CORNWALL COUNTY AA COACHING

MARCH 2007 NEWSLETTER

 

ATHLETIC CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE status has been achieved by Carn Brea, which will enhance the chances of getting funding to put an indoor pole vault box in, storage for mats, electronic timing and measuring, etc but like all things, this will not happen instantly. At the moment I have ordered a power sledge, Javee’s, javelin balls and 4kg medicine balls, to be based at Carn Brea but available to coaches in the county. Delivery should be in April.

DISABLED ATHLETES are being welcomed by CAC, initially looking at Tuesday evenings. If you know anybody who may be interested they should contact Neil Sanderson on 07789781736 who is taking on responsibilities on behalf of the County.

PHOTO’S from national events are usually available on www.athletics-photos.co.uk

PRE- OLYMPIC TRAINING CAMP The regional inspectors came to look at the Carn Brea facilities, which met with their approval but would be enhanced by achieving Grade 1 status. Mainly being hampered by having non-adjustable steeplechase barriers; but this is in hand.

COUNTY ORGANISATION. Following the AGM we have some new executive members, namely Alison Halton (Secretary), and John Knowles has taken on the onerous job of treasurer. Jackie Brett is the statistician Mike Hanson agreed to stay for one more year in the chair, but only because there was nobody else willing to take it on.

CHANGES IN ATHLETICS COMPETITION. A 10 page document from Jack Buckner makes a lot of sense, and although it has very little to do with coaches, it is worth comment, and any input, suggestions will be welcomed by him on competitions@ukathletics.org.uk or by writing to him at UKA. Briefly they are as follows.

• Principles for change: to increase participation and improve standards, especially in young people aged 11 to 20
• Development of a coherent competition pathway through an improving relationship between schools and clubs is critical to the future of our sport, and we should look at ways of improving these links, since other sports are taking the initiative, which could leave us trailing far behind.
• If we fail to engage young people quickly and provide a rewarding experience, people will turn to other sports, which is where we, as coaches, can have a big influence, even if it may include changing some ‘die hard’ methods.
• Provision of a strong social environment while inspiring athletes to move from participation towards excellence, especially if it can be within an athletes grasp. (The selection to a county squad should be considered an achievement and an honour not to be taken lightly)
• Awareness of the health agenda and what our role should be with young people.
• Reforming our competition programme to more closely reflect the lives of young people, or risk loosing out to other sports. (Cornwall started last year, but has it gone far enough when other sports can put all of their competition into a half day?)
• Build team spirit and carry this through from Sportshall to clubs and squads within the club, keeping athletes occupied, allowing a choice of event participation within the club. (It is time to examine why some people join a club and leave within a few weeks. This principle applies equally to officials who do not always welcome new faces, cater for them. Officials are an extremely important arm of the sport but can be very self centred.)
• Competition is for athletes and should meet the athlete’s needs. They should be fun, motivating, inclusive, flexible, fast moving, imaginative and meet the needs of the consumer
• Over 15’s should have graded competitions (Could these be built into the Open Series?) to help them develop individual progress and achieve higher performances.

COACHING COURSES. Get at least 50% off the cost. There is a delay introducing the new structure as UKA want to get it right from the start, therefore an old style Level 1 is available at Churchill in Somerset on 26^th May (£60) Level 2 at Ivybridge, Plymouth, (£140) on 14^th/15^th April with the event specific day on30th June for speed and throws, or 1^st July for Endurance and Jumps, both days being at Bath. There are also specific days for levels 3 and 4 at Bath on 15^th/16^th April. There is now an application form to get a 50% grant on course fees, and most clubs will pay 50% of the remainder for level’s 1 and 2, which makes it relatively inexpensive. Do it now while these prices last

Level 3 and 4 coaches with existing certificates in one discipline can take the specific event module of another discipline and become multi functional. Application forms from Mo or myself, or simply download them from www.englandathletics.org/southwest

SOUTH WEST REGIONAL CONFERENCE held at Exeter on 11^th March was well attended except for Cornwall. The Chairman and Chief Executive of England Athletics were present to answer questions, and there were many; especially from the road running workshop, and no doubt these will be communicated through their channels. I was personally looking at all the aspects of coaching.

·        The much maligned efficiency of the Power of 10 website was discussed and an assurance given that it is being improved. The website now has regional ‘bars’ as well as national levels. Interestingly, despite other high population density areas in the south-west, Newquay & Par came 4^th and CAC 7^th in number of club athletes achieving the standard, which is where running second claim athletes could distort facts, but hey, we are in the sport for the athletes, so what the hell

·        .A brochure of guidelines for road running organisation would be useful.

• Mixed cross country races would reduce the overall time scale and athletes idle time
• Sub regional flying squads of coaches, discussed last year but not actioned. We would naturally work with Devon, as we have been doing recently for track and field.
• Improved communication of information around the region.
• Re-educate coaches about moving athletes on to either different disciplines or standards. The sport is for athletes and we should make their considerations our priority.
• More graded meetings to improve competitive challenge
• A regional residential coaching weekend could be assessed.
• With Avon, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bristol and Bath committed to competing in the South West next year the standards should improve and a proposed Premier league, with sub regional leagues to reduce travel costs (and allow B teams I should imagine)
• Local delivery of level 1 and 2 courses, possible via evening classes or modules

A workshop just for athletes produced some interesting conclusions that are worth listening to.

• More regional squads and competition
• More chance to benefit from other coaches
• More club cohesion (team spirit)
• Greater use of indoor facilities
• Funding to assist with warm weather training
• More attention given to disability athletes
• More socialising and having fun

Issues which they did not like

• Club politics
• Lack of support for injured athletes
• Elitism by coaches
• Loosing athletes for lack of competition
• Discrimination of disabled athletes

 

Nigel Rowe, the South West Chairman, wound the conference up by calling for us to take these ideas forward as we move the sport to a new level. It is either that, or the sport dies.

 

Tony Lett County Coach Co-ordinator  01209 891101      tony.lett1@btopenworld.com