Quote Originally Posted by Eleanor View Post
Andy, thanks for posting. Your point scoring idea is really useful. I hadn't thought of that one and I'll have a chat with others at the club about using this.

And yes, I'm the same on ignoring events that aren't local enough. Winter league is good for us, as the races are mostly 30-45 mins away from Ambleside, but BOFRA events generally too far so I'm also selective regarding which events to promote to our parents. After all, it is the parents that do the work of getting kids to events, so I think it matters a lot that they don't feel overloaded or pressured to do too much 'ferrying'. I can imagine that once parents drop out of the system because the weekend travelling all gets too much for them, then the club will suffer dramatically.
Eleanor - you've really hit on something here.

I've coached now for 6 years. My main aim has been to get as many of my then U13s and U15s through to the senior ranks. Hopefully helping them enjoy the sport that they keep that desire to stay in it.
I've done that on the basis that of looking after the squad, creating a good environment will allow those with real talent to thrive and progress.

But after the 6 years, I am starting to realise something.

A junior making it through to seniors is reliant on many factors, but the main two that I find are :-

1. The athlete themselves. Do they really have that desire to do it? When they are 10 - 12 they can often get by off one session a week and a bit of racing as they are so active it carries them through. But as they get to 14/15 they have to be training more seriously or they fall behind, lose heart and eventually pack in.

2. The parents. As you hint at, are they prepared to drive their child 90 minutes to a race that the club is going to, or is deemed to be a race they should do, or the athlete themselves has a desire to do that race.

Point 2 is very important. I've quite a few promising kids, who I think would have the will, but parental ability or will to support is lacking and I fear they will not last or ever get to their full potential.
They can't or won't even get them to a cross country race 10 - 20 minutes from home.

Don't be frightened of a few "awaydays". It broadens the athletes experience and will give you some idea of which parents are in it for the long term.