SURVEY RESULTS

There were 26 responses to the recent survey aimed at the county providing what the athletes require in the future, and finding out what they thought of our progress so far. Twenty five may not seem like many, but from past experience I know that athletes are reluctant to fill in forms unless you stand over them, even when it means getting a free health check on a treadmill. The following showed up on the results.

13 (50%) compete regularly in other sports. If this is a representative figure then we should be looking at the question of making our sport attractive enough to retain them.
Most of them train 3 times per week for athletics
All except 1 were in favour of County Squad (or 2012) training.
Only eight do not train at weekends, and of those, six would train if there were a coach available.
Saturday afternoon was the most popular weekend training choice, but by no means a clear favourite.
A general request for more event specific training days, but of those, several were in the 2012/County squads and did not attend any of their sessions anyway, which leads me to think we should try to make them more attractive.
Most would travel further for better competition.
65% were interested in winter T & F competition
70% were interested in weekend training ‘camps’, and therefore worth looking into as a means of making the winter training more attractive.
Ten were interested in a training camp longer than a weekend.

Comments included a) more circuit type fitness training b) Insufficient technical instruction during training c) A higher standard of coaching is required to make attending specific event training. (This particular athlete never attended any 2012 session, but it is a comment worthy of consideration)

RUGBY WORKSHOP

At a recent rugby workshop I noted that many of the participants were poor in flexibility and it made me wonder if we do enough for our athletes. On a positive note, the athletes that were present showed up as being the fittest. The least motivated group were the 12-13 year olds, and if this applies to Rugby then maybe it also applies to athletes and therefore we should consider how to keep them motivated and challenged.

CORNWALL AND THE 2012 OLYMPICS

There was a forum at the Eden Project on June 21^st to discuss the issues around bidding for a slice of the exposure that come with the Games, being applicable to both sports and the commercial sector. The part of the proceedings concerning us and other sports would be to bid for a pre games training camp. For this there is a specific format to follow, and Councillor Andrew Mitchell at the County Council is the man coordinating this and assures me that a meeting will be held soon for interested parties. No doubt I shall be representing the interests of athletics, but this is not a one-man band, so any ideas, especially about accommodation, will be most welcome. Other sports that spring to mind include sailing, windsurfing, swimming (withy the new 50m pool), mountain biking, badminton and triathlon.

There is obviously a strong likelihood of Carn Brea being in the frame with its new 50m swimming pool and indoor and outdoor facilities, and that to me sends up signals of electronic timing and distance measuring.

The bid must be completed by the end of the year and submitted to the regional body, which will then assess it and submit it to LOCOG in London. LOCOG make their selection next year and then present the end results at the Beijing Games.

Present at the forum were representatives from a number of sports, all District Councils, the Sports Partnership, Carn Brea Leisure Centre etc. So we await the next move. It was also stated that up to 130,000 volunteers would be needed for the Games, so if you want to try, go to www.london2012.org/en/gettinginvolved/volunteering/ or www.sportengland.org/southwest_index

COACHES FORUM

Scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday 1^st October at Grampounds, and as usual there is a varied programme of events that will prove interesting, so PLEASE, put it in your diary now. The detailed programme will be released very shortly, but I can assure you, it will be interesting to everyone.

ENDURANCE DAY

Sunday 20^th October has been booked for a full day at the Crantock Bay Hotel to include beach training, sand dune training, talks and informative ‘lectures’ plus lunch. The international participants are still in the process of confirming their attendance, but a date worth diarising.

POWER OF TEN

At a meeting this week in Exeter with Dave Moorecroft and Zara Hyde-Peters, Mo Pearson and myself were introduced to the POWER OF 10 scheme. Dave Moorecroft stated that “The success of the 2012 Olympics will depend upon the success of athletics, and therefore we have a responsibility to our sport.”

The POWER OF 10 is due to be launched nationally on 20^th July, when performance expectation levels will be published, based upon the 10^th best anticipated performance figures for each specific event and across all age groups. The database already has over 20 000 athletes listed with their performance details, and with figures of this nature it can only be done on the internet. So we shall for example be able to see where our athletes are in terms of regional and national rankings at any time.

These national, regional and county threshold figures will be revued each year, and our task will be to get as many athletes as possible over the threshold. By increasing at county and regional level, the depth of quality over the threshold figure of 10, there should be an increase in quantity of athletes at the top of the chain, and bingo, more finalists at the Olympics. So what we have to do is look seriously at performance figures and talk it over with our athletes.

Although this is performance related to athletes, all other aspects of the sport are being looked into to improve the support structure.

A reward system is also being looked into, with a variety of awards for athletes, coaches, etc.

COACH LEVEL 1

The last chance under the present scheme to qualify for Level 1 will take place at Mounts Bay on 9^th September, cost £25 if you apply through the Sports Partnership. Speak to Mo Pearson on 01872 324391

COACH LEVEL 2

If you know any coach with Level 1 and over the age of 18 on 4^th November, suggest very strongly that they take Level 2 at Treliske School Truro on 4^th/5^th November for just £60 if booked through the Sports Partnership. This is the last opportunity under the old scheme and the last one known to be guaranteed to qualify for Partnership assistance. Speak to Mo Pearson on 01872 324391

LEVEL 3 & 4 28^TH/29^TH October at Yeovil Cost vary. Speak to Mo Pearson

CHILDREN IN ATHLETICS & Fitness in Running and Walking. The two nearest courses are at Ivybridge on 21^st October and 2^nd September respectively. Speak to Mo Pearson.

SPEED AGILITY AND QUICKNESS Bodmin, 10^th July £35 See Mo Pearson

SPORTS SPECIFIC FIRST AID Luxulyan village hall 11^th July £30 See Mo Pearson

Mentoring Sports Coaches 11^th July Truro £22 See Mo Pearson

Life as an Olympic Athlete – Ed Coode-Coxless 4 Gold Medalist Free 19.30hrs 13^th July St Austell Brewery

REGIONAL COACHING DEVELOPMENT MEETING.

The next development meeting that I normally go to on your behalf, will be held on 24^th July in Exeter. Amongst the topics to be discussed will be regional training squads. If you have any ideas on this or anything else to do with regional development, please let me know.

TRELISKE HOSPITAL RESEARCH UNIT.

The cardio vascular testing of 20 athletes is under way and due to finish in August. I shall let you know the results.

TEAM COACHING.

The knock on effect of the County Squad and 2012 group, plus the extended closure of Carn Brea track, has led to quite a bit of cross-coach training, principally between CAC and Newquay and Par, where more than one coach has had a hand in the success of a number of the county’s track and field athletes, and the results speak for themselves. May this continue, within and without clubs, and we as coaches should encourage it for the benefit of the sport.

PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION TO AS MANY COACHES AS YOU KNOW WITHOUT EMAIL

Tony Lett Head Coach 01209 891101 tony.lett1@btopenworld.com .