HELP..... County senior squad coaching

[SVL]

I need some help please

I am based in Cumbria and senior squad training does not exist. Our two county coaches have organised plenty of coaching for juniors but NOTHING AT ALL for seniors. What I would like to know is what other counties do for the senior squad training days, do you charge your squad members to attend, do you have grants to cover costs. I want to make something happen for the senior archers in Cumbria and show our newer archers that there is a way to get onto the county team and some help to actually get there. What do other counties do please. The good and bad points please.

[Trunkles]

As far as I understand it the Yorkshire squads are funded by raising money running the food tents at the YAA championships/Single FITA and possibly other shoots. Certainly the juniors do not have to pay anything, as I am not on senior squad I cannot confirm that there is no charge there. Obviously you might ask Kath directly as she is RCO as well.

[moley101]

From what I have experienced to date, Essex don't seem to have anything in the way of senior squad coaching/development.

[moo-mop]

In the four counties I have been in I have always found coaches dedicate their time to juniors as a priority and hence do not have time to take on adults as much. I've posted before about this, as I find it understandable, but sad from my point of view as someone who took up archery when I was 18. However, I've got a lot to learn before I can try and do anything about it.

All four counties had some form of senior squad sessions though, the archers involved had to pay costs for hall hire, expenses etc, but had the best coaches within the county with coaching available for the duration of the session. Sometimes external talks were organised. There were also some shooting games in the sessions. It was good to simply get practice in with my friends though esp for the h2h formats. I have to say, although I tried, often it didn't make sense for me to attend given my specific goals didn't quite fit their coaching format and there was significant distance involved in travel.

[grimsby archer]

Lincolnshire has 2 coaching development days open to both juniors and seniors, one in Feb and one in March.
Cost is £15 per person I think.

Generally, I believe that lack of such coaching is often down to the lack of someone prepared to do the leg work.
The Moses principal applies here. If you are prepared to put the effort in to make this work, you become the catalyst that empowers others to do a little bit to help (find a venue, do some coaching, contact their mate who is a top coach, whatever)

Best of luck to you

[mk1]

Counties are allowed to levy a fee when the GNAS memberships are gathered in. Even charging everyone £1 a year can raise enough to cover some of the cost of running squads and then there is the profit from the county champs

It is only fair that some benefit goes back to the adults of the county - we try and run a workshop every other year.

[wanshu]

Originally Posted by mk1

Counties are allowed to levy a fee when the GNAS memberships are gathered in. Even charging everyone £1 a year can raise enough to cover some of the cost of running squads and then there is the profit from the county champs

It is only fair that some benefit goes back to the adults of the county - we try and run a workshop every other year.

To be honest if an archer is asked to shoot for their county they should not have to pay for the pleasure. Giving their time should be enough. After all they are representing all the archers in each county. Paying for them through a levy as above is an obvious easy way for counties to get their funding. It doesn't have to be like pulling teeth, we just enjoy making it harder than it needs to be.

[grimsby archer]

Originally Posted by wanshu

To be honest if an archer is asked to shoot for their county they should not have to pay for the pleasure. Giving their time should be enough. After all they are representing all the archers in each county. Paying for them through a levy as above is an obvious easy way for counties to get their funding. It doesn't have to be like pulling teeth, we just enjoy making it harder than it needs to be.

I agree that archers shouldnt have to pay to represent their county, but most of the postings here discuss training sessions.
Should counties raise levys (get everyone to pay) to fund squad training sessions?
Personally I dont think so. Once again this is a case of the minority benefitting from the pockets of the many.
If the argument for altruism is a good one, that we should all pay for those few because they are working towards representing you, then great but make it a voluntary donation. A simple Paypal button on your county web page would do it. Everyone has the opportunity to chip in what they think its worth and then you see how worthwhile everyone really thinks it is.

[moo-mop]

OK - three out of the four paid expenses towards me attending the major intercounty event. One provided chocolate bars at the event. I think we don't see the voluntary work that eg goes into organising shoots etc done with the money we do provide and hence we don't value it enough. However, coaching squads is more tricky as at that level you might feel as an individual you get more value from more individual tailored coaching and that is tricky (but not always impossible) to find as an adult.

[Trunkles]

Yorkshire pay 15p per mile expenses to those shooting for the County for the actual shoots and there is a minimal contribution (£10 or £20 ??) towards overnight accommodation if over a certain distance.

Edit - found the reference:
If you are selected to represent Yorkshire, you will be notified as soon as possible after the closing date.
Travel expenses of 15p per mile per car may be claimed. If travelling more than 80 miles, £20 per team member may also be claimed for an overnight stay before the tournament.

[moley101]

Essex pay mileage for county shoots, IIRC its something like 15p a mile so comfortably covers petrol costs so no quibbles there.
I would like to see more activity on the squad development thought.

[SVL]

Lots of interesting replies so far (Thank you)

For interest in Cumbria if you shoot for the county you get £5 per archer towards your petrol costs (this does not cover me going to Penrith and home again). This year since one of the shoots is in Scotland this will be increased to £20, in case you want to stay overnight.

Oh you get to borrow a team sweatshirt on the day as well.

I know we have a small county but it feels like the county expects alot for very little in return. This year I will be doing some local fund raising to ensure that any archer from our club gets some extra cash towards travel and accomodation if they shoot for the county.

[SVL]

Originally Posted by grimsby archer

If the argument for altruism is a good one, that we should all pay for those few because they are working towards representing you, then great but make it a voluntary donation.

Wish I could do this with chosing how my tax contributions are spent
Yes happy to pay the tax...... but not happy about how it is spent

[grimsby archer]

Originally Posted by SVL

Wish I could do this with chosing how my tax contributions are spent
Yes happy to pay the tax...... but not happy about how it is spent

Some one must have voted for this bl**dy government!

Thing is, tax is not optional but membership of your county archery society IS!

[Whitehart]

I tend to look at being selected for county as a result of the effort I put in, I get the scores I am selected.

I have my own goals and training schedule, so I look at turning up for the county as a priviledge and I will change things not to let people down. Yes in Essex we are paid expenses for petrol but at the same time we are all concious of the cost to the county so a lot of car sharing goes on.

As moo mop mentioned it - I would like to thank the working parties and the people who do the teas they make these events feel different to another tournaments and I am sure they always end up out of pocket.

For me any squad training events would be more about team building a sharing of ideas and if possible talks by top archers. I don't think you can do a lot more if its only once or twice a year and yes I would have no problem contributing to the cost.