Talent Development Centres Announced

From 2014 a fourth Talent Development Centre will be added to the National Junior High Performance Programme.

Last month expressions of interest were invited to host a Talent Development Centre from 2014-2016.  After assessing the applications, Squash New Zealand is pleased to announce the following hosts:

• Far North.  Venue: Auckland.  Including: Northland and Auckland.  Head Coach: Mark Waldin.
• Northern.  Venue: Cambridge.  Including: Waikato and BOP.  Head Coach: Lindsey Walters.
• Central.  Venue: Palmerston North.  Including: Eastern, Central and Wellington.  Head Coach: Jason Fletcher.
• Southern.  Venue: Christchurch, with one camp further south.  Including: Canterbury (inclusive of top of the South clubs), Midlands, Otago and Southland.  Head Coach: Mike Allred.

The Far North Talent Development Centre (TDC) has been added to the mix due to popular demand, and because a population breakdown of the Districts justifies an additional TDC in this region.

TDCs cater to promising under 11 and under 13 players, and provide an opportunity for keen players to take their first step along the Squash NZ High Performance pathway.  Befitting such young players, it is a modest step, designed to allow players to 'test the waters'.  TDCs are a step up from District squads, but a step or two below the National Development Squad, which caters to the country's top under 15 and under 17 players.

Hosts/organisers of the TDCs work closely with Squash New Zealand to set camp fees, and the content that is delivered at camps.  This ensures consistency with the rest of the High Performance Programme, and maximises the benefit of the camps as a feeder programme to future national junior squad membership.  There are specific criteria governing selection of the TDCs, which can be found here.