New Director of Athletics in Ireland

thirtyfoot

Looks like the building for London is starting already. This in itself is a pretty good blueprint for progress. Mary C is shaking it up. Does this mean the incumbent is resigning or is his contract up? Hopefully we get someone one who has a track record yet still has the hunger.

This spec is very impressive.

The Director of Athletics will report directly to the CEO. They will also be responsible for managing relationships with the following key stakeholders

- All athletes on the Athletics Ireland High Performance Programme

- Athletics Ireland High Performance and Coaching & Development Committees

- Athletics Ireland Coaches and Personal Coaches of High Performance Athletes

- Coaching and High Performance staff

- The Irish Sports Council

- The Irish Institute of Sport

- Coaching Ireland

- The Olympic Council of Ireland

- Third party service producers to the High Performance Programme including

o Medical

o Strength & conditioning

o Nutrition

o Other Sports Science & Lifestyle

The responsibilities of the Director of Athletics will include

- Development of a strategy to deliver an integrated world class coaching and high performance programme in conjunction with Athletics Ireland High Performance and Coaching & Development Committees.

- Implementation of the strategy via management of all high performance and coaching staff, annual operating plans, budgets and key performance indicators.

High Performance

- In the delivery of the high performance programme, there will be a strong focus on facilitating a best practise provision of personal coaching, sports science and medical services to athletes on the high performance plan. It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to assimilate the winning features of the best international systems into an Irish context. A key deliverable will be the creation of a world class recognised Irish option for elite athlete development. The establishment of High Performance Centres as a matter of priority is expected to form the basis for this requirement.

- Ongoing evaluation, development and implementation of transparent standards for inclusion in the various levels of the high performance scheme in consultation with the Irish Institute of Sport.

- Ongoing contact with and management of the top cohort of Irish athletes including the creation and delivery of an Athlete Service Charter.

Coaching

- Development and implementation of a world class coaching infrastructure including

o Creation of best practise integrated coaching pathways

o Identification and fast-tracking of coaching talent

o Working with the current Irish, largely voluntary coaching network to bring it to the next level

o Delivery of a technical events plan with focus on a significant increase in Irish athletes qualifying for major championships in these events

o Identification of focus events to be developed nationally

o Development of coaching forums and facilitating national and international collaboration of coaches

o Roll-out of athlete talent I.D. scheme to coaches

o Delivery of agreed performance measures across all events and age-groups

o Development and implementation of an integrated set of programmes and initiatives consistent with the Long term Athlete Development plan

o Quality control of coach education

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and experience

- An excellent track record in the coaching and understanding of and interaction with athletes who have achieved success at the highest global level

- Demonstrable knowledge of coaching and athlete pathways across the full range of events

- Ability to build and lead multi-functional teams

- Capacity to understand and manage organisational culture

- Skilled in the anticipation of future possibilities and likelihoods

- Success in building structures that have led to international athletics success

- Exceptional interpersonal and motivational skills

- Knowledge of the structure and network of the sport at European and international level

- A strong appreciation of the particular issues facing Irish athletes and knowledge of the status of the sport in Ireland across the full range of events

- Strong planning and budgