NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Released 1 May 2006 NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2006-2009 Amended: 24 May 2006 Amendments: See attached list. BACKGROUND The vision of Yachting Australia s National Youth Development Plan 2006 2009 is to deliver an effective pathway from junior through youth to open age sailing. The Plan s objectives are: To guide youth sailors to participate at the level of their choice; To provide a framework and pathway for youth competition in Australia to enable choices when approaching open competition; To increase participation rates of youth sailors at State, National and International levels; and To build and support a development pathway for Junior to Youth and Youth to Open age levels by promoting coaching and mentoring programs. The National Youth Development Plan has been developed through the National Youth Committee and in consultation with a number of stakeholders. The Plan in its current form is targeted for delivery during the period of 2005-2009. However, it should be remembered that this is a living document reviewed at least annually and updated as required. The Yachting Australia Strategic Plan 2005-2009 identified a number of strategic priorities that relate to the development and support of Australia s youth sailors. Those strategic priorities can be found under KRA 1 (Participation), KRA3 (Sport Development), KRA 4 (High Performance) and KRA 5 (Competition). Further information on those strategic priorities can be sourced from the Yachting Australia website where the plan is published. Definitions For the purposes of this Plan and related documents: Participant in the activity of sailing. Youth in loose terms is any participant under the age of 25 For the purposes of Youth-only events Youth is based on ISAF Regulation 17.4.3, ie a Participant shall not have achieved their 19 th Birthday by 31 st December of the year of participation. At present this is the maximum age. The exception to this statement is in the case of Youth Match Racing where the regatta age limit is generally determined by the regatta organiser. Junior : is defined by the class rules of the following junior classes: International Cadet, International Optimist, Sabot, Minnow, Flying Ant, Manly Junior, Flying 11 and Laser 4.7. The recommended Junior age is generally recognised as under 16 years. Yachting Australia Youth Development Plan, 2006-2009, Website information Page 1

Coaching Yachting Australia is committed to continued coach development to best prepare athletes for competition. Yachting Australia s role in the development of the individual coach is to provide an education framework opportunity, content and access to resources by way of national training schemes for Instructors and Coaches. Competition Yachting Australia will continue to foster a variety of competitions suitable for Youth participation in the areas of small boat participation, match racing, team racing, class national and State championships, State youth and junior regattas and identified international competition. Preferred Classes A range of equipment from various suppliers provides choice for developing youth sailors. In order to develop competition skills and participate at international level sailors are encouraged to compete as a fleet in the following classes: Preferred International classes recognised as suitable for youth participation, in particular International 420, International 29er, International Laser, International Laser Radial, Sailboard Neil Pryde RSX 8.5, International Hobie 16 with spinnaker Preferred Junior classes: International Cadet, International Optimist and Laser 4.7. Identified Junior feeder classes: various Australian classes including but not limited to Sabot, Minnow, Flying Ant, Manly Junior and Flying 11. Pacer Dinghy is the preferred equipment for Team Racing activities. Match Racing classes varies across the country, however a keelboat with a minimum of 3 crew is recommended by the National Match Racing Committee. Communication Effective communication of the Youth Development Plan and its associated pathway information is an important part of delivering on the National Youth Development Program. This communication can be achieved through the extensive use of the Internet and through personal presentations by Yachting Australia nominees to interest groups. Yachting Australia has developed a group of Youth information pages on its website specifically to assist in disseminating Youth news to outh sailors, their coaches and parents. Stakeholder Support Stakeholder support of the National Youth Development Plan will be a key element in its delivery success. MYAs, clubs and other agencies will be actively encouraged to take a leading role in the delivery of the Plan strategies and in providing feedback on the outcomes of those strategies. Measures of outcomes The Youth Development Plan strategies will be monitored for quality of delivery and for achievement of the success measures attributed to each strategy. The following information is provided as an introduction to Yachting Australia s Youth Development Plan 2006-2009. It is not intended to provide details of the specific strategies designed to deliver on this Plan nor to provide annual operational information. That information remains confidential to Yachting Australia s High Performance Unit and to the preferred classes national administration. Yachting Australia Youth Development Plan, 2006-2009, Website information Page 2

