Full time athletes

24 Apr 2008 01:18:30

coach

Full time athletes

In the UK we are now happy to accept that, to be competative on the
World stage, our international athletes need to be in full time
training and the state subsidise this through lottery grants etc.

Below the International class athletes, there is a not insignificant
group who try to combine elite club level rowing with other
comittments such as work and families. This group, vital for the
continuing proserity of the sport, is an endangered species. The
problem is that the ethos of full time rowing is now creeping down to
club level. We are beginning to see some clubs demanding that, to be
considered for their domestic club level based crews, they need to be
available for training on an almost full time basis.

You are 26, with eight rowing points, a full time job and a mortgage,
what incentive is there to remain in the sport when the odds are so
stacked against one.

Having said all that, I do believe that no one should be penalised for
training hard. It is all a bit of a grey area.

I would suggest that the ARA have not gone far enough with this year's
revisions to the rules of racing regarding points.

Any athlete who has attended a closed GB senior trial in that season
should somehow be barred from competing at any domestic level other
than open. If the ARA will not make this move, perhaps the Stewards of
Henley Royal Regatta might adjust their rules so as to bring this
about. This would avoid the situation where, U23 GB athletes in
particular, compete in low status events almost up to the moment they
are selected.

To the none UK contributors to these pages, I would ask, what do you
do in your countries to keep the playing field level.

24 Apr 2008 01:32:54

Re: Full time athletes

> I would suggest that the ARA have not gone far enough with this year's
> revisions to the rules of racing regarding points.

Understatement of the year!

24 Apr 2008 01:50:35

Re: Full time athletes

On 24 Apr, 09:32, JY <j...@cvd.co.uk > wrote:
> > I would suggest that the ARA have not gone far enough with this year's
> > revisions to the rules of racing regarding points.
>
> Understatement of the year!

We all know that getting radical proposals through ARA Council is like
mixing oil and water; good luck to the working party.

The issue of 'missing seniors' has been around for many years which is
why I think offering student and club events at a regatta would help
to encourage the 'part-timers'.

24 Apr 2008 07:29:39

Andrew

Re: Full time athletes

> Any athlete who has attended a closed GB senior trial in that season
> should somehow be barred from competing at any domestic level other
> than open. If the ARA will not make this move, perhaps the Stewards of
> Henley Royal Regatta might adjust their rules so as to bring this
> about. This would avoid the situation where, U23 GB athletes in
> particular, compete in low status events almost up to the moment they
> are selected.

Would it not be even better if you had to have a certain number of
points before you could do trials? Then there would be an incentive
in the system to actually go out and race!

Andrew