Team Durham Performance is an initiative designed to maximise the development of focus sport University clubs and individual athletes.

There are currently 28 clubs included in the Performance programme. The programme itself is split into two modules: Club Development and Club & Athlete Performance.

The Development module concentrates on the broader side of University sport, such as the creation of long term development plans, assistance in finding potential sponsorship and developing alumni links. The Athlete Performance module is concerned with the provision of strength and conditioning programmes, individual athlete support, circuit training, and the provision, where possible, of high class sport specific coaching.

University clubs are divided into tiers which indicate where individual sports sit in the current Performance structure.

We have full time coaching provision for Basketball, Boats, Cricket, Fencing, Hockey, Lacrosse and Tennis.

Strength and Conditioning is a large part of the Student Athlete Performance programme. At the present time we have two full time senior coaches and three junior coaches. Strength and Conditioning programmes are personalised to the individual athlete’s requirements and support is on hand for both clubs and individuals seven days a week. Many clubs and athletes also take advantage of the nutritional, life management and sports psychology support that is readily on hand.

At the heart of our Performance sport programme is the development of the individual athlete. We pride ourselves on our ability to develop programmes that maximise the potential of the individual whilst, at the same time, ensuring that the necessary support is put in place to assist in academic success. 90 of our elite athletes are mentored on an annual basis by senior staff within the University, the majority of which are from departments outside of 'sport'. The mentor programme ensures that we are always in touch with our athletes and have in depth knowledge of the personal challenges that they are facing. Staff mentors from outside of the Sports Department ensure that our student athletes are always presented with a balanced and well rounded perspective.

Scholarship and Bursary Opportunities: Please click here

Durham University Sport is also a Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme hubsite, and currently has over 20 student athletes involved in the TASS programme.

2008/09 Tier Structure:

Tier 1A:

Tier 1B:

Tier 2A:

Tier 2B:

All of the clubs down to and including Tier 2B are invited to be part of the Performance programme. Contracts are signed between Team Durham and the individual athletes to recognise the commitment of both parties to improve the level of club and individual athlete performance.

Contracts are designed to reflect the level of support that is in place.

Individual high performing athletes, whose clubs are not included in the programme, are invited to apply to be considered for the Athlete Performance module. For information on this, the athlete should contact Quentin Sloper:

q.r.sloper@dur.ac.uk, 0191 334 2193