SPORT DEVELOPMENT Sport development is about providing the opportunity for all participants to achieve skill acquisition and greater involvement in the sport at their chosen level. Club Programs Clubs are a vital part of the participation network either through the delivery of their own junior sailing programs or through programs devised by outside agencies such as Schools and commercial operators. Yachting Australia supports the junior sailing participation initiatives of the clubs. Club-based youth sailing programs are another vital part of the participation network. Yachting Australia, through the MYAs, supports the development of tools and knowledge that will assist clubs to meet their Youth program needs. Junior and Youth sailors coming out of these programs look for development pathway information. The pathway, as documented in Attachment A, has been developed in conjunction with the national High Performance Unit. It is consistent with the expectations of the national High Performance Program. Whilst the pathway is not limited to the development of Olympic class sailors, the classes and pathways pursued by developing junior and youth sailors are able to effectively feed talented sailors into disciplines and classes as chosen by them and their coaches/supporters. The pathway is consistent with the stated Preferred Classes list. The delivery of the Plan is then consistent with the identified pathway and with the support structure outlined in the Plan. State Youth Development Programs The State Youth Development programs bring together the most talented sailors in each State offering them the opportunity to develop their skills through the provision of a high quality system of competition, equipment, knowledge and financial support. Yachting Australia encourages these programs in each State. Where a State does not have a youth development program in place, Yachting Australia will provide a specified number of coaching days to those MYAs for the delivery of skill specific development work in a camps environment. These programs will include support for the development Youth Sailors with Disabilities The State Youth Development programs under-pin and provide a pathway to the State High Performance Programs. Schools Team Racing The objectives of the Schools Team Racing program are to provide a development pathway for Junior sailors to move into a team competition representing their secondary school and to provide an opportunity for secondary school students to be introduced to sailing through team competition. Yachting Australia will continue to support the delivery of the Australian Schools Team Racing Championship as the pinnacle event of the secondary school competition. From that event will be selected the teams to represent Australia in the annual Interdominion Schools Team Racing Championship. An outcome of participation in the Schools Team Racing is the opportunity to compete in the Australian Team Racing Championship and to be selected by Yachting Australia to the national team for the biennial World Team Racing Championship. Youth Match Racing Similar to Team Racing, Match Racing is a discipline that encourages Australia s youth sailors to pursue the development of their racing skills in a highly competitive environment. It also allows groups of school friends to enjoy fellowship outside of school in a team environment. Yachting Australia will continue to support the delivery of the Australian Youth Match Racing Championship as the pinnacle youth Match Racing event in Australia. Yachting Australia will also continue to support and promote State Youth Match Racing championships when conducted. Yachting Australia Youth Development Plan, 2006-2009, Website information Page 3

University Sailing University Sailing provides a pathway for School Team Racing participants to continue their involvement in Sailing within a University sport environment. However, with the introduction of the voluntary student union fees it is believed that support of some sports through the University system will decrease with an expected decrease in sport funding. It is still Yachting Australia s intention to support where possible initiatives that encourage participation in Sailing within University sport. YAI Youth Events Yachting Australia has made a commitment to Australia s youth sailors to ensure that each year they will have access to top level national youth competition in fleet, team and match racing. The National Committees responsible for over-sighting these events will continue to ensure an innovative approach to regatta structure and delivery. The annual events that are conducted under the banner of Yachting Australia are Australian Youth Championship, Australian Schools Team Racing Championship and Australian Youth Match Racing Championship. AUSTRALIAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP The Australian Youth Championship (AYC) provides a competitive environment for a wide range of youth sailors from development to elite. The class associations of the Preferred Classes are encouraged each year to align their National Championships in the same State, either prior to or after the AYC. This approach continues to benefit Australia s youth sailors by facilitating their competition in two national standard events. The objectives of the Championship are to conduct the best possible youth sailing regatta and to build an educational framework around the Championship so as to assist young sailors in better understanding their options in developing their sailing careers and setting their sailing goals. It is held annually based on a State rotation system. The next four years will see the event conducted in Tasmania (2007), Victoria (2008), Perth (2009) and then South Australia (2010). The classes chosen for the annual Australian Youth Championship Reflect those classes chosen for the forthcoming ISAF Youth World Championship (where the equipment is available in Australia); and Ensure classes being promoted are consistent with the list of preferred youth classes identified within this Plan. From 2008 the Championship will also include a class for Youth Sailors with Disabilities competing alongside the youth classes. The event will continue to provide off-water educational experiences to the competitors during the Championship. Coaching, off water coach debriefs, discussion forums and lecture sessions should all be considered for inclusion in the event education program. In future years the event organisers will be encouraged to make provision for the inclusion of parents in the education sessions. This is an excellent opportunity to present to the support network of Australia s youth sailors education on issues of concern to the parents and to the sport. These issues may include Drugs in Sport, Nutrition, Injury Management, Sport Psychology, balancing life and sport and so on. The results of the Australian Youth Championship and/or Class National Championship will continue to form the basis for selection of the Australian Team for the ISAF World Youth Sailing Championship. Where the class National Championship has not been run in association with the AYC, the AYC alone has been used for selection. The Preferred Classes to be used for selection will be determined based on the equipment to be used at the ISAF World Youth Sailing Championship each year. The Selection Policy is published annually on the Yachting Australia website. Yachting Australia Youth Development Plan, 2006-2009, Website information Page 4

