from AAI website Grants
Those clubs that got grants under our Clubs Small Equipment Grant Scheme are reminded that this money must be spent as per your grant application by Dec 31st 2008. Any queries about this, please contact your local RDO. Coach Education Courses
Anyone hoping to attend a Coaching course are reminded that applications must be submitted in advance. On occassion courses have to be cancelled due to low number of applicants. It is vital that we know who plans on attending in advance. The Assistant Coach course scheduled for November in Templemore has been postponed due to small number of applicants. This course will now take place in Kilkenny after Christmas. There are still some places left on Level 1 in UL and Level 2 in Cork/Kerry and the Athletics Leader course in CIT as well as many of the courses and workshops listed on the Calendar of events. Development Calendar attached
Workshops
There is an opportunity for Javelin Coaches and experienced athletes to attend a Javelin workshop this weekend in Tullamore given by Dan Kennedy and Dave Sweeney. Please contact pat@athleticsireland.ie for further details. Other workshop in other areas are listed on the Calendar of events. Please note: the Hurdles and Sprints workshop planned for RSC Waterford on November 14th will not be held until after Christmas. Development Calendar attached.
Insurance
ALL clubs are reminded that they are not covered by insurance unless their Coaches are registered with AAI. No athlete may compete unless they are registered with AAI – the club stands to be disqualified if they allow un-registered athletes to compete in AAI competitions.
Child Welfare/Code of Ethics
ALL clubs are reminded that they must have at least one person that has completed the 4 hour basic awareness course entitled ‘Child Welfare & Protection in Sport’ and that each club must register one person who has completed this course as their ‘Child Welfare Officer with AAI. Courses are available through your Local Sports Partnership.
Little Athletics
All existing Little athletics clubs received a letter in September outlining the ‘new’ Little Athletics programme. There is an excellent new Manual available and each club was asked to contact their local RDO to arrange for them to visit to conduct a ‘Refresher’ Little Athletics session and to give the clubs the new Manual (full of new ideas and activities) and also to tell clubs about the Little Athletics Agility Challenge. Again the response from clubs has been very poor. Please phone your local RDO to arrange a Refresher visit for your club. Any clubs who have not yet become Little Athletics clubs are encouraged to send three people on an Athletics Leader course and register 20 kids under 10 in order to receive the excellent bag of equipment sponsored by McDonalds for your club.
Regional Squads
The first of the Regional Development squad dates are scheduled for the next couple of weeks. Development Calendar attached. All medallists in all events in each province have received a personal letter inviting them and their Coach to attend the Regional Squad sessions. This year there will be an overall plan for each event group and the Squad sessions will each have a speaker or workshop where possible in addition to the training sessions. Athletes are reminded that they are requested to reply to the letter to indicate they will be attending the Squad sessions. Please encourage all athletes to reply in order that adequate Regional Coaches and facilities can be booked to cater for numbers attending each Squad.
Fit4Life
All Fit4Life Meet n Train groups are reminded that they should have been in touch with their local RDO to ensure that their correct contact details etc are available to recreational runners as fliers have been designed and are being distributed at road races, marathons etc to show non-affiliated recreational runners where the Fit4Life groups are. Each Fit4Life club will shortly be receiving a new allocation of Training Diaries, hi-vis vests and water bottles for all registered members.
Please remember the RDOs (Regional Development Officers) are there to help you and your club. Should you have any questions/ideas etc please do not hesitate to contact them. Full contact details as well as Calendar of events, news, reports etc are in the Development section of www.athleticsireland.ie