National Primary School Exchange

[Catherine]

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damo wrote:
it seems Catherine in Launny has some great ideas and is a doer

Mark wrote:
Why aren't you doing it anymore Catherine, the sport needs you??!!

[damo]

"since I introduced standards in 2003 the level of Tas participants has been much improved."

Just a question Catherine, why do 10 yr olds need to achieve selection standards, isn't life competitive enough already without a 10 yr old potentially missing out on getting in this team even though they may have won their chosen event because they missed a standard by whatever amount.

I just believe that standards at this age reflect growth and nothing else really so instead of the host state having competitors in every event they didn't, which I think is silly. I am glad that the event went well and there were some great individual and team performances however define success?? it is different for everyone and at primary school participation should be the sole indicator of success not elite comp, they have years of that ahead of them!

It is only my opinion, you will obviously disagree however that is life but nontheless an interesting topic.

Saw the young girl that broke Cathy Freeman's time and she looked very exciting, just hope she is still competing in 10 yrs? I just think back to an aboriginal sprinter in the 70's whom ran for Australia in the male sprints and improved his time from 13 to career PB by less that .5 second, still represented Australia though and the time was quick but the 13yr time was based on him being a very early developer!

[Jarrod]

This hurts, but I must agree, I actually have always been one who disagrees with state teams for Little As at under 13, so obviously flows on to this one. I think it is way too much pressure to put on a kid to make a state team at that age. let kids be kids for a bit longer.

[TJ]

To save starting a new thread, can someone tell me how the ages work for school events? LA's go from 1st October (I think) but do the schools competitions go from the 1st January?

Is the age in senior comp from the 1st October also?


Thanks.

[Darren A]

Seniors go as at age of event, I believe
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Darren A

[TJ]

Ah OK, like Masters, you can change age groups during the season then.

Em done her athletics carnival at school today and was running against kids in older age groups at LA's, I figured with schools it goes with grades rather than age, or from the 1st of January but wasnt sure.

Thanks Darren.

[damo]

[damo]

I think we are missing the point completely of this comp, isn't this comp designed for participation? You see the problem with sport is it is about winning and being the best isn't it Catherine? you said it yourself, our children being embarrassed because they cannot make the grass?? who really gets embarrassed when they are 10 by a small throw, THE PARENTS!!!!!!!!! The problem is those are adult concepts that children either inherit or develop as a product of their environment. This competition favours early developers and yes you are correct, very few attend selection because little a's are on at same time, once again an issue with the fact that athletics has 3 different levels now a 12 yr old can represent their state, primary exchange, little A's and U/14 nationals WHY?

What we should do is forget about winning and losing and develop participation and social skills in the U/13 age groups, e.g. no state teams, a carnival that promotes healthy fun competition, competing against ones self, making friends and a healthy way of life. State teams should start at nationals u/14 level and not before. Life is very competitive however 10 yr olds are CHILDREN and do not need to be the best 10yr old in Australia, the young lass whom broke Cathy Freemans record for example, who's prepared to lay odds of her continuing with athletics for the next15 yrs???? Great just what we need another child champion!

All good points that you made Catherine and obviously were sound decisions at the time for this comp but the kids are the ones competing not the adults, it's way too early for them to be thinking like an adult.

[Tracey]

I was present for the whole primary meet and would like to disagree with the statement that it only favours early developers. Yes, there were some big kids there however many of the gold medal winners were tiny to say the least - very little height and very little muscle development at all.

99.9% of the tasmanian kids had a fantastic time and have made many friends Australia wide out of this terrific opportunity.

I agree with Catherine that selection standards (flexible ones) are necessary. When you have 12 yo girls running 2.11 for the 800 it is ridiculous to send someone just because they came third at the trials. That child will be humiliated when they are defeated by 200-300m.

I think most (agree some are pushy and wont) know when their kid is emotionally ready to have a go at something like this. All Tassie kids and their parents who attended pre event meetings were told how high the standard was and the kids were encouraged to do their best, have fun, try for a pb and put it all down to experience, not to focus on medals. I would say they all did this and did it well.

There were a few that were a long way off their pbs however they took it in their stride, they had a great time in a team environment and have said it has motivated them to come back for more!

How about we give these kids a pat on the back and say well done for putting themselves out there and having a great time.

Early developers will be in every sport. My son raced kids who were up to 6-8 inches bigger than him last week at all schools. Do we cease competitive sport until everyone has ceased growing?

I think if parents think their kids aren't emotionally ready (or physically) then they shouldnt enter them in the first place.

It thought the Tassie guys were awesome in everyway!

