Competition Strategy Review Presentation of concepts and ideas from the Review Group Autumn 2015

Transcription

1 Competition Strategy Review Presentation of concepts and ideas from the Review Group Autumn 2015

2 The Competition Strategy Group: Formed October 2014 by UK Athletics and the Home Countries. strategic overview of the domestic competition pathway of Track and Field in the UK. formulate a plan to modernise the competition landscape for the future.

3 Terms of Reference The CSG will have responsibility for:- Working with the Home Countries and other representatives from the sport and reviewing the current domestic competition structure up to and including senior championship level competition. Formulating a strategy for the development of competition structures. Developing policies to ensure the successful implementation of the competition strategy. Coordinating and implementing any changes to the competition structure working with the Home Countries, other relevant partners and competition providers. Devising and supporting the process of coordinating individual competitions and managing the same through a Permitting process administered by UKA and the Home Countries. Ensuring the deliverability of a process within each Home Country organisation to find, train and maintain sufficient officials to support the competition structure as agreed by the CSG. Managing & implementing UKA Rules for Competition governing competition structure & individual competitions. Acting as an interface to the sport ensuring support and buy-in to the management of the competition structure. Providing a structure and process to ensure that all elements of the sport where necessary are consulted with and communicated to in a timely and inclusive manner. Managing the strategic overview process to reach a conclusion by 31 st March 2016.

4 Key point to note. What follows are purely suggestions & concepts. and with the support of the CSG are being used as a framework for wider discussion with key parties ahead of the next CSG meeting in early November 2015 January 2016

5 Why contemplate any change? Support our clubs = meaningful competition but delivered in a way that helps clubs in all regards Costs reduction for clubs..sustainability, viability of competition Athlete and official, clubs, coaches, volunteers.experience Officials & availability Length of competition days Travel reduction Meaningful competition Recognising societies (youth) expectations today Meaningful calendar Increase the recognition and role of clubs in the athlete pathway Technology Retention & recruitment into the sport

6 In no priority order, the proposals cover: The Championships pathway Event specific competitions Virtual club competition Leagues Indoor season Event presentation

7 Championship pathway County revert back to original date? (2 nd weekend in May?) combine county Champs where appropriate as happens already in some cases More focus on junior age groups Area / District County Champions get free entry Add in U18 age group in certain events? (Performance Team input required) Athletes compete for their county in the area Champs (inter-county match within Champs) A home country International for U18 & U20 athletes (Nth v Sth v Mid v Scot v Wales v NI) National Area Champions get free entry English Champs to be Open Home country International at senior Level - Eng v Scott v Wal v NI V others. Suggested senior and U20 event. National Champions auto selected.

8 Championship pathway #2 Principle supported, but questions British Championships (Trials) part of pathway or not (discuss with Performance Team) Schools Championships pathway (separate, and agree to remain as such) but UK Schools Games an issue for all International event (late Aug/early sept) joint funding UKA & HCAF incentive for National Champs (probably for not the top stars) Qualification & invite to next level for champions requires logical date planning Extend season into August Supporting athlete development below World Class Opportunity for HCAF to promote, host, present out with Commonwealth Games HCAF the drivers to enable this to happen - ACTION

9 Event Specific Competitions Take the BMC success to other disciplines in a structured manner Event groups: BMC (leave largely alone); Sprints (inc hurdles); Throws; Jumps; Relays (??) Mid week - Consider using BMC dates as a framework for 2016 weekday & Grand Prix (w/e) dates as models in calendar already Regional basis but managed (permits) to avoid clashes 2 hour programmes max (7-9pm) Requirements: Photofinish/EDM; athlete focused (sprints with wind); tech support from HCAF/Region Core events in new league the Golden Tick events meeting key criteria means events qualify for entry into club ranking.all athletes etc (SEE VIRTUAL LEAGUE) Flexible formats to events encourage innovation in timetable, format, presentation etc Relay champs early season preference (rather than event specific relay events) HCAF lead to make happen focus and responsibility more on less popular events (throws, PV etc) rather than sprints others will ensure they happen

10 Virtual Club Competition Using technology and data positively County, Area, District, National Champs to count Debate about Event Specific (Golden tick?) Format to be agreed / but all competitors can count (or top 10 per club etc) Weekly updated league table (requires event specific to be changing fast) Hosted on UKA website driven by data (P10) Results to be broken down by event group, specific event, even age group club tables Virtual competitions feasible (Hungarian Tables?) Pilot / start in 2016 just do it / data critical, but own that data Link to Power of 10 critical ownership and management approach requires exploration and dialogue

11 Cup Competition Include in the calendar Similar to 10 in 100 previous concept..the FA Cup of athletics but needs to look and feel different to previous Final in prestigious venue (Olympic Park?) Could be a virtual cup irrespective of venues, teams qualify on the same date for the final format to be addressed and considered 1 day for virtual, 1 day for final (pre Anniversary Games 23 rd Jul 2016) Principle well supported make it happen as a trial concept but needs to have a home in the calendar and make sense further debate

12 League suggestions the rationale: Reduction in travel especially at lower ages & levels Reduced costs Shorter competition days Free up space in calendar Reduce demand on officials Meetings more athlete focussed Clear & consistent place for each league

13 National Leagues (UKWAL & BAL): National Leagues 2 divisions men & women combined Same venue? Same league? Progress from shared venue to joint teams? 3 fixtures ½, ¾ or full timetable? Desire to shorten (officials and athletes), but National all events Central venue concept at National 1&2 Birmingham, Olympic Park, Gateshead? UKA / HCAF role in support financial, promotion, logistics, event presentation, equipment athlete experience critical Increase numbers of HCA (higher claim) athletes, or remove restrictions completely Consider no promo/ relegation for a period (further debate) Play-off approach (top 4 of 2 and bottom 4 of 1 etc) makes meaningful end of season?

14 Senior Regional Leagues All leagues (senior) Regional below National 1 & 2 Mixed leagues reflective of National 1&2? 3 fixtures Central venues (appropriate to region) consider eg Carlisle for Scotland / North ½, ¾, or full timetable Target venues with external throws areas and promote throws as key, but separate venue UKA/HCAF financial, promotion, support, logistics, equipment etc athlete experience the key

15 Junior Local Leagues Same principles apply 3 fixtures ¾ timetable (seeking 4 hour max) each event twice Graded races & guest athletes encouraged boosting numbers

16 YDL Upper Age Group: 3 fixtures (consistent with senior leagues) All clubs in a National Final (tiered) ie 4 fixtures in total for all clubs Lower Age Group: 3 fixtures (as above) 3/4 length timetable (or ½ timetable?) Cup & plate finals full programme as a 4 th fixture ie finals for all Recognition that U11 competition is an issue that needs to be addressed.but not by YDL Age groups to be discussed: (recognition of maybe current structure doesn t fulfil all needs) YDL lower: U11 &U13 general feeling very anti U11 for YDL contradicts athlete development model YDL Upper: U15 & U17 BAL/UKWAL: U20 & Senior

17 Indoor season Re-establish inter-city (Super 8?) competition mixed response by wider group, but further consideration Club relays (club connect) included in all events Indoor (semi) International event annual winner auto selection for N-vs-S-vs-Midvs-Scot-vs-NI-vs-Wales-vs-BUCS/CS Further debate and discussion on structure of indoor season required Action 2016 Indoor International, with possible Home International in 2017 (Glasgow?)

18 Event Presentation Cost effective concepts to be identified and shared inc aspects such as: Music, commentary, bbq, beer tents, NB Chillout zone (EA), Quick results turnaround medal presentation immediate Athlete focus to event presentation Focus on field as well as track Spectators who, how, why, & spectator motivation / sell External throws build into event through links, commentary, video? Branding, technology, entry systems, apps, results immediate online, HCAF/UKA support and training pivotal to progress All group members agreed to NMH one idea on Event presentation (nholl@uka.org.uk)

19 From here. Do we support the concepts? How can(as a wider group) we improve them? Who do we now need to talk to, by when, and who is best placed to do that? This is only a start.positive engagement with all stakeholders in the right way (this being no fait accompli)..critical What (if anything) could we implement in summer 2016? What for winter 2016/17? What for summer 2017? Phased implementation and review / learning?

20 Agreed 8/9/15 meeting: Discussions prior to next meeting (Nov 5 th ): BAL/UKWAL HCAF & UK Boards / Councils T&F Committees / Advisory Groups (as appropriate) Regional Leagues (EA Areas); HCAF appropriate leagues Event Presentation ideas to NMH (nholl@uka.org.uk) Fixtures conference (26/9/15) additional considerations: Home International Fixture (late Aug/Sept 2015 Cup date (virtual first round) & Olympic Park final (23/7/16) Event specific dates Weekends (same as BMC) and weekday (BMC/others?) Virtual competition : Further dialogue with France (TC/NMH)/CA) Power of 10 commence discussions (NMH) golden tick criteria draft (NMH) Next Meeting: 5 th November 2015

21 Action plan agreed 5/11/15 Conclude key engagement meetings and discussions Using all feedback, turn concepts into proposal paper for Jan 2016: 12 th January CSG next meeting (CSG approval) To CEO Forum, and thence to all HCAF & UKA Boards for formal ratification of those proposals and implementation plan (phase 1) CSG in its current form, concludes by the End of March Proposal paper will scope out ongoing group to implement and continue listening, engaging, reflecting ongoing review and refinement

22 Possible introduction Event support & presentation Championships progression & International Cup Competition (1 day plus final) Event specific competitions The Golden Tick: Event Specific & Virtual Competition - pilot

23 Indoor season League changes..subject to discussion and mutual agrrement