Athletics Canada High Performance Review & Planning

Athletics Canada

High Performance Review & Planning

The Review & Planning Process …• Direct Review (face to face or phone)• Athlete survey• Post IPC and IAAF World Championships Survey staff and

athlete survey• Preliminary planning process (AC … Ottawa)• Communication with Board (Vancouver … October 7)• Communication to stakeholders (Vancouver … October 8)• Detailed planning session with key stakeholders

(according to area of focus) …. Oct 16-17, 2013• Communication with AC community, Nov 2, 2013• Finalization of plan, presentation to OTP Nov 26, 2013

Organizational/Cultural Issues…

• Better communication (staff, athletes) • Better transparency (for decision making) • Better accountability (e.g. staff appraisal,

evaluation, feedback)• Better Learning model • Better HP leadership (e.g. setting clear

strategic objectives

Training Centres…

• Too many?

• Not as effective as they should/could be

• Impractical as full time residential Centres

• Not “world class” in terms of access, facilities,

IST, Recovery and location

Staff structure…

• Linked to Training Centre and strategic focus

• Finalize Full Time staff structure a.s.a.p.

• Staff needs clear job descriptions and accountabilities

• Follow through and accountability is paramount (and is lacking)

Strategic links…

• Need a better link between strategic objectives and programs/activities

• Need stronger Key Performance Outcomes• Need stronger and more regular monitoring

and evaluation process• Need to better communicate vision/strategic

plan … and Key Performance Outcomes (and results) to members

Secondary findings/ recommendations …

• Develop Individual Athlete Performance Plans (IAPP)

• Re-structure National IST and develop better alignment with Training Centre and Provincial ISTs (more later)

• Strengthen/Revitalize Coach communication process

• Strengthen/Revitalize Athlete communication process

Secondary (cont’d)…• Develop/Enhance Elite Coaches’ Professional Development Process

• Align AC Coaching Development/Education Program with Elite Coach’s PD Program (including… potentially… but not limited to clarification of role with University of Alberta and their Coaching Centre)

• Review competition alignment and develop better strategic targeting of competitions in line with Individual Athlete Performance Plans (including a rationalization of key Domestic and International Competitions)– National Track League very popular

• Better coordinate NCAA and CIS programs

Secondary (cont’d)…• Better athlete tracking capability for ALL targeted and

development athletes (i.e. a “performance database”)

• (Re)Build an effective Development Centre in Quebec with the goal of eventually developing a High Performance Training Centre

• Build strong development and HP programs in main population areas (BC, Ontario, Quebec)

• Improve the bilingual aspects of communications and staff in AC office and on Tour

• Develop a more collaborative (and leadership) relationship with OTP and CSI/CSCs.

Post IPC (Lyon) & IAAF (Moscow) Surveys …

• Survey sent to all athletes, coaches, IST and management who participated in Lyon and Moscow– Not sent to personal coaches or non-national IST

people

• Questions the same for Lyon and Moscow delegations

• Questions “mirrored” for athletes and staff

Key messages…

• Injury management very good (less than 10%??)

• Poor use of video (prior to and at competitions)

• Poor use of advanced technology (prior to and at)

• Poor use of Sport Psychology (prior to and at)

• Poor connection between National IST and “day to day” Daily Training Environment outside of key competitions (but VERY competent national IST)

Conclusions/Recommendations…

• Improve communication processes

• Re-structure/rationalize Training Centre and Daily Training environment situation

• Enhance Sport Sciences aspect of SS/SM

• Re-structure IST – better align National vs. “Regional/Local” ISTs

• Improve professionalism and culture of accountability

• Other factors coming from ‘Secondary’ outcomes

The Plan

Purpose

The purpose of the AC High Performance program is to create sustainable success at the Olympic / Paralympic Games and World Championships.

Success at the Olympics is measured by medallists and finalists.

Success at the Paralympics is measured by medallists.

Philosophy

The key to success in Athletics is a great athlete working

with world-class coaches in great facilities with great-

integrated support services.

ImprovementsImproved expectations & personal accountability due to...

o Meaningful Performance Management (e.g. by Head Coach)o Improved Athlete Planso Improved day-to-day interventions into coach/athlete practices

due to...o Improved quality of support staff o Improved overseas camps (WWT & altitude)

Improved trust in & recognition of AC’s role due to...o Clearer policies (e.g. selection policies, WWT policies, etc.)o Consistent application of policieso Improved support at camps and championships

Integration

The Same, the same, the same

Focus for the FutureInvesting in Medals: o Not a rewards program, tomorrows potential counts not

yesterdays performance

High Expectations: o Maintain 2 – 3 medals at every major event (Olympic), o Move up in the nations ranking (Paralympic short term top 15

long term top 10 nation)

3 “Layers of Support”

1. East and West Performance Hub

2. Coach Based Support (CBS)… centered around an employed senior coach working with a group of top International Athletes. Coaches will be considered based on their current athletes & their record of previous success.

