RBC Training Ground

About

What is RBC Training Ground?

RBC Training Ground is a talent identification and athlete funding program designed to find young athletes with Olympic potential, and provide them with the resources they need to achieve their podium dreams.

With the belief that high performance sports should be accessible to all athletes that are talented, qualified and have the will to compete, this program travels the country searching for athletes between the ages of 14 and 25 that will fuel the Canadian Olympic pipeline.

Finding and Funding Future Olympians

See which RBC Training Ground grads are competing at the Tokyo Games.

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Testing

Athletes are assessed using basic tests that indicate speed, strength, power and endurance capabilities.

National Sport Organizations (NSO’s) use combinations of these test results to identify skills that may translate to strong potential in their respective sport. Each sport requires different physical abilities and skills, and therefore performance benchmarks vary by NSO. Field based assessment results must be viewed within the context of the requirements of the sport, the characteristics of the athlete, and the stage of their development.

Download PDF for virtual testing instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the age range 14 to 25 years?

The age range of 14 to 25 years aligns with long-term athlete development stages and the Canadian Sport for Life program. This age range allows us to capture those with early and late-stage Olympic potential. The probability of identifying an athlete below or above these age ranges, within our current RBC Training Ground partner sports, is very small.

How do I/does my child compare against the performance benchmarks?

Each sport requires different skills and physical abilities with performance benchmarks that are dictated by our National Sport Organization partners, taking age and gender into account. Athletes that participate in RBC Training Ground will receive a custom scorecard after they participate, which will help them compare their physical performance against our benchmarks.

How many athletes are tested?

Thousands of Canadians across the country participate in RBC Training Ground each year. We have tested over 10,000 athletes through the first six years of the program.

How do I/does my child participate?

Any Canadian aged 14-25 can participate by signing up for a local qualifying event.

Participants must first register with their basic information online, complete a more detailed Athlete Bio, and select the event they wish to attend.

By attending events in-person, athletes will be able to meet RBC Olympians, chat with on-site NSO representatives and meet fellow elite athletes. However, if an athlete cannot compete in-person due to a scheduling conflict or other environmental factors (i.e. COVID-19 restrictions), they may participate in the virtual qualifying option for a chance to be considered. Regardless of the testing format an athlete participates in (in-person or virtual), results will be weighed equally.

How does virtual qualifying work?

After registering for RBC Training Ground, athletes can select “Virtual Testing” from the drop-down list of RBC Training Ground events. Upon completion of their Athlete Bio, they will receive detailed instructions for how to complete our athletic tests remotely using minimal equipment. Exercises include a Shuttle Run, Sprint Test and Vertical Jump. Test scores will be submitted to the athlete’s profile along with a video recording as proof of completion. For more information, please contact RBC Training Ground.

Which sports are recruiting new athletes through RBC Training Ground?

There are nine National Sport Organizations (NSO) recruiting athletes through RBC Training Ground in 2022:

Bobsleigh Skeleton Canada
Canoe Kayak Canada
Cycling Canada
Freestyle Canada
Luge Canada
Rowing Canada
Rugby Canada
Speed Skating Canada
Volleyball Canada

Does RBC Training Ground visit all provinces and major cities across the country?

RBC Training Ground is committed to giving athletes all across Canada the opportunity to participate, knowing there may be undiscovered and talented athletes around the country. In 2022, qualifying event cities were chosen to give in-person testing opportunities to as many Canadian athletes as possible. However, we recognize there are still a number of factors that may limit an athlete’s ability to attend one of the events, which is why we’re proud to be offering a virtual testing option as a safe, accessible, equally-as-credible alternative option once again.

What happens after I compete virtually or at a qualifying event?

After your event, your results will be evaluated by our participating NSOs and you may be invited to complete second-phase testing with one, or more, of the sports. This phase of testing will look different depending on which sports are interested in your abilities, and may require you to travel to a location outside of your city of residence or where you competed in the qualifying phase.

How are athletes selected to attend the RBC Training Ground National Final?

Coaches and talent identification representatives from the participating NSOs will select athletes based on a combination of athlete performances – qualifying event or virtual testing results – sport history, and second-phase testing sessions. NSOs are looking for athletes who met or exceeded the predetermined benchmarks set by each of the sports.

What is the National Final?

Based on the results of all 2022 RBC Training Ground qualifying (and virtual) testing, and the subsequent sport-specific testing, 100 of the top athletes as nominated by our NSO partners will be invited to the National Final. This all-expense paid trip (host city and venue TBD) will represent the final stage of testing prior to selection of the RBC ‘Future Olympians’ – the top 30 athletes who will be selected for continued support through the program and their identified sport.

This event will take place in Fall 2022. More information will be provided to those selected.

What happens after the National Final?

The RBC Training Ground team will reach out to all athletes who attend the National Final with more information after the event. Thirty athletes from across the country will be selected as RBC Future Olympians. The applicable NSO will receive funding assistance that will be used towards each RBC Future Olympian’s travel, competition, training camp expenses, coaching, nutrition, and other sport-related costs, at the sole discretion of the NSO. These funds will be administered by the Canadian Olympic Foundation to the applicable NSO directly.

Is RBC Training Ground open to Para athletes?

At this time, we are focused on finding the next generation of athletes with Olympic potential. Para sport has different requirements for their athletes based on the different classifications and ability categories within each discipline. For more information on opportunities within Canadian Paralympic Sport please visit paralympic.ca/paralympian-search.

How has RBC committed to fueling the Olympic movement in Canada?

The Olympic Games represent excellence, teamwork, diversity and commitment —the same values that hold true for RBC, its employees, clients and communities. That connection is a major reason why RBC has been Team Canada’s longest-standing corporate partner since 1947. This commitment to the Olympic movement is demonstrated through the RBC Olympians program, as well as through RBC’s support for the next generation of Olympic hopefuls.

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