40 plus juniors turning up at CVFr every Tues regardless of weather and with only fell running to tempt them. I believe that when they come for their first session then we should have agoal straight away. The goal should be that they turn up for their second session. They wont if they havent enjoyed themselves.
From that number of kids we have just a handful who race regularly and not many more who race at all. That isnt the reason they come. Having fun getting muddy and just a little bit tired is enough. I make them aware of races both locally and nationally and we have a junior championship series fo 10 races each year to encourage them to try to develop. When they show an intereste then i support them all I can, engaging with parents has to be important in terms of getting them to races making sure they know what they are letting themselves in for. Positive feedback is good and always finding out how they have done to be able to let them know that I know how they are doing is good. Always for me its about telling them to go out and enjoy it. Even with ours juniors who are on the edge of national success, achieving national success and international success my last words to them before any race once the planning is done is to go out and enjoy the experience.