Changes in Juniors Groups

Hi all, as we approach the last Junior session of the summer, I have been reflecting on how we can improve the athletics experience for the children.

So, as from the end of August, there will be some changes.

Firstly, two of the groups are now too large to coach effectively, so we’re creating another Group, “Falcons”. This group will fit between Panthers and Eagles (see below).

We currently have nearly 60 Juniors “on the books”, about a dozen will move up to the Teens in the Autumn, and we have over 20 children on he Waitlist wanting to join the Juniors, so we did need to change things. I will endeavour to keep friends together, so will issue draft new Groups soon, enabling parents to comment, before finalising them in August.

Groups:

Dolphins : for new younger children (typically Year 3)

Jaguars : Year 4 and more capable (and regular attending) Year 3 children

Panthers : Year 5 and more capable (and regular attending) Year 4 children

Falcons : Year 6 and more capable (and regular attending) Year 5 children

Eagles : for the Juniors who will be moving up to the Teens (Year 6)

As you can see, I'm having to split four school years over 5 Groups, which will not be easy. Capability will be based on the measures we take for the U11 Quadkids events (75m sprint, 600m run, Standing Long Jump and Howler throw), plus any additional ones, I feel will be beneficial to do, e.g. vertical height jumps (CMJ), or are performed at events, e.g. Low Key Opens, Junior Bourton Mile, Junior Sizzler, Cross-country, etc.

As I stated above, unless there's really good capability reasons, I will try to keep "friends" together. I do need your feedback for that to work.

NB With so many children already attending, I rely on a great team of coaches and parent helpers to deliver the sessions. We do need more help to deliver the sessions safely and effectively, so if you think you could help, please let me know.

The emphasis of the sessions will still be FUN, aligned to the England Athletics' FUNdamentals programme, with more athletics specific activities, e,g. drills, being introduced for the older Juniors, so that they are best prepared for moving up to the Teens and the Foundation programme.

As part of the Juniors' development we ask them to participate in a couple of events / meetings per year. There are a variety of opportunities to do this and already since April there have been::

• Track and Field : 3 Low Key Opens

• Road/trail : Bourton Junior Mile, Junior Sizzler and Club 40th Anniversary Parkrun

Coming up : -

• (possibly) an Open T&F meeting for older Juniors

• the Coln Valley run

• a Junior Parkrun (to be specified)

• the Cross Country league races.

I will publish a list for the rest of the year over the summer and again in the spring.

Dorian