MATCH AND TEAM RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS These annual events provide the opportunity for youth sailors to compete at a national level in Match and Team Racing events. They will continue to be conducted on a State rotation basis. Over the next four years the events have been allocated as follows Youth Match Racing Championships South Australia (2007), Tasmania (2008), NSW or NT (2009) and NSW or Queensland (2010). Schools Team Racing Championships Tasmania (2007), NSW (2009), Queensland (2010) and South Australia (2010). Youth Sailor Ranking List Consideration has been given to the development of a Youth Ranking List for the purposes of encouraging intra-state and interstate competition in the Preferred youth Classes and to increase the awareness of youth competition amongst the youth sailors. Work on the development of this ranking list has not commenced as yet. It is unlikely that the Ranking List will be introduced until 2007. More information on the process as it is developed will be published on the Yachting Australia Youth web pages. National Youth Marketing Campaign The purpose of this campaign is to raise the profile of previous national Youth champions developing them as Yachting heroes for future youth competitors. This campaign will be incorporated into the Olympic Program s marketing and sponsorship campaign. National Youth Committee The National Youth Committee was formed in 2005. The Committee is primarily a policy making group. However, it has within its membership the abilities to take an active role in the delivery of the Youth Development Plan. Each MYA is represented on the Committee. The Committee meets at least twice per year including one meeting at the same time and in the same location as the Australian Youth Championship. HIGH PERFORMANCE The High Performance strategies of this plan are aimed at achieving the best preparation structure for Australia s Olympic, Paralympic and Youth competitors aiming to achieve winning performances. The development of Australia s top-performing youth sailors needs to follow a pathway that is consistent with the expectations of the State and National High Performance Programs. The outcomes from the Youth Development Plan form the basis of the High Performance programs. The linkage between the two programs must therefore be strong. National Youth Program Head Coach It is intended that Yachting Australia will appoint a National Youth Program Head Coach for the purposes of ensuring the best possible technical support is available to both the National Youth Program and the National Youth Team. The primary roles of this Head Coach will be to support the delivery of the State s Talent Identification programs through targeting specific classes, identifying and delivering specialist development activities. The Head Coach will assist their State High Performance Program managers in the development and delivery of the talent identification programs and in the transition of successful youth class sailors into senior classes as identified in the Yachting Australia pathway. Yachting Australia Youth Development Plan, 2006-2009, Website information Page 5

Youth Program Coaches Yachting Australia has targeted as a priority the development of a larger group of best-practice and highly skilled national program coaches. The education of Australia s developing coaches is being addressed through the updating of the Level 1 and Level 2 Coaching Courses. The course material should be available by mid-2006. The development of the Level 3 Course is a priority for the 2006/07 year. Key targets in this development strategy are the utilisation of the State High Performance Programs to identify and support developing coaches, the up-skilling of Club coaches and the promotion of opportunities for female coaches. Particular attention will be given to coaches working with the Preferred Junior and Youth classes. International Competition In addition to supporting Australia s top youth sailors at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship, Yachting Australia will increase its technical support of sailors training for and participating in identified international competitions within the Preferred Classes. This technical support will compliment the support being provided to these sailors through their State Development Squads and State High Performance Program. It may include domestic class- specific camps, domestic and international competition coaching support. The level of technical support will be determined by Yachting Australia in discussion with National Youth Program Head Coach and with the appropriate national class administration. ISAF Youth World Sailing Championship The ISAF Youth World Sailing Championship is the pinnacle event in youth sailing. Australia s youth team s objective is to achieve the best possible result at these World Championships. Yachting Australia s objective is to provide the structure and support to facilitate winning performances by the team members. Yachting Australia will continue to target the publication of the Team Selection Policy in May of the year before the World Championship. The appointment of the Team support staff will continue to be scheduled for well in advance of the team selection to ensure those staff have the time to work in conjunction with the State Development Squads and State High Performance programs to prepare the team members effectively. Information on the team s preparation will be published on the Yachting Australia website to assist youth sailors, their coaches and parents to be kept informed as to what being a member of the National Youth Team is all about. Attachment A Youth Development Pathway For further information on your State s Development and/or State High Performance Program contact ACT Matthew Owen matt.owen@canberrayachtclub.com.au Northern Territory Matthew Punch admin@nauticalsupplies.com.au NSW Kristen Kosmala kristen.kosmala@nsw.yachting.org.au Queensland Bruce Chapman office@qldyachting.org.au South Australia John Wollatt yacht_sa@bigpond.net.au Tasmania Bob Silberberg tasya@hotkey.net.au Victoria John Mooney JMooney@yachtingvictoria.com.au West Australia Tony Claydon tony.claydon@wa.yachting.org.au Yachting Australia Youth Development Plan, 2006-2009, Website information Page 6

AMENDMENTS 4/5/06 Preferred Classes Addition of: Laser 4.7 class 17/5/06 Preferred Classes Addition of: International to 29er class reference Marketing Campaign Notice of inclusion of Youth program in Olympic program sponsorship plan. 24/5/06 State Youth Development Programs Addition of: Support the development of Youth programs for Sailors with Disabilities Australian Youth Championships Event Classes Addition of: Include a class for Youth Sailors with Disabilities Yachting Australia Youth Development Plan, 2006-2009, Website information Page 7