Scottish Volleyball is pleased to unveil a refreshed structure for the Tartan Talent Pathway, marking the beginning of a new two-year cycle for our pathway athletes and National Team coaching appointments.
While the shape of the pathway remains consistent, the revised structure spreads sessions more evenly across the indoor season. This change is designed to provide more consistent development opportunities for over 150 athletes involved in the pathway, enabling them to train more regularly with peers at similar stages of development.
To support talent identification and improve access to the programme, new Tartan Talent Discover sessions will launch in August and September 2025. These open-access events are designed to give every eligible athlete in Scotland the opportunity to be seen by national coaches and to enhance the selection process across the entire pathway.
In another key development, Tartan Talent Academy athletes will now benefit from dedicated long weekend training camps, scheduled during school holidays throughout the 2025–2027 cycle. Initially prioritised for Academy athletes, these camps will also open to wider Tartan Talent participants after an early registration period.
For athletes graduating from the pathway, we’re delighted to confirm that the U22 training group will continue following a successful pilot. Now with its own coaching team and calendar, the U22 group will prepare for European U22 Championship Qualification in summer 2027, as well as participate in additional competitive and development opportunities over the next two years.
“These updates represent a significant step forward for the pathway,” said Ally Jack, Head of Performance and Coaching. “We’ve worked to strike the balance between accessibility and excellence, ensuring athletes are supported from the moment they enter the system, right through to international competition. It’s exciting to see the strength of our future national teams taking shape.”
Adam Paton, Performance and Coaching Logistics Operations Lead, added: “This evolution of the Tartan Talent Pathway is all about consistency, clarity and opportunity. We want every athlete in Scotland to have a fair chance of progressing, and every coach to have the right tools to support them. These changes have been shaped by feedback, and we’re confident they’ll deliver lasting impact.”
Recruitment for coaching and support staff roles within the Indoor National Team programmes will open in July 2025. Keep an eye on Scottish Volleyball’s social media and website for more details. We will be going into more detail on the camps, the benefits of the Tartan Talent Pathway, and how to get involved over the rest of this week!
Updated Pathway Structure
Tartan Talent Discover
Open access sessions in August and September across Scotland to identify athletes for the Tartan Talent Pathway.
Tartan Talent Futures
The entry point to the pathway:
- Regional training groups of 24–28 athletes
- Monthly sessions from October to March
- Access to S&C support, athlete tracking and national camps
Tartan Talent Academy
The central national training group:
- 35–40 athletes with the potential to represent Scotland at junior or senior level
- Monthly national training sessions during the indoor season
- Additional support and competition opportunities
Tartan Talent Team Alba
The top of the pathway and gateway to international competition:
- 20–25 athletes preparing for U18 and U20 SCA and CEV events
- Three sessions per month during the indoor season
- Two sessions per month from May to July
- Selected from Academy athletes, with flexibility for movement between groups