009-13, against which the performance of both the weightlifting and powerlifting programmes will be measured.  This will help to clarify the remit of WCL and ensure that WCL works in conjunction with the Home Country NGB's and the National Disability Sports Organisations.

 

Vision

To develop a sustainable World Class Programme for Olympic Weightlifting and Paralympic Powerlifting¹, that prioritises lifters of international standard capable of medal success at major Championships and is respected within the UK and internationally.

 

¹All references to powerlifting throughout this article refer to disability powerlifting

 

Strategic Areas

 

World Class Lifting will achieve its vision by developing four strategic areas - Athlete Performance Pathway, Talent Identification, Key Partnerships and Corporate Governance.

 

Athlete Performance Pathway - to develop the staffing and facility infrastructure to support athletes on Talent, Development and Podium Programmes:

•  To run a centralised programme for both Weightlifting and Powerlifting out of the National High Performance Centre at Leeds Metropolitan University
• To work with the Home Country National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and National Disability Sport Organisation’s (NDSOs) to create a well defined athlete pathway
• To support the Home Country NGB’s in the development of Regional Performance Centres in line with their performance plans
• To create an environment that allows lifters to follow a career pathway while still competing at the highest level
• To recruit, develop and retain quality coaching, sports medicine, sport science and performance lifestyle support staff
• To implement individualised support packages and agreed performance targets for each athlete
• To minimise the effects of injury on athletes’ performances
• To ensure all athletes in the Extended Olympic Squad (weightlifting) and in the Podium, Development and Talent Squads (powerlifting) are on the National Registered Testing Pool (NRTP) and complying fully with the Anti-Doping Administration & Management System (ADAMS)
• To work with BWLA to maximise the domestic competition structure

 

Talent Identification⁵  - to identify, develop and support talent through existing, transfer and new talent programmes:

• To work with BWLA, WWF, WS, NIWLA to support the athlete pathway from Home Country NGB youth / talent weightlifting programmes 
•  To work with the NDSO’s, UK Sport and the Home Country Institutes of Sport to ensure that there is a clear athlete pathway from any powerlifting talent identification programmes through to the WCL Talent programme
• To work with UK Sport and the Home Country Institutes of Sport in the setting up and running of talent transfer programmes
• To develop powerlifting profiles to ensure talent identification is targeted at the correct populations to optimize success

 

⁵With the reduction in UK Sport funding to weightlifting, WCL will focus on talent identification in the powerlifting programme. WCL will provide support and advice to BWLA and the Home Country NGB’s to develop their weightlifting talent identification programmes and the performance pathway below the WCL Programme.

 

Key Partnerships– to work with the Home Country NGB’s and other identified partners to maximise the opportunities presented to the sports of Weightlifting and Powerlifting through the hosting of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games:

 

• To develop the partnership with Leeds Metropolitan University
• To work with the Home Country NGBs to avoid duplication and ensure that preparation for the Commonwealth Games teams for 2010 and 2014 is both maximised and used as a stepping stone to future Olympic and Paralympic success
• To support Weightlifting Scotland in the delivery of the Scottish Performance Plan
• To work with key partners for Powerlifting including the NDSO’s, the Paralympics GB, Dwarf Athletic Association, Spina Bifida Association and the Home Country Disability Sport Federations
• To support UK Sport, British Olympic Association, Paralympics GB and The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) in fund raising activities as and when required
• To maximise the support available from the Talented Athlete Sports Scholarship programme (TASS) and the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence qualification (AASE)

 

Corporate Governance - To provide leadership, management and strategic direction to WCL:

• To work towards the integration of WCL with BWLA by March 2010 at the latest
• To develop a clear internal and external communication strategy
• To develop a clear staffing structure and to clarify roles and responsibilities of both employed and volunteer staff
• To address any issues identified by the AHL review
• To support BWLA and the other Home Country NGBs in their development of a clear marketing and promotion strategy