What a phenomenal day of athletics in Tullamore yesterday at the Irish Schools. It seems to be a regular occurrence in recent years. It is evidence the athlete talent is there. It is evidence the coaching talent is there.
But the amazing talent who have competed in their last schools competition will now enter the most critical phase of their careers that will define whether their dreams are realised or not.
Our official coaching framework is letting these athletes down in that key phase of their career. It is letting the coaches, who have developed them, down. The most critical years for our athletes are their collegiate years. This is where the wheels will usually come off if they are going to come off. A whole new world. Away from home in many cases. New temptations, new pressures. Their normal support circle has disappeared. A huge void can appear.
Of course there will be athletes who will thrive despite this neglect and you could argue that it's that resilience that makes them champions. Of course some will fall into and meet a perfect coach and training group or be lucky enough to stay with their childhood coach.
But nobody can argue that creating such a dysfunctional environment is a deliberate tactic to create chaos and harden these young athletes up for what's ahead of them in the ruthless world of senior athletics. It's a symptom of the fact that coaching and respect for coaching is down the pecking order of priorities across the broad decision making mechanism in our sport.
I could be wrong and I hope I am wrong but we won't see real change until coaching becomes front and centre. Are we going to buy butter or are we going to buy guns. Getting more members or getting world class coaches to grow more of our own world class coaches.
But the amazing talent who have competed in their last schools competition will now enter the most critical phase of their careers that will define whether their dreams are realised or not.
Our official coaching framework is letting these athletes down in that key phase of their career. It is letting the coaches, who have developed them, down. The most critical years for our athletes are their collegiate years. This is where the wheels will usually come off if they are going to come off. A whole new world. Away from home in many cases. New temptations, new pressures. Their normal support circle has disappeared. A huge void can appear.
Of course there will be athletes who will thrive despite this neglect and you could argue that it's that resilience that makes them champions. Of course some will fall into and meet a perfect coach and training group or be lucky enough to stay with their childhood coach.
But nobody can argue that creating such a dysfunctional environment is a deliberate tactic to create chaos and harden these young athletes up for what's ahead of them in the ruthless world of senior athletics. It's a symptom of the fact that coaching and respect for coaching is down the pecking order of priorities across the broad decision making mechanism in our sport.
I could be wrong and I hope I am wrong but we won't see real change until coaching becomes front and centre. Are we going to buy butter or are we going to buy guns. Getting more members or getting world class coaches to grow more of our own world class coaches.
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