ARCHIVES

 

In its competition review UK Athletics has suggested some radical changes to the competitive structure for young athletes in the Under 17yrs age group.

If these changes are finally adopted some Clubs will certainly find their Senior teams badly hit especially in the Women's competition and might even be unable to turn out full squads.

The plan is quite simply to amend the U17 rules so that no first year U17 can compete in Senior League or Cup competitions. One year later, possibly by 2003, the rule is to be further amended to prevent both first and second year Ul7s competing in Senior League or Cup matches, although exceptionally talented athletes would be able to apply for exemption.

Protection from over competition is laudable, but should it be done by almost draconian measures? SeIf regulation is best, but unfortunately some Clubs are only too happy to use the same fifteen and sixteen year olds in all competitions week after week in an all too short season.

Licensing the various leagues and planning a structured programme for youngsters would help. What is the point of holding a Women's Southern League fixture on Saturday followed by a Young Athletes League competition on Sunday with the same athletes involved on both days?

At the moment many fixtures are crammed into May, June and July leaving August and particularly September, when the weather is often good, virtually empty. So plan for a better spread.

It can also be argued that there are too many Leagues all using the same youngsters. One that appears to be quite unnecessary is the National Junior League. In order to turn out full teams most Clubs call upon their U 17s again, whilst the genuine Juniors - the eighteen and nineteen year olds - will actually get better competition and experience at Senior level.

It is a good thing that the competitive structure is being reviewed, but so far it has not got far below the surface. Hopefully there is better to come.

Agree or disagree? If you have views on this subject please email them to Webmaster@teamsolent.co.uk. - Your opinions can be published in a future Newsletter and could help to form Club policy and action re the Competition Review.

Coaches Corner

During the past year UK Athletics has carried out a major overhaul of its coaching set up. All those holding a coaching qualification under the old B.A.F system have been required to revalidate if they wish to continue.

Most coaches working with Team Solent athletes have now gone through the revalidation process, whilst the stragglers have until March after which there will be no recognition, and no insurance cover for anyone not registered.

With this in mind a further revalidation course is being held at the Eastpoint Centre, Hightown, Southampton on Saturday 3rd February from l0am - 1pm. Details of this and other courses can be obtained from;

UK Athletics. 10 Harbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3AA. Tel: 0121 456 5098.

All coaches will be listed on a central register and with hold a coaching licence. Local authorities, including Southampton, have indicated that they will not allow anyone without qualifications to coach at their facilities because of lack of insurance cover and the implications involving Child Protection legislation.

Potential new coaches, or those wishing to upgrade their qualifications, have a new pattern being put into place, which will be more modular in approach with a greater emphasis on good coaching practice. Those wishing to become involved in coaching for the first time will have new style courses available to them later in the spring.

 

Right Moves

Prospects look good this year for the club's Senior Women in both the UK League and Southern Women's League.

New signings include the Southern Senior 800m Champion, Lorraine Phillips from Newbury, Sarah White a 1.70m High Jumper from Andover and Charmaine Turner, a Long/Triple Jumper from Windsor.

In addition Melanie Rogers and Leah Tribe from Southampton and Portsmouth respectively have been cleared, like the others, to compete for Team Solent.

Thrower Helen Arnold who joined the Club during the last track season is now also qualified to compete having served a nine month waiting period.

Sadly another new signing, Michaela Paul, a very promising Long and Triple Jumper from Ealing, has been diagnosed as suffering from a debilitating illness and has decided to take time out from athletics to enable her to make a full recovery. We wish her all the best and hope that she will make a full recovery and in the future feel able to make a comeback.

The Men's teams have also been strengthened.

Sprinters Richard Rowbury and Chris Bridge from Leeds and Trafford respectively will offset the loss of

Wayne Martin and Ian Deeth who have moved elsewhere.

Simon Bennett, a sixty metre Javelin thrower, returns after a spell with his old club, North Devon and he is

joined by promising Discus thrower, Niklas Iliffe from Charnwood.

Completing the new signings is Lee Tindall a talented hurdler from Portsmouth.

Equally welcome will be the return of Darren Wall and Paul Yarham after a year out.

 

 

Talented Youngsters Prove Their Class

Team Solent Youngsters dominated the top positions at this years Junior Great South Run in Southsea on November 21st. 

In a great race, the young Hampshire based athletes filled six of the top ten places. The highest position went to Tommy Davies, who finished second, with Nick Hiller third and Colin Light in fourth. 

The future of Team Solent middle distance running looks in safe hands with this group of Under 15 and Under 17 athletes. Much credit must go to their coach Rod Lock, who has been training them at Taunton's college through the winter months. To view results click on this link Junior Great South Run Results

The full squad pictured is left to right: Paul Jastrzebski (9th in the race) , Andrew Cochrane, Tom Doran (7th), Ben Austin (5th), Tommy Davies (2nd), Rod Lock (coach), Nick Hillier (3rd), Colin Light (4th).

 

SO HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?

Alright so I was a little over optimistic in the April newsletter where I suggested that life without a track for much of the season should not be viewed a disaster. Perhaps I was just trying to convince myself.

What I had not anticipated was our exclusion from the track for all but a few days of the season. This wasn't so bad whilst the track was obviously not useable but in the later stages it became almost unbearable to see the track (looking particularly splendid) empty with only those rehearsing for the Millennium Youth Games opening ceremony allowed in. Even when the 'devastation' of the Games was cleared and we were allowed back there was still some disappointment with over zealous policing of its use - everyone should know that they have to pay but perhaps some tolerance could have been shown to those arriving with insufficient funds, it would have been a welcome goodwill gesture after our exclusion

It is time however to consign all of this to the past and look forward. The fact is we now have an excellent 8 lane track with the attendant field facilities. We can be proud that so much of the impetus for the track came from Team Solent. We can be proud that we have added to the facilities by purchasing a second Portacabin for use as a Clubroom. We can be proud that we staged the first Club fixture on the new surface. We can be proud that even now the Club is not resting on its laurels but pushing for more improvements and facilities never mind sensible usage and entry arrangements.

The future, as they say starts here. The future is with Team Solent.

 

TRACK REVIEW 2000

The loss of our home track for, refurbishment, may be good for our future development as a Club but was always going to have an effect on our 2000 Track and Field season. The biggest single factor was the extreme problems encountered by our Team Managers in keeping in touch with athletes who may have been training in any one of 3 or 4  locations on one evening. Add to this the difficulty  in attracting new members because we were unable to refer them to our base where all coaches and facilities could be found then it is remarkable that we emerged from the season with so many positive results.

Men's  British League - Division 1 + BAL CUP. Final position 7th (League), 5th (Cup Final)

It is not unreasonable to compare this top division with the Football Premiership. Certainly the Clubs that fought for the title had far more in resources than we could ever dream,  it was not uncommon for them to fly athletes in from overseas to compete. Unavailability injury and alternative personal competitive plans robbed us of key athletes for the opening fixtures and the die was cast There were a notable few athletes who kept going for us, turning out whatever but their contribution on its own was never going to be enough. We went into the last fixture knowing that we were as good as relegated. That fixture and the Cup final showed what could have been achieved had we been able to turn out a full team and must give heart for our ability not only to regain Division 1 status but also next time to stay there.

Women's UK League - Division 2. Final Position 5th

Having gained promotion in consecutive seasons the women went into their National League programme not knowing what to expect. They still didn't know what to expect as they went to their final fixture aware that they could still be either promoted or relegated! In the end I think all will have been satisfied to consolidate with a safe mid table position. They were also hit by non availability and withdrawals with the consequential heavy demands on those left. The biggest loss was Cathy Ann Hill from the throws however no one minded as Cathy had the perfect excuse when she advised us after the first match that she was pregnant. The future looks very bright for this team with the club already having made several exciting signings for next season.

Southern Men's League Division 1 & 6 (West). Final positions 7th & 6th

It was the usual story for these so called B & C teams as the British League team was hit by withdrawals so the Southern League teams suffered with their athletes being asked to fill in the gaps. The fact is however that even allowing for this they still perform at a high level and consistently finish highly in their respective leagues. Much of this is down to not just ability but also a remarkable level (in what is essentially an individual sport) of team spirit. Enjoyment is very much the name of the game and they enjoyed immensely finishing above many clubs who were turning out their only and A team.

Southern Women's League - Division 1. Final position 16th

This was a story of what so very nearly happened. For the first time ever the women were locked in a seemingly hopeless battle against relegation. In the relegation places for all too much of the season they turned in two mighty efforts in the last two fixtures to pull themselves up to what at one time seemed an impossible 16th. Quite how they found themselves in so much trouble and then pulled themselves, Houdini like, out of it was down to several factors which, if we are to be positive we should not dwell on. The important thing is that our youngsters in particular will gained much, as athletes, from the experience and have belief in their future.

National Young Athletes Leagues + Wessex League. Final positions 9th (Boys), 3rd (Girls), Finalists (Wessex League)

Our participation in these young athlete leagues is vindicated year after year when you see the effort and ability of those who take part. Competition in their own age groups, where they can compete on equal terms, is vital to their development. That this is succeeding is shown by the number who has already or will co on to compete successfully in the senior leagues. Their Team Managers should be applauded for their careful handling of the youngsters. The youngsters should be applauded for their honesty, good humor and commitment. Tomorrow belongs to you.