Hey!
So it’s been a while since my last post… :s Not to make excuses but the U19 prep has been my main focus for the past week seeing as the Travelling Road Show will have me out of the office until the 12th (BC, NB, PEI and MB are all on the agenda this coming week). I am now back in LTAD mode and ready to blog away for the next week and a bit.
Alright… so lets talk BC now.
On Thursday I ventured my way from the National Capital over the mountains to the BCRA AGM. I took most of the day Friday to adjust to the time change (up at 4am local time!) to then be ready to go for my evening presentation.
Over all the presentation went well and the feedback was great! As expected the push back came from the “old guard” unfamiliar and uneasy with the concept of change.
“Why make changes? Is the current system flawed?”
Ummm… well actually it is. When we take a look at the current sport system in Canada we will quickly realize that the majority of the sports are faced with the following:
- Over-competition and under-training
- Adult training and competition programs superimposed on children
- Peaking by Friday
- Chronological age versus developmental age is used
- Missing the ‘windows’ of accelerated adaptation
- Only single sporting activities are taught - Physical literacy not taught
- Knowledgeable coaches work with elite athletes
- Parents are not educated about LTAD
- Needs of athletes with a disability not well understood
- No talent identification system (selection by competition – is not Talent ID)
- No system integration (schools, community and competitive)
At a quick glance, I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that in Ringette most of these statements are true.
When I elaborated into the finer details of what is currently going on in our sport, where we are heading with the new framework, the new initiatives and the new resources the BCRA contingent was very receptive and eager to move forward with these concepts…. for the most part.
Worries about implementing certain aspect of this raised many questions. The resistance to change will be inevitable. The education of parents, coaches and administrators will be the key.
What we must not forget in this whole process is the reason why kids play sport. Adults must put their own wants (for their child to be the next great one) and needs (to win at all cost) aside and remember… it’s for the kids.
Ask a six year old how many games they won at the end of the season. Chances are, they won’t remember.
Ask a six year old how many friends they made, how many times they got to play in the pool at the hotel, how many times they had fun.
“12. 2. all season!”
play it. love it. live it.
-FL
