Gout Gout

[kruddler]

I’ve been involved in half a dozen Little Athletic centres…and it’s true some are well run and do a good job…to a point.

I’ve also been involved in around the same number of senior clubs. Some senior clubs offer a competition option for kids as young as eight. In practice I’ve found they do a much better job with the youngsters, and also offer the advantage of continuity into senior competition. The other big advantage is that coaches and officials are well qualified and experienced athletes themselves, whereas the folks running little A’s are often good intentioned and hard working parents. Of course, over the years of involvement some of these folks do gain some good experience and qualifications.

But here is where I believe that Little Athletics has had a detrimental effect.

It’s created a gap in the teenage years that sees a lot of athletes leave the sport before reaching their full potential in their 20s and 30s
Participation rates in the early years U/6 up until about U/10 are strong. Parental support is all around these groups….and it’s often here that we see the ugly parent, whose little one is destined for greatness, if coaches and officials will just give them (and through extension the parent), their undivided attention.

That’s the first barrier…many kids don’t want to be subjected to the expectations of these parental ‘crazies’. They’re not getting any fun out of that pressure. It can also have a negative effect on other parents and kids who get to witness this. (but I guess that’s a feature of lots of junior sport.)
Once the kids reach High school the drop off rate begins in earnest. At centre competitions older kids are often left to run their own events as mums and dads are looking after younger siblings.

If you’re a little athlete and you’re not making regional and state championships the interest in the sport starts to wane.
Kid’s at High school at 14/15 don’t want to ‘confess’ that they do ‘Little’ Athletics. (that’s a branding issue).
Other sports become more attractive.
The also-rans are lost to the sport.

It’s left to those champion juniors who dominate… and  that’s what  were seeing at the U/20 championships. Some of these successful juniors will go on to have good senior success. For many this will be the peak, as career and Uni studies take precedent.

It’s a bit sad watching this drop off of young athletes, and I am aware of efforts to build that bridge, so that there is a strong transition to senior athletics…but it’s being blocked to some extent by the usual ‘territorial’ issues and power struggles you get when you have two separate organisations trying to combine into one.

I'd like to offer another viewpoint Lods.

Firstly, quick background.
I never did little athletics, but was quite good at athletics in high school. I made state level in 800m/1500m and cross country a few times. I was invited to USA for a running tour when i was a bottom age U16 because i did well at state level cross country at the time.
Honestly, i never took it seriously, and i was just naturally gifted / fit through playing footy.

OK, so one occasion i opted to forgo an opportunity to compete at state level 800m when there was a late withdrawal - i was next to qualify. Why didn't i go? I had footy training that day and i didn't want to let the team down. Which is the heart of the problem.

Athletics, in general, is all about the individual. Yes, you have some loose involvement with the other athletes and you can compete in relay races etc, but the 'team' is not a traditional team.

So for me personally, i prefered to be part of the footy team, than compete as an individual.
I was a half decent footballer, got scouted around the same age, but again, was never serious.

At that age, teenagers want to belong. They don't want to be outcasts. Its not as obvious as peer pressure, but that does have some similarities. I think that is the biggest issue with little athletics vs most other (team oriented) sports when it comes to retaining athletes......specfically at that age.