[Jarrod]

[rosacaky]

There have been some really excellent points discussed but I would just like to say that my daughter has been lucky to be selected in the past 2 Primary School Exchange teams. The look on her face when she found out she was lucky enough to make the team was amazing (and yes she did achieve the qualifying standards).
This year she achieved a great pb in one event her other events she tried really hard and had a wonderful time.
Her discus event was won by a child from interstate throwing a huge throw which was a record. My daughter thought that she it was great that she just got to talk with the gold medalist/record holder.
My daughter is a very social child but is also competitive. She loved the chance to compete at such a high level for her age but she also loves meeting and talking with all the new people around her.
One of the highlights for her was talking to some of the Victorian team when in the pool at the motel, not to mention the swapping of state badges.
My daughter is 11 and Im honestly not sure what her future holds but I do know that by making the two Primary School Exchange Teams she has learnt much about competition and how to handle some of life experiences. Roll on next year as she really wants to try and make the next team and yes I will be there supporting her all the way and making sure she smiles all the way!

[Darren A]

[damo]

it is great to see so many people enjoyed the meet and especially the children, looking at the results there were children whom performed less by some distance and times the winners and from what you are all saying no one really worried, especially the kids competing!

What I would like to pose is a question that we should all answer without emotion (particularly if we have children whom competed because generally our point of view is dictated by whether our chil,d was in the team or not, mine neither as I don't have children in the sport)

if the numbers of this carnival are healthy? the little A's national are healthy in participants? why is the flow on from the junior/little/primary athletics to the teenage and then senior scene so very, very poor?


For example as a coach whom has recently lost an athlete, female, at 18yrs of age to the sport I asked her what the major reason was for her quitting. Her response was simple.

"I have competed since I was 7 and a half yrs of age, you have coached me since I was 11yrs of age and known me since I was 8yrs. I have competed almost every single weekend since I was 7.5yrs in the season and have trained year round since 11yrs of age all by my own choice and with my parents support. I am tired! I have lost the passion and I am tired of having to run Pb's,train, win or place, go to nationals and be competitive. I just want to have fun!"

So I am not taking away from any performances or any opinions just stating facts. I hope the meet stays however I wish it was more a carnival promoting participation. I don't think we really need 2 seperate state teams for the same age groups in primary school years, a bit of overkill really! and yet another cost. Good to see more people on the forum though which is great

[Azza]

I believe the high drop out rate from athletics (little aths-seniors) have to do with social reasons.

1) many social groups at around 16 begin having alcoholic parties and therefore would prefer to hang out with their friends on weekends

2) they turn 18 and want to hit the pubs/club scene

3) they need to work to get through uni, therefore have insufficient time

4) many athletes are also talented in another sport (Team sports mostly) and therefore want to be with team mates not run for themselves.

5) The stigma that seniors is too hard and they would look insufficient against the elitist that seniors portrays to the public.

I believe little athletics is a great step, and i think we should hold many clinics (the old commonwealth bank ones) where little aths kids come and learn from the best, i remember helping kids out and there was plenty of numbers at the track on a sunday morning.
However, my sister is in little athletics and is in under 10's (I started in under 10's) and she loves the social aspect as many of her friends are doing it, but she also is getting bored and sometimes wants to go home.

I found when i first started that getting last in jumps and throws was not fun and therefore didnt want to do it, it wasnt until i realised that by participating i was being rewarded with my green/blue/red badges and then i started to enjoy it (extrinsic rewards).

I believe the primary schools should be about participation and not very competive, but if this was the case, then we wouldnt have got the turn out we got, as many from the mainland were here for medals.
Striving in little athletics for the under 13 state team was great fun, and an achievement that i thought was the biggest i would ever achieve. so i believe this state team should be in place still, and the primary school games be a warm-up for the junior age groups to try and make and get the valuable experience prior to trying to make this prestigous team.
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Beat the Bay and OVA

[TJ]

Azza has answered that question well but would also like to add an opinion

I think athletics is poorly advertised as a sport for everyone. People do see the senior competition as very competitive and something only for the elite and I guess people feel they just dont have the goods to match it with the best so dont bother.

In school I was a good runner, after taking my daughter to LA's the past couple of years I half got the desire to do something again. Instead of looking at the senior comp I seeked out TMA thinking the athletes are older and likely to be less competitive in nature and frankly I didnt want to make a fool out of myself. Through the TMA I have met some wonderful people and have learnt that senior comp also caters for people of all levels, and now I would have no hestation in turning up to the Domain of a Saturday and having a throw. But I wonder how many other people know about it?

My brother-in-law competed in the TMA Pentathlon on Sunday, he has just turned 20 and for someone who hasnt done any athletics at all since high school done great. I suggested that he contact AT about getting involved as he had such a great time and his reply was 'No way, I cant keep up with Pagey'. He had no idea that events were graded and that infact he was jumping & throwing at around a D grade without training. We came home and I pulled some results from the internet and he now understands that Athletics caters for everyone, with Uni over for a while he should be joining a club shortly.

So on top of what Azza has said, I guess promoting Athletics as being for everyone woud be a start as I really dont think people understand that it is.