RECRUIT, RETAIN, DEVELOP

Some more resources for coaches (and parents). These two articles appeared in a 2003 edition of the IAAF's New Studies in Athletics (vol 18, issue 3). I can't link directly to the articles, but this link will take you to the table of contents, where you can read, download and/or e-mail the articles. The articles focus on swimming and running, but are applicable to all youth sports programs. Coaches should consider if they are incorporating these elements into their programs. Likewise, parents should be able to identify these characteristics in their children's sport programs. NCCP-certified Competition Coaches (aka Comp Intro), will likely find these articles to be further evidence/support for the course content in Part 1 of the Comp Intro program. [NOTE: I'm not a big fan of the term "entrapment" in the second article, but it's only mentioned once (it was probably added for effect), and the intent of the rest of the article is certainly not to 'trap' talent.]



STRATEGIES TO PREVENT DROPOUT FROM YOUTH ATHLETICS
New Studies in Athletics (2003), Vol:18:3, 21-26
By: Suzie Tuffey Riewald

Each year, millions of children in the USA become involved in a variety of youth sport programmes. Unfortunately, each year approximately 35% subsequently withdraw from these programmes. While some athletes withdraw from one sport to ‘try out’ or specialize in another, others withdraw from sport completely. This situation has raised great concern within the sport federations and among those concerned with the health and well-being of the young athletes, especially if withdrawal is influenced by a negative sport experience or by factors that are amenable to change.

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FACTORS IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMMES THAT WILL ATTRACT, RECRUIT, RETAIN AND DEVELOP YOUNG ATHLETES.
New Studies in Athletics (2003), Vol:18:3, 27-34
By: Lyle Sanderson

The challenge facing athletics today goes beyond talent identification. To assure the continued success of the sport strategies of TALENT ENTRAPMENT, that will get potential athletes involved and keep them involved, must be developed and implemented. Attracting large numbers of children to athletics is obviously important, but the failure to keep those that have been attracted involved through adolescence and early adulthood is the real problem in most nations and systems.

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Happy reading.