The vision of the Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club Academy is to see more Aberdeen AAC athletes achieving major international selections. To achieve this, the mission of the Academy is to facilitate supplementary support for high performing members, allowing them to continue in their development.
Benefits
Academy athletes are entitled to reduced rates for physiotherapy services, access to informative seminars and activities, and may receive subsidized access to Aberdeen Sports Village.
For 2023/2024, Academy athletes will also receive a one-time reimbursement of £200 for travel expenses to compete in a championship event. Events that qualify for reimbursement include:
- British Athletics Championships (e.g. Track & Field, XC, Road, Trail, Hill Running, etc.)
- British Athletics Selection Races/Trials (e.g. Track & Field, XC, Road, Trail, Hill Running, etc.)
- England Athletics Championships (incl. Age Groups, Senior, Combined Events and Disability)
- British Milers Club Grand Prix Events
- All World Athletics Category D events or higher (e.g. Continental Tour, Label Road Races, Cross Country, etc.)
Any Academy athlete who is not eligible for the above competitions may submit to the subcommittee a request for expenses reimbursement for attending a comparable event which incurs significant travel expenses.
Additional services and benefits may be provided in the future.
Link to World Athletics Events Calendar which shows the list of permitted events together with their Category: https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results?
Criteria
The criteria for invitation in 2023/2024 are:
- the standard for the Outdoor England Athletics Age Group Championships for their age group, U15-U23, in the current year OR;
- the standard for the England Athletics Disability Championships for their age group, U15-Senior, in the current year OR;
- have met the standard for or been invited to the British Senior Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the current year OR;
- have been selected to compete for Scotland (international) by Scottish Athletics or Scottish Schools Athletics Association in cross country or road running at the U15 to Senior level, in the current year;
- AND have entered as an AAAC athlete AND competed in an AAAC vest in all Scottish championships entered in the current year.
- Para-athletes must have a national or international classification.
- Coaches may apply to the subcommittee on behalf of their athletes.
- The Academy subcommittee reserves the right to invite individuals who they feel are close to meeting the criteria and where capacity is available to offer them a place.
- Individuals in U15-U20 age groups will be invited to the Academy for 2 years at a time; older athletes will be invited for just 1 year.
- The subcommittee reserves the right to remove individuals from the Academy after a single year if they feel they have strayed significantly from the criteria.
- The subcommittee reserves the right to limit invitations to qualified athletes, capping the annual Academy membership for the sake of the overall sustainability of the Academy.
- The Aberdeen AAC committee has the final decision for invitation to the Academy.
Academy Leadership
The Academy is administered by an AAAC subcommittee consisting of AAAC Club Manager, Catriona Fulton, and coaches, Frank Gauld, Eoghan MacNamara, and James Joy, who are all responsible to the Aberdeen AAC executive committee. Additionally, one Academy athlete is included to represent their peers.
Partners
Aberdeen Sports Village
Spear Sports Injury & Physiotherapy
Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club 