Performance Development Centres & SINI

Athlete Support

There are a range of support services available for Performance athletes within Northern Ireland.

Athlete Support Programme

Athletics NI can apply to the Sport Northern Ireland for financial assistance for Northern Irish athletes. To be eligible athletes must first achieve a qualifying standard, and thereafter meet with the High Performance Manager, along with their coach.

These standards are the same as the SINI standards. Following this evaluation the High Performance Manager will decide whether to apply for financial assistance for that athlete. The SCNI Lottery Fund has the final say in who receives financial assistance.

Sports Institute of NI (SINI)

The Sports Institute Northern Ireland is based at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown.

The Major Games Programme works with sports that participate in the global multi-sport events: the Olympic / Paralympic Games and Commonwealth Games.

In the context of the UK and Ireland these sports tend to have significantly smaller participation than the more mainstream field sports, but their importance in lifting Northern Ireland athletes onto the international stage cannot be overemphasized.

The Sports Institute Northern Ireland (SINI) has an important role to play in preparing these athletes for the demands of international competition. Working through a system that is athlete focused, but coach driven, SINI works with athletes, coaches and national teams from the moment an athlete earns a place in SINI, to ensure that all areas of their development are addressed. Integrating physical, tactical, technical and mental preparation from SINI staff with the range of skills offered by coaches within the sport, the athlete is given opportunities to develop all aspects of their life.

Anti-Doping Education

As part of the drive by UKA to have all those working within Athletics in the UK educated regarding Anti-Doping, UKA Anti-DopingEducation Coordinator, Dave Walsh visited Athletics NI in January. Dave delivered a workshop covering everything from useful educational resources to athletes' rights regarding testing. Staff from Athletics NI found the workshop to be extremely informative and learnt a great deal about spreading the 100% ME message throughout the sport. If you would like to learn more about UKA anti-doping stratgey please contact catherine@athleticsni.org

Anti-Doping Resources

"One of the major challenges faced by the Anti-Doping Department is ensuring that appropriate and accurate information is available to all sectors of our sport. Athletes (of all ages and levels), coaches, parents, medical support staff, officials and other members of the athlete’s support group all need to able to access appropriate information in order to understand and comply with the anti-doping regulations." UK Athletics

UK Athletics' anti-doping rules apply to the sport of Athletics in Northern Ireland; and persons participating in the sport of Athletics under the jurisdiction of Athletics Northern Ireland are bound by and must comply in all respects with the Anti-Doping Rules. Athletics Northern Ireland shall recognise and take all necessary steps to give full force and effect within its jurisdiction to the anti-doping rules; and any sanctions given under the anti-doping rules.

Additional information can be found on the below websites: