Two Things

I noted with interest that scottishathletics was using the facilities at St Peter's High School for coach education courses: they seem so pleased with it that a course was transferred there from Scotstoun. The good side is that it makes it easier for club members to do coaching courses without having to travel at all. When they last for the best part of two days that is no small advantage. The down side is that many people from many other clubs will now know a lot more about the track and be wanting to use it. For instance I heard recently from a senior member of the Glasgow Athletics Administration that two clubs are constantly bickering over who gets what equipment and when. With the knowledge that there is an excellent track just down the road, I can see one or the other deciding to use it. All good stuff for the children of Clydebank but if one of the nights next summer is a Tuesday or Thirsday then we ourselves will have problems. I would suggest that we book it for both Tuesday and Thursday next year. The Tuesdays this year have been very successful and - to some extent - the track itself has generated use by club members. Track and field athletes need at least two track sessions a week, in all probability they will need more than that as they get older but two club nights would be very good. Bear in mind that if they can only train once a week at Clydebank and have to travel to Scotstoun there are several disadvantages: first, the cost - seniors travelling by public transport to that venue have to fork out £7 a session; second, younger members have to be transported which is a disincentive for parents to take them there nd then stand or kill time for 90 minutes while they train; third, at a time when we seek to recruit against other sports if it is easier to get football training in locally than it is to get athletics training, then we will lose out on that front as well. I'm suggesting that the club books St Peter's twice a week next summer. It will pay off in terms of recruiting and fitness.