Donna Smith
I infrequently pipe in with my opines on the OBRA list, but junior
development is kind of a pet topic for me, having struggled for many years
with the financial and emotional challenges of raising two bike racers, one
of which was a very talentetd kilo rider and sprinter and was involved with
USA Cycling as a resident athlete in Colorado Springs some years back.
Here's what I learned.
USA Cycling is not really interested in junior development, they're
interested in finding who ever is riding "hot" at that moment, using them up
and burning them out. USA Cycling leaves true junior development to local
tracks. Honestly, the coaches we have in OBRA land are better than what USA
Cycling offers.
Juniors need more support at the local level and will benefit more in the
long run as bike racers and as contributing members of our community with
experienced, encouraging coaches that help kids learn to set goals and meet
them, and keeping it fun. Money for going to a camp is an easy fix. If a
kid wants to go badly enough, have bake sales, car washes, etc. Kids can
earn their way to these types of camps and will appreciate the experience
more if they have contributed toward the expense. Paying for a kid to go
off to "fantasy camp" for a week does little toward their long term
development. But the long term rider development occurs with long term
commitments from the cycling community, parents and coaches.
The junior rider, irregardless of talent, will benefit more if the money is
spent continuing to support juniors at the local level (coaching, race fees,
gas money to get to races, equipment) and to help pay their way to National
Championships. In my experience, it was the weekly and monthly expenses
that were a real challenge, not raising money for a single event. Every kid
who is ready to make the commitment and wants a coach, should have one, no
matter what financial situation the family is in.
One overlooked group of racers that I believe could use help are the U-23
group. Parents are no longer financially responsible and young people that
age frequently have to make the decision to either train or work and go to
school. Many racers that have the potential to succeed at the national
level make the unfortunate decision to head off to college and get a job.
We have several track racers at Alpenrose that certainly have the talent to
post a time standard set by USA Cycling, if they were properly coached and
prepared, but perhaps they can't afford the coaching or the expenses of
traveling to the qualifying event.
I've been both a junior coach and a team sponsor/manager and one of the best
ways of measuring the successes of my past efforts is how those kids, now
that they are adults, are coaching, helping, mentoring junior bike racers or
are leaders in other ways in their lives.
Opines respecfully submitted, thanks for reading.
Donna Smith
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org]On
Behalf Of Ron and Dorothy Strasser
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 8:13 PM
To: cmurray@obra.org; obra@list.obra.org; 'Kent Johnston'; Philip Sanders;
'Fischer, Jim E (Corvallis)'
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] FW: 2007 USA Cycling Junior Development Camp
Maybe some of the extra funds donated by renewing memebers could be set
into a fund that would help juniors with the cost for this... the juniors
that really need the help!!! Parents that can afford to send their kids to
this camp and who have team sponsorship it would seem would not need it as
much as a junior that qualified, did not have the funds and REALLY wanted to
go. When I was young (if I would have been into this sport) a chance like
this would not even have been on my radar because of the low income of my
family. It does not mean that kids that don't have the means... don't have
the desire.
just a thought.
ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Candi Murray
To: obra@list.obra.org ; 'Kent Johnston' ; Philip Sanders ; 'Fischer,
Jim E (Corvallis)'
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 9:27 PM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] FW: 2007 USA Cycling Junior Development Camp
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Claire House [mailto:norcalvelo@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 8:55 PM
To: cmurray@obra.org
Subject: 2007 USA Cycling Junior Development Camp
Hello Candi,
USA Cycling will have its 2007 West Coast Junior Development Camp at
Sonoma State University, California, from June 17th ? 22nd.
Would you please pass this information along to your OBRA members?
Perhaps it could be added to your event calendar.
Qualification for the camp is based on race results. Details are
available at http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=809
Last year we had a few kids from the Pacific Northwest region attend the
camp?Zach Varner, Jacob Rathe, Ben Masters?maybe if we get the word out
earlier, more juniors from your region will consider attending.
Thank you!
Claire House
Camp Manager
USA Cycling West Coast Athlete Development Camp
2houses@comcast.net
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