Dear athletes and parents,
We want to speak openly about an important issue facing the club.
Although we have more members than ever before, and long waiting lists, we are still struggling to field full teams for league matches and other club events. Our team managers work extremely hard throughout the season to fill every event and pull complete teams together, but this has become increasingly difficult. We know there are many demands on young athletes and their families, but this is something we need to address immediately and together.
Competing is a key part of belonging to our club. Training is hugely important, but it is only part of the experience. When athletes join, they sign up to a commitment to compete and become part of a team, with a shared responsibility to represent the club in league matches and team events whenever possible.
Open meetings and graded meetings provide valuable competitive experience and are an important part of an athlete’s development. However, they should sit alongside competing for the club, not come at the expense of league matches and team events.
In many other sports, those who do not train regularly or make themselves available for fixtures would be asked to leave.
The expectation to compete has always been part of club athletics, and we now need to make it clearer. From now on, athletes who show a consistent commitment to competing for the club in league matches and team events will be given priority for places in training groups.
This is not about punishing anyone. It is about recognising those who regularly step forward to represent the club and making sure our coaching and resources are used fairly.
Club fixtures give athletes the chance to test themselves, gain experience, build confidence and see the benefits of their training. They are also where friendships grow and a strong sense of team and club identity is built.
Many of you already support the club brilliantly in this way, and we are extremely grateful for your commitment. For others, we hope this will be an opportunity to become more involved and experience everything club athletics has to offer: training with purpose, competing with pride and being part of a team that supports one another.
This is a priority for the club, and we will share further details shortly.
For now, we are asking all U14–U20 athletes and parents to consider how they can make club fixtures a regular part of their involvement with B&H AC.
Thank you for your support and for helping us build a stronger club together.
Regards,
B&H AC Committee members
We want to speak openly about an important issue facing the club.
Although we have more members than ever before, and long waiting lists, we are still struggling to field full teams for league matches and other club events. Our team managers work extremely hard throughout the season to fill every event and pull complete teams together, but this has become increasingly difficult. We know there are many demands on young athletes and their families, but this is something we need to address immediately and together.
Competing is a key part of belonging to our club. Training is hugely important, but it is only part of the experience. When athletes join, they sign up to a commitment to compete and become part of a team, with a shared responsibility to represent the club in league matches and team events whenever possible.
Open meetings and graded meetings provide valuable competitive experience and are an important part of an athlete’s development. However, they should sit alongside competing for the club, not come at the expense of league matches and team events.
In many other sports, those who do not train regularly or make themselves available for fixtures would be asked to leave.
The expectation to compete has always been part of club athletics, and we now need to make it clearer. From now on, athletes who show a consistent commitment to competing for the club in league matches and team events will be given priority for places in training groups.
This is not about punishing anyone. It is about recognising those who regularly step forward to represent the club and making sure our coaching and resources are used fairly.
Club fixtures give athletes the chance to test themselves, gain experience, build confidence and see the benefits of their training. They are also where friendships grow and a strong sense of team and club identity is built.
Many of you already support the club brilliantly in this way, and we are extremely grateful for your commitment. For others, we hope this will be an opportunity to become more involved and experience everything club athletics has to offer: training with purpose, competing with pride and being part of a team that supports one another.
This is a priority for the club, and we will share further details shortly.
For now, we are asking all U14–U20 athletes and parents to consider how they can make club fixtures a regular part of their involvement with B&H AC.
Thank you for your support and for helping us build a stronger club together.
Regards,
B&H AC Committee members