The young Athletes

Prompted by recent correspondence and results in the cross country relays, it might be worth looking at the situation with regard to the young athletes.

First, congratulations to Phil and Donald for the work done on the endurance running front for all the younger age groups. For the first time in ages we have been entering teams in the boys and girls races at most cross country and road running events. It is great to see that and to go to the races and see the spirit of the competitors and how they just enjoy the day together. Between them they also organised the Young Athletes League teams last year and the year before which catered for the track and field athletes as well as for the endurance runners.
Second, the quality of some of them is outstanding. Given a few more years, with even just natural progression such members as Peter Bowman, Tony Dolan, Roisin McShea, Claire Reid, Diane Nicolson, Rachel Busby, Kirsty Kelly and Kirsty Alexander should be very useful additions to the Senior ranks. We already have Ryan Savage and Ryan Nelson competing regularly in the short relays for the Senior teams with the fomer being a member of the first team at the weekend.
Second, there are some problems with the track team: we were encouraged to collaborate with West Dunbarton AAC for the Young Athletes League. It is the done thing for clubs to get together and enter combined teams these days although some of us have reservations about it. We were responsible for the Boys team and they for the Girls. The teams travelled in huge Marbill Coaches, competed well and were always well up the league. We had a big turnover of athletes due almost entirely to the lack of a training facility in Clydebank but kept our end up well. Then in the last two years or so, the numbers of WDAAC athletes dropped and last year the girls were well down the league - even further down than the boys were. Last year the teams travelled in a couple of minibuses. The shine was coming off the set up. Now their secretary says that the league is more trouble than it is worth to them (but they might well co-operate next year in the competition.)
Third,we always need new athletes. However good the youngsters were last year there are always some moving up to older age groups, there are always some who just go away. The need this coming year is greater than usual. So where did we get them from in the past? Well Senior athletes brought along their children and that was a good source of supply. Mind you I never understood the mentality that said "I'd never force them into my sport just because it's my sport - I'll let him/her decide for for him/herself." That's fair enough but they could at least expose the child to the sport. How many football supporters or golfers say that they will never encourage their child to take up football or golf? Precious few! This happens in all athletic clubs and at least two of my former training partners in other clubs were the first I heard using this line. We also got children from schools - if we have no teachers in the club to act as intermediaries then we need to get ourselves into schools to talk to the sports co-ordinators. Face to face contact is the main factor in convincing them to send their athletes to us rather than anybody else. Finally, and probably the best recruiters, are the children themselves. If every young athlete brought a friend, school friend or neighbour then automatically we have doubled our membership.
I'd better stop - this is too long already. BUT I'll be back!