What is TASS?
I mentioned in my introduction to MST that I am a member of TASS. It is unlikely many of you have heard of it or understand what it does so I will try and explain a bit about what it’s all about as well as the impact it has had on my training as an orienteer.
TASS stands for Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme. It was set up to help high ranked older junior and younger senior athletes while they are at Higher Education Institutes in England and to keep them competing at a high level within the sport while studying. The normal award is a package that is worth £3,500, which includes services and support. National Governing Bodies are issued with so many places and award places based on their own selection policies. A full list of sports currently on the program can be found here.
Eligibility
For an athlete to be eligible to receive the scholarship they have to hold a British passport and be studying at a recognised education institute in England; i.e. a Scot can have a scholarship if they attend an English Institution but an English student can’t have a scholarship if they attend a Scottish Institution.
The award is made annually and runs from 1st October to the 30th September the following year. After each period you are reassessed for the next year’s award.
Support & Services
The £3,500 grant is split into a number of smaller sums covering a variety of areas. These areas cover all the main expenses associated with competing in the sport. The main parts covered by the orienteering award are; weekly training expenses, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, training camps, competitions and equipment.
A local hub manages the expenses and services, of which there are about 15 in the country. I am fortunate to live less than a ten minute walk from mine. They deal with expenses claims but also provide the services associated with the award; physiotherapy, strength and conditioning (S&C), physiological testing and a few others.
Physio costs can hinder athlete progress - not at TASS
Changes
Before coming to University I didn’t have to think a huge amount about the financial implications of my participation in orienteering. However since moving away from home I can now see the expenses that I generate just to train and compete in this great sport are indeed reasonably high and would have a significant impact on a student budget. TASS has helped with this transition as I don’t have to wonder where the money is coming from to buy equipment, travel to competitions/training or entering future events.
And it’s not just financial help letting me continue what I was doing at home. Because of the short distance between where I live and the local ‘hub’ I have been able to take advantage of a brand new S&C facility (basically a gym) built specifically for TASS athletes and staffed by very knowledgeable coaches (I am hoping the work I’ve been putting in at the gym over the winter is going to pay off while running over rocky ground, through thick forests and climbing steep hills!) Quick access to physiotherapy if I pick up a niggle or minor injury has also been really beneficial as well as the knowledge that I would get full support should something major happen is also reassuring.
So all in all TASS provides a helping hand for those training and studying at the same time, and is playing a part in nurturing the next generation of sporting champions.
