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 2022/2023, Academy athletes will also receive their choice of payment of their ASV membership for 12 months or a one-time reimbursement of £192 for travel expenses to compete in a championship event. Events that qualify for reimbursement include:
The British Athletics Championships.
or
European XC trials which are part of the 2019/2020 British Athletics Cross Challenge Series, held on 23rd November 2019 at Sefton Park, Liverpool.
or
Inter Counties (requires selection), part of the 2019/2020 British Athletics Cross Challenge Series, held on 7th March 2020 at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough.
or
England Athletics U15, U17, U20, U23 Indoor or Outdoor Championships. There’s a Parallel Success disability event runs alongside these again with standards for entry.
or
England Athletics Senior Championships and UKCAU championships run along with the England Athletics Disability Championships.
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.
Criteria
The criteria for invitation in 2022/2023 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 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 