Objectives

The aim of the programme is to give talented athletes the opportunity to develop and s쳮d as athletes, to study flexibly alongside their training, and to transition into working life either during or after their sporting career. A key aspect of the Academy’s work is to provide athletes with the right kind of development environment, which supports their progression to becoming competitive and even elite athletes.

The main focus areas are the Skills Programme, the Football Programme and the Ice Sports Programme. The Skills Programme focuses on skills training, with an emphasis on developing a range of general sporting and physical skills. The programme is suitable for, among others, gymnasts, team gym enthusiasts, athletes in individual sports and participants in other team sports. Training sessions are generally designed to be exercises that develop and support all participants.

Coaches for the 2025–2026 academic year

Artistic Director: Katri Paananen

Football section: Leo Jalonen and Markus Ilmarinen

Ice Sports Programme: Tino Kohonen and Riikka Tullila

Elective module: Samu Tuomaala and Päivi Helander

Content of the programme The programme consists of general training designed to support the development of physical and motor skills, sport-specific training in the focus sports, training in body awareness and muscle maintenance, as well as content themes from the Finnish Olympic Committee’s ‘Grow into an Athlete’ teaching materials, amongst other things. In addition to sport-specific training, the programme emphasises versatility and attribute-based training. Sport-specific coaching is organised on average once a week outside school hours. The programme is part of the Jyväskylä Sports Academy’s cooperation network.

Secondary school camps for the 2025–2026 academic year

During the 2025–2026 academic year, 3–4 two-day camps will be organised for young athletes. Dates for the secondary school camps:

A) Week 44, 30–31 October 2025

B) Week 4: 22–23 January 2026

C) Week 15, 9–10 April 2026

This content has been translated using AI