CEO CONFERENCE Break-Out Group 1 Leader: Nick Davis Discussion Report

CEO CONFERENCE Break-Out Group 1 Leader: Nick Davis Discussion Report

Managing the Grass Roots, Youth and Health & Well-Being Aspects of Athletics Issues Addressed Services athletics must and can deliver (1) - Times are changing! Athletics can deliver services for all categories of population from childhood to old age. It changes our strategy oriented only on peformance. - Providing services for youth (and promotion to parents) is a priority for a lot of federations a lot of tools exist (Kid s athletic for ex.) - Mass participation activity is difficult to control for Member Federations relations with organizers have to be improved in the federation system for finance and development. - We have ideas on health and leisure activities, but more as a global promotion than as a concrete action plan. - Sponsors are pushing federations to assume those services and are more willing to finance them than national teams.

Managing the Grass Roots, Youth and Health & Well-Being Aspects of Athletics Issues Addressed Services athletics must and can deliver (2) - Each federations has a different context. In particular the national network clubs schools universities and it changes the work on these topics. For the federations that have clubs they have to face a cultural conservatism. - There is a big paradox between what the sponsors pay(network of clubs, universities, private structures.) and the reality of our capacity to control this network, to structure athletics in our territories It challenges the capacity of the federation to provide these services.

Managing the Grass Roots, Youth and Health & Well-Being Aspects of Athletics Issues Addressed Are the required structures up to the task? - The question of structures is essential. What role for which structure: federation, regional level, clubs etc for implementing all the grass roots, Youth and health dimensions? It is different with the local context. - A key point for everyone is to increase the quality of the services, in particular the education of the coaches to provide a quality service one of the solution, compete against other sport such as football and to convince parents to bring their children into an athletics structure. - Some federations are doing a special work through the employment of development agents at the regional and local level in order to provide appropriate services directly to athletes and other participants in the sport.

Managing the Grass Roots, Youth and Health & Well-Being Aspects of Athletics Issues Addressed Can we find, manage and retain the people (professional and volunteer)necessary to deliver the services? - The definition of a common goal is essential to find, manage and retain people. Our system has to propose something clear and have a big capacity to mobilize more than the athletes. Our sport need a lot of volunteers. - There are different situations in the countries of this group 1. A few federations give a fee to the volunteers, to be sure of their participation. For education and youth programs, public institutions do also the same.

Managing the Grass Roots, Youth and Health & Well-Being Aspects of Athletics Issues Addressed How can we use IT and other aspects of modern communications? - All Federations of this group think that the utilisation of this technology is essential today. Even if it can be expensive, it is essential to catch the new consumers of athletics. - Various examples have been given regarding digital tools for mass participation races runners. A few federations are launching apps or web sites to attract thee runnersconsumers, with special cards, fidelity systems. The aim remains to bring runners into the clubs and other exiting structures of the sport.

High Performance Athletics Issues Addressed Services and support for elite athletes (training support, medical services, physiotherapy, psychology, training camps, commercial and post career advice, communication, financial support etc.) Services and support for coaches (financial support, coach education, scientific support, facilities, equipment, communication etc.) National team services (athletes contracts, clothing, team travel, logistics etc.) Athlete Representatives (authorisation, cooperation, control, imposing sanctions, if necessary) National-level competition opportunities (programm structure, organisation, marketing, media) International competition structure (are there problems or needs?)

Services & Support elite athletes Discussion focused on issues related to doping & cheating motivations, drivers, and need for philosophy Differences in systems apparent Russia schools; GBR clubs Contractual relationships with service providers (health); athletes; coaches Quality of coaching significant in this area refers to next discussion point

Coaches services & support All agreed a critical area Support to coaches more than athletes. But then accreditation a barrier when it counts most Do we have enough talented coaches for the athletes? Progression of coaches role of a coach who discovers talent how they stay with / develop along with the athlete / maintain the bond

National Team Discussion focused on contracts & relationships with athletes Control that Federations have ensuring athletes compete Cultural impact (Swe/Fin) benefit and jealously Compensation (marathon)..replacing commercial race income Kit the issue of athletes contracts conflicting with National kit deals National must prevail IAAF can resolve (?) and help in this area listening?

Athlete Reps (Agents) Generally agreed relationships good & controlled esp. European agents and reps (USA agents?) Variable contractual relationships but healthy Major concern ref. athletes changing countries and role of agents within that inducements If Federation-Athlete contract strong, then that governs impact of agent

National Level Competition opportunities Seen as a vital part of structure & our role Key focus (concern) level below National Champs variable at best Can hinder as well as help the real elite. Contracted by most (all) that athletes must compete at Natl Championships

International competition Championships what we are really all about Debate about junior International more / less @U23 / U20? General agreement the 4 year cycle almost works with exception of Euro s pre Olympics Euro/Olympic/Euro/Worlds (ideal). Or shift Euro s in 2016 & 2020 to post Olympics 2 peaks per year.. Or is it 3 (inc Natl Champs). And our structures should reflect this (coach engagement)

Questions? Comments?