CACA Newsletter Issue 1
Inaugural Meeting – Grasmere - April 12 2006
Attendees
Michael Hunt (North-West Regional Performance & Regional Co-ordinator)
Gwenda Ward (Cumbria Team Manager)
Dennis Hayes (Keswick)
Peter Robinson (Keswick)
Mark Drummond (Sports Coach UK- NW)
Angela Kelly (Giffrock North & Seaton)
Frank Davidson (Carlisle Aspatria)
Carole Thompson (Border)
Jenny Harris (Eden Runners)
Alison Weymouth (Eden Runners)
Terry Hughes (Seaton)
Stephen Hughes (Seaton)
John Clementson (Border)
Tony Ward
The following bullet points are as a result of the discussions that took place at the inaugural meeting on April 12 2006 in Grasmere. Those in bold were deemed to be the most important.
Group A
- Database of qualified Cumbrian coaches to be established indicating qualifications and athletes being coached.
- Upward Qualification a matter for individuals
- Meet once a month for updates
- A major issue is whether coaches should be attached to clubs or to training venues
- Coaches should get assistance with funding for training courses outside Cumbria
- What is the ideal ratio of coach to athletes?
- More coaching courses should be held in the county by bringing experienced coaches into the area.
- CACA – action group or talk shop!!
Group B
- Communication with schools and the schools association should be set up
- Are more Level 2, 3 and 4 coaches required?
- Is there any way that coaches can be financially assisted with e.g. Child protection, travel, training courses
- Well qualified coaches should be paid to cover athletics training in schools especially primary schools
- CACA should stage coaches workshops on motivation, best coaching practice and hold master classes on Sprints/Hurdles, Endurance, Jumps and Throws
- Are there any 2012 Olympic potential athletes in Cumbria?
General discussion followed and the priority items were agreed. Consensus was also reached on the matter of whether coaches should be attached to clubs or tracks.
It will be part of the CACA action plan that although coaches can, of course, affiliate to clubs they should be willing to coach any athlete irrespective of his or her membership.
Dash Athletics Quadrathlon
This year sees the return of the popular DASH Athletics Young Athletes Open Quadrathlon, after a five-year absence. The competition takes place on Sunday 11th June at Woodbank Park, Stockport.
Based on the LTAD model, athletes up to Under 15's are required to take part in a sprint, a middle-distance, a jump and a throw. These events will be scored, and the highest three athletes in each age group (U9 - U15) will be presented with a trophy.
There will also be a series of open 4x100m relays to finish the event.
Contact Joe Frost on 07908 232520, or by email at dashathletics@yahoo.co.uk.
Cumbrian Athletics Website
In the next few weeks a Cumbria Athletics website will be set up which will include the CACA Newsletter. It will also include county ranking lists for all age groups from U 13 to Senior as well as results.
Recommended Reading
The High Performance Series from The Crowood Press:
Sprinting…Mike Smith
Middle-Distance Running…David Sunderland
Winning Running…Peter Coe
Conditioning for Athletes…Mike Winch
Food for Sport…Jane Griffin
Strength Training for Athletes…Mike Winch
It’s cheaper to buy these on-line at crowood.com
Stop Press
I’m planning a two-day coaching conference with a star-studded cast in October that will cover best coaching practice; strength training; coaching psychology; event workshops; basic winter training. Details as they become available.
Tony Ward