Prior to the start of the academic year, PacificSport Athlete Academy participants will participate in a functional assessment conducted by a certified physiotherapist from the PacificSport team. Sport-specific functional assessments are aimed at optimizing performance and preventing injury by identifying the body’s current physiological weaknesses and developing a plan for improvement.

In addition to a functional assessment, Academy participants will take part in three (3) field testing sessions a year to track their athletic progress. Field testing gauges a variety of physical abilities including explosive power, balance, coordination, strength, speed, muscular endurance, flexibility, aerobic power, and more. The results are measured against provincially established benchmarks to identify long-term athletic potential.

IGNITE Athlete Development Program

PacificSport, in partnership with the Canadian Sport Centre Pacific, launched the IGNITE Athlete Development Program to the athletic community in 2011. IGNITE is a multi-sport physical skills program designed for athletes between the ages of 12 and 17 aimed at building complete champions, from the ground up. The goal of the program is to help young athletes develop a more complete foundation of strength and athleticism and reduce the frequency of injury.

The IGNITE curriculum will provide Academy participants with access to multi-sport training sessions intended to increase motor development and physical fitness. These sessions will ensure physical competencies are developed in age and stage appropriate manner. The foundations of athleticism, rooted in track and field, gymnastics and strength and conditioning, are often neglected in the early stages of athletic development. IGNITE athletes will benefit from foundational training and a variety of sport readiness sessions including: mental training, injury prevention, nutrition and personal goal setting.