Swimming: Performance centre to mirror US system

Swimming New Zealand (SNA) is introducing a performance centre based on the United States university student-athlete programme.

In partnership with International Pacific College (IPC) and the New Zealand Academy of Sport, SNZ will launch a Tertiary Performance Centre (TPC) in Palmerston North.

Each year 12 training and tuition scholarships, worth up to $44,000 each, will be available to swimmers meeting the necessary criteria.

The centre will use the WestEnd Aquatic Centre and be under the direction of Trevor Nicholls, the 2006 New Zealand world championship team coach.

The SNZ scholarships will cover tuition, accommodation and meals, together with coaching fees, pool hire and a contribution towards competition expenses.

Swimming New Zealand High Performance Director Clive Rushton was excited by the development.

"This is a unique initiative allowing New Zealand swimmers to emulate the most effective talent development system in the world for the last 50 years, which is that used by the American Universities," Rushton said.

He said that scholarship swimmers would be expected to at least improve their world rankings each year and have a target of selection in teams to Commonwealth or Olympic Games, World or Pan-Pacific championships.

Nicholls believed it was an exciting challenge.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for any swimmer. I will work closely with their home coach and do everything I can to produce superb results," Nicholls said.

The IPC offers a range of international study papers from diploma to masters levels. In addition to their normal studies, scholarship swimmers will be eligible to apply for exchange scholarships to train and study in Japan.

The initial intake will comprise four scholarships for one year of study, four for two years and four for three years and is reviewed on an annual basis.

- NZPA