Track and Field

Review of Induction and Transfer Coaching Groups - 16 Feb 2006

This was a follow up meeting from an earlier meeting to discuss team managers and coaching provision for the Induction and Transfer groups.

I therefore list below the main points from this second meeting; where after some free and frank discussions, progress was made on a number of points.

1. We agreed it was right to keep to the current Coaching structure for T&F -whereby year 6 members in their last term change to the Transfer group.
2. However, there are constraints on the number of available coaches, and not least because potentially there are 80+ u/13s on the membership list.
3. The problem of a waiting list is secondary, and we therefore have to manage peoples expectations.
4. More important is the quality of coaching that we can offer to athletes, newly introduced to using hard implements.
5. Where possible we should try to aim for a coach /athlete ratio of 1:10, although higher ratios were sometimes acceptable and necessary for collective warm ups and speed/endurance repetitions.
6. Athletes must first and foremost be club members.
7. As members , they should be expected to show commitment to regular training and must compete for the club when selected. (This wording should be included in the guidelines issued to new joiners).
8. Within the current large group of athletes approaching their last term in year 6, we have a mixture of people who have or have not competed for the club.

Those that are active and have competed will be moved up to join the current relatively small existing Transfer group.

The remainder will be offered a different training session 7 -8 pm when some of the induction / transfer coaches become free. Julie Walton/ Simon Price will act as leaders with the support of two others (RL to organise).

Carol Ranshaw to provide the criteria for separation that can be handed out to athletes.

Some other key points from the discussions are worth noting.

1. The current good practise of conducting progress trials every 5 weeks for the transfer group should be extended to other groups.
2. This information should be made available to respective team managers.
3. Team managers should have an up to date list of members for their age group. (This could be dealt with electronically by the Membership Sec.)
4. Newer athletes should be encouraged to take part in the various coaching clinics and the mini internal competition.
5. A waiting list for u/13s needs to be compiled and managed preferably by George and Fred.
6. Athletes should only transfer off the u/11 or u/13 waiting lists when the coaches can properly manage the situation.
7. U/9s can go on the bottom of the waiting list, but in the first instance should be made aware of the Introduction to Athletics course coordinated by the Leisure centre.

All of the above will have to be reviewed after a period of time.

It has to be noted that Aileen Mason has stated her intention to stop taking the Tues. endurance development group. Our thanks to Aileen for her commitment over a number of years, but we now have the additional problem of finding a replacement. ( George has subsequently offered his services, but this puts an additional strain on the second half of the Tues 6 -7 pm Transfer group that we will have to manage).

Key Dates:

I hope this makes sense and you the athletes, parents, guardians and coaches accept what we are trying to achieve.

Under 11s and Under 13s Training Group Waiting List

Owing to the large numbers of children currently attending athletics training sessions in the under 11 and under 13 training groups and the limited number of qualified coaches, we regret that there is a waiting list for new children wanting to join. For reference, the following dates of birth are affected:

• Under 11 = 1/9/1995 to the current date 1997 (i.e. minimum age 9)
• Under 13 = 1/9/1993 to 31/8/1995

To add your child's name to the list, please speak to any of the under 11 or under 13 coaches. Alternatively, please contact Carol Ranshaw on 01625 616483.

To assist with the large numbers and attempt to make in-roads into the waiting list, any parents/guardians/grandparents who are able to provide regular/ occasional help on training nights would be much appreciated.

Track & Field Review and Prospects for 2006

2005 was again another good year for the club, and for a number of individuals. You only have to look at the number of new club records and personal bests across all the disciplines to see that the club is still healthy and continuing to develop. In the various leagues and team competitions, pride of place must go to our team performance in the Young Athletes league where we finished in top spot and therefore gained automatic promotion to the Northern premiership for the coming season. This was achieved by good turnouts at all three age groups both male and female, and at all five meetings.

In the Cheshire league after the disruption to the fixtures , we again won the Mens section and were second in the Ladies, with the u/11s showing us the potential for the future by 'winning'. It was only in the senior league that we struggled, due too few athletes committing themselves regularly to competition.

While in the National Junior league for u/17 and u/20s, we again competed as part of the combined team known as Cheshire Tigers. This league provides athletes with a chance to compete at a higher level, and it was a pity that not more of you committed to it on a regular basis, although I accept that exams can get in the way!

We again ran our early season coaching clinics on Saturday mornings across a range of disciplines and this coupled with the mini T&F competition designed to give people confidence to compete - helped athletes to be ready for the T&F season. We plan to do the same again this year.

Successful Star:track courses were run again in both the summer and autumn breaks, and my thanks again to coaches and club athletes who contributed to their organisation. We helped some of the primary schools by providing coaching of athletics during school time and this culminated in a mini indoor competition attended by 8 schools. For the first time we also worked with a secondary school over a period of several weeks introducing whole classes to Hurdles and High Jump. Hopefully all these extra activities will help to build the reputation of the club and to encourage young people to be motivated enough to join the club.

Prospects for 2006: Obviously we must continue to build on last years successes, and improve participation in certain areas. Our prime focus must be to perform well in the higher league of the YAL. To do this successfully, we must expect you the athletes to compete when asked. We will have to travel further over the five rounds and we are proposing to hire a coach for our away fixtures, and will be encouraging athletes, family, managers and officials to travel together by coach.

We do still need a team manager for the u/15 girls section, so please let me know if you are able to commit to the task. For the other leagues it is also about turning out for the club. Don't just train but then not compete. Also think before you enter the various competitions; you need to be race sharp, by having competed 3 or 4 times before a championship event. Also if you are relatively new to the club, take advantage of the coaching clinics, the mini internal competition planned for the 8th April, or the Star:track course to improve your skills and confidence.

Finally, remember that we are here to help you achieve your goals and maximise your potential; but there is no gain without regular hard work.

Cheshire Track and Field Final Results

Click here for the final positions of the Cheshire track and field league. Special congratulations to the U11 team!

Cheshire Track and Field (report 23rd Sept)

The under 13 boys were on fine form in the final round of the Cheshire Track and Field League. Calum Murray swept to a convincing victory in the 800m, finishing in 2 minutes 31.8, Josh Edgar won the shot putt with 7.64m well supported by Matt Wallace with 5.59m. The trio of Josh, Calum and Matt Wheelton had a clean sweep in the high jump. For the under 17 men Jonny Towns won the 200m A race and was 2nd in the triple jump. Adam Edgar won the B string 200m and also the B triple jump. Tom Grundy won the A string 800m with a dominant piece of front running, Edmund Burgon won the B string. Joe Wright convincingly won the shot by over a metre with a throw of 9.33m.

Under 11s Training Group - Waiting List

Owing to the large numbers of children currently attending athletics training sessions in the Under 11 training group and the limited number of qualified coaches, we have with regret had to introduce a waiting list for new children wanting to join.

To add your child's name to the list, please speak to any of the Under 11's coaches. Alternatively, please contact Carol Ranshaw on 01625 616483. To assist with the large numbers, any parents who are able to provide occasional help on training nights would be much appreciated.

Coaching Structure