PipelineAthlete Pipeline Philosophy And Implementation
U.S. Ski TeamThe U.S. Ski Team is the sport's national team, consisting of A, B and C teams nominated annually. The objective of the U.S. Ski Team is to field teams that are capable of national and international success. This success is measured by winning at the Olympic, World Championship, World Cup, World Junior Championship, Europa Cup and NorAm Cup events. Click here for more information. U.S. Development TeamThe Development Team operates under the guidance of the U.S. Ski Team, representing the pinnacle of the junior development pipeline. Like the A, B and C teams, the D team is also nominated annually. The purpose of the Development Team is to field a team that is best in the world at the junior level. Click here for more information. National Training GroupThe National Training Groups (U16 NTG; W FIS NTG; M FIS NTG) support the development of top regional junior athletes by bringing them together from across the country to train and compete as a team. Each NTG is a self-contained group, led by a head coach with the support of an assistant coach and physical trainer. Based out of the Center of Excellence in Park City, the NTG athletes have full use of the athletic and rehabilitative facilities available to National Team athletes. The groups work collaboratively with each other, as well as with clubs, academies and regional and national teams as deemed athletically appropriate. Selection to the NTGs is made according to criteria published annually, and posted to the USSA website in October, as are the NTG athletes named to the teams. The transition to participation in an NTG represents a partnership between the USSA and the athlete’s local club. It is handled with high levels of communication and transparency, recognizing that the best interests of the athlete are always of paramount importance. Full-time participation is preferable to part-time, because it minimizes travel/transfer, is more consistent, and provides a better athletic environment because of peer group consistency. This is especially true of the FIS group. National Performance SeriesThe National Performance Series (NPS) is a cornerstone of the national development system. The NPS brings a broad group of the best young athletes together at multiple times during the season for high quality head-to-head training and racing to stimulate their progress toward elite-level international competition and qualification for the U.S. Ski Team. Learn more about the 2016 - 2017 NPS projects and qualification: U16 Events: Copper Mountain - U16 December 2016 NPS Burke Mountain - U16 January 2017 NPS U16 NPS Standings - 7 Nations Cup Selections U19 Events National Development ProjectsNationals Race AnnouncementsAnnouncements 2017 U16 Championships U19 & U21 JR. National Championship U19 & U21 Championships |
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