3. Athlete Based Support (ABS) … for senior athletes based outside the Performance Hub and not in a CBS. Main support will be to contribute towards their coaching costs and some SS/SM services (e.g., Damian Warner, Brianne Theisen-Eaton)

ALL CBS and ABS coaches and athletes are linked to the Hub (and Lead/Event Coach) responsible for their event

CriteriaNational Performance Hubs

Provides integrated coaching, education, SS/SM and life services for carded athletes

o Quality Athletes (Critical mass of athletes)o Coaching (Quality)o High Quality SS/SM (Local provision)o Facilities (Indoor & Outdoor)o Large population base (to provide appropriate Life Services

CriteriaCoach Based Support

Senior Coach working with a group of quality athletes (and coordinating with appropriate Hub and Event/Lead Coach)

o (OG) Minimum of 1 finalist (2013), and 1 – 2 top 8 - 2016 potential

o (PG) Minimum of 1 Gold medallist 2013, 1 Potential Gold medallist 2016

o Support for coaching and some SS/SM services and other support as negotiated with AC Head Coach

CriteriaAthlete Based Support

Senior Coach working with at least one

o (OG) Finalist minimum top 12 for endurance / field athletes (London & Moscow)

o (PG) London or Lyon Gold medallist

o Support for coaching, some SS/SM services and other services as negotiated with AC Head Coach

Western Athlete Support Hub

• Supported by Provincial CSI

• Servicing primarily • Endurance • (Throws)• (Sprints/Jumps)

• Has it’s own IST support group

• Lead coach(es)• West Hub Coordinator

Eastern Athlete Support Hub


• Servicing primarily • Endurance• Sprint/Relays• Jumps• (Multi-events) • (Throws)


• Lead coach(es)• East Hub Coordinator








• Servicing primarily • Endurance• Sprint/Relay• Jumps• (Multi-events) • (Throws)



COACH BASED SUPPORT groups












ATHLETE BASED SUPPORT GROUPS

























ATHLETE ID AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS – OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC

Feed the high performance groups, track and monitor Athlete Individual Performance Plans( IPPs)








• Servicing primarily • Endurance• Sprint• Jumps• (Multi-events) • Throws





ATHLETE ID AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS – OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC

Feed the high performance groups, track and monitor Athlete Individual Performance Plans( IPPs)

Partnership development officers embedded in BC, Ontario and Quebec PSOs

Communicationo Athletes / Coaches meeting (2 times per year)

o Bi-weekly Newsletter

o Information Portal

o Mobile Application

o Website

o Others; email, phone etc.

Direct Communication

o Coaches (Hub, Personal)

o Head Coach / Performance Director

o Athlete’s Council

o Sport Psychologist

Key is to deal with any issue upfront. We need to talk to each other and not about each other.

To undermine our Team is not going to be acceptable

Planning/Review with Athletes (IAPP)

o Yearly Review meeting with all Athletes and their Personal Coach

o We will look at;o Previous season performanceo Plan for improvementso Bridge gap to World Leaderso NEEDS (IST, Coaching, S&C…..)o YTPo Testingo Other relevant issues ….

IST …

Remember key messages from interviews and surveys

o National IST very competento Low injury rateo Poor connection between national IST, major event IST and

local DTE ISTo Low level of “Sciences” in IST… high medical focusedo Low level of “High Technology” utilization

IST (potential) Solutions…• Eliminate separate National IST … ie as a separate entity• Build up local and national SS/SM network (through

CSI/CSCs)• Better develop Hub and “CBS/regional” IST groups• Increase knowledge and utilization of “Sciences” • Improve inclusion and integration of Sciences and

Medicine into IAPPs• Create National “IST” from overall IST “pool” for key

events• Improve communication between respective ISTs and

lead service providers

Medicine Sciences

West Training Centre

MD Physio Massage Physiol Sp Psyc/ MT

Biomech/Perf Tech Nutrition S&C Other

East Training Centre

MD Physio Massage Physiol Psych /MT

Biomech/ Perf Tech Nutrition S&C Other

Coach Based

SupportMD Physio Massage Physiol Psych/

MTBiomech/ Perf Tech Nutrition S&C Other

Other Groups MD Physio Massage Physiol Sp Psych/

MTBiomech/ Perf Tech Nutrition S&C Other

Medicine Sciences

Training Centre



Training Centre



Other Centre

MD Physio Massage Physiol Psych/ MT


Other Centre

MD Physio Massage Physiol Sp Psych/ MT


Medicine Sciences

Training Centre



Training Centre



Other Centre

MD Physio Massage Physiol Psych/ MT


Other Centre

MD Physio Massage Physiol Sp Psych/ MT


NATIONAL IST

“POOL”

Questions, comments, discussion

Documents

Athletics Canada High Performance Review & Planning