Boccia UK, together with Boccia England, Disability Sport Northern Ireland, Scottish Disability Sport and Disability Sport Wales, is launching its first-ever Talent Transition Squad.

We caught up with Performance Director Greg Baker and Head of Performance Pathway Liz Fisher to find out more…..

So, what is the Boccia UK Talent Transition Squad all about?

Greg: We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to develop talent so we have the strength and depth within the British squad competing at major events like Paralympic Games, World Championships and World Cup events. The Talent Transition Squad will help us to support selected athletes from across the UK that show potential of competing at the highest levels.

Liz: Yes, it’s all about bridging the gap between players competing domestically and the athletes that are supported by the World Class Performance programme. In the past, it’s perhaps been quite difficult to break through from domestic levels into international competition. And that’s what we want to change. We are employing a Talent Transition Squad coach and the athletes within the Talent Transition Squad will receive opportunities to play internationally and to attend training camps as well as support from practitioners.

It sounds really exciting….

Liz: We are super excited! It’s the first time Boccia UK has ever had a Talent Transition Squad with its own Talent Transition Coach. We’ve had individual athletes such as Louis Saunders and Will Arnott who have gone through a transition period between Home Nation and Boccia UK support but nothing like this before!

Greg: It’s a really interesting time for Boccia as a sport. Globally, it is growing and evolving. For the first time in Paris 2024, male and female players will be able to compete in separate events at a Paralympic Games so there are more medals available to us. That’s why it’s so important that we are developing the next generation of talent.

What’s the ultimate aim?

Greg: We showed at the World Championships in December that we are capable of being a number one nation in the world. For the first time ever at a Worlds, Great Britain featured in three finals. But to be the very best, we need to be honing the talents of those athletes who might not be at World Class Performance squad level just yet but are showing huge potential.

How many athletes will be supported?

Greg: Initially, it will be quite a small group led by a Talent Transition Squad coach but our hope is that it will grow in the future. It’s a long-term programme which we hope will help produce the great players of the future.

If selected onto the Talent Transition Squad, do I have to stop working with my current coach?

Liz: Absolutely not! In fact, we want Home Nation or personal coaches to be very much part of the player’s journey. They are crucial to the delivery of the Talent Transition Squad and will also have the opportunity to develop skills along the way.

Players selected for the Talent Transition Squad will still attend Home Nation training camps but they’ll also be invited to certain World Class Performance squads too so they can rub shoulders and compete alongside our international athletes.

What is the role of the Talent Transition Squad coach?

Liz: We are currently recruiting a Talent Transition Coach and it will be their job to lead on individual training programmes and the coaching of Talent Transition Squad players at camps and competitions. The Talent Transition Coach will also help provide coaching input in their home training environments. We see it is as a strong partnership between Boccia UK and the Home Nations.

What sort of competitive opportunities would be open to a player in the Talent Transition Squad?

Liz: This year, we have seen the introduction of International Challenger events which are a fantastic introduction to overseas competition. Those events will be really important.

In fact, in 2022, five players outside of the World Class Performance programme have represented Great Britain at these events. Robyn McBride, Fiona Muirhead, Kayleigh Haggo, Reshad Saraj and Sally Kidson have all travelled and competed for Great Britain and it’s been fantastic for their development.

The UK domestic competition circuit will continue to play a key role too.

What are you looking for when you select athletes for the Talent Transition Squad?

Greg: We know that to become a great player at the very top of your game, you need to be an independent learner and a fantastic problem solver. Boccia is a sport which involves making the right decisions at the right time, even when you feel under pressure. Great boccia players can think ahead through multiple different scenarios of how a game can play out and are able to maximise those opportunities.

If you’re selected for the Talent Transition Squad, do you automatically move onto the World Class Performance programme?

Greg: We will regularly review Talent Transition Squad athletes to see if they are meeting the standards to be selected for the World Class Programme. And equally, athletes will also be expected to reach certain standards and demonstrate a positive performance trajectory to continue within the Talent Transition Squad.

What next? How do I apply?

Liz; Home Nations can nominate athletes and Boccia UK can also invite athletes to join the Talent Transition Squad if they feel they have potential.

There will be a full selection policy with Minimum Performance Standards that will provide clear guidance as to how selection decisions will be made.