GBR (Senior) Squad

11/08/2018

The British Wrestling Association would like to announce the formation of a GBR (Senior) Squad.

During and after the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games there has been an unprecedented level of cooperation across the Home Nations with the goal of combining forces to deliver the best possible results across the Home Nations at the next Commonwealth Games – Birmingham 2022.

The result is the formation of a male and female GBR (Senior) Squad, under the leadership of Eddy Kavanagh, who was England’s Assistant Team Leader at Glasgow 2014 and Team Leader at Gold Coast 2018.

The GBR (Senior) Squad will be overseen by a Coordination Group of representatives across the Home Nations.

British Wrestling is not funded by UK Sport for such a senior development squad and the running and participation will be largely on a volunteer basis with all the support of BWA staff that is possible.

The GBR (Senior) Squad will work closely with the National Talent Squad to ensure the smooth transition of talented athletes from one squad to the other.

The ultimate purpose of the GBR (Senior) Squad is to “Build for Birmingham” and candidates for the squad will be those with a good prospect of being selected for their Home Nation for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Call to Action for Athletes

Invitation letters will shortly be sent out to potential male and female squad members according to the following criteria:

In possession of a valid BWA membership and in good financial standing with the BWA
Athletes who were on the Gold Coast Long-Lists for their Home Nation
Athletes who have put themselves forward for 2019 Europeans/Minsk selection
Athletes who may not have the nationality eligibility but would add value to the squad as training partners
Younger athletes in transition from the National Talent Squad who would have a chance to be selected for Birmingham

The expected date for the first, pilot session is Sunday 16th September 2018.

Athletes attending on this and subsequent training days will not automatically be members of the GBR (Senior) Squad, but will put themselves in the frame for selection. For the selected athletes it is intended to offer individual development plans (IDPs), Strength and Conditioning and regular (even several times per week) on-the-mat training with GBR Support Coaches between the set piece squad training sessions.

Call to Action for Coaches

Coaches who believe they have what it takes to become one of a small group of volunteer GBR Support Coach should e-mail their interest in the role, by Wed 22 August, to the BWA Chief Executive at ce@britishwestling.org (Applications should include a CV and cover letter that outlines the motivation of the prospective coach and how they meet the attributes and availability requirements below).

Applications will be reviewed by a panel.

The GBR (Senior) Squad are looking for coaches with the following attributes:

On the mat technical coaching skills
Status within the athlete community
Respect (ability to establish rapport with the athlete and motivate)

In addition to the above, coaches applying should have the availability to spend time with the squad athletes to train intensively between set-piece squad sessions in order to be ready for the ramped-up funded programme nearer the Birmingham Games.

Whilst athletes and coaches “get into gear” the GBR Senior Squad management will be putting together Science and Medicine, Strength and Conditioning and Physio support programmes.

Said Tony Melling (Chair of the England Committee and Home Nation Director for England) “Working together will help Wrestling achieve the best possible results at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games which will be good for the future of wresting in the UK”

Said Jem Lawson (Chair of the British Wrestling Association) “I’m excited by this initiative. I was lucky enough to be present at the Gold Coast and watched all the Home Nation wrestlers in action. To be able to follow that up will be good for the development of those people and others, but it will also provide a target beyond the Home Nations which, I hope, will carry over into GBR selection for European and World Championships, and ultimately Olympic Games.”

Said Vasile Jornea (Home Nations Director for Scotland) “The Build for Birmingham project is a renewed GBR senior Team which will give 4 amazing years of training, camps and competition for all British performance athletes. We hope that will be the foundation of a strong GBR Team for the future of wrestling.”

Said Alan Jones (National Coach for Wales) “Best thing to happen well done all involved onwards and upwards”

Said Eddy Kavanagh (GBR (Senior) Squad Leader) “I am looking forward to working in partnership with all the Home Nations in developing a GBR senior squad. Hoping together we can achieve the best build possible for Birmingham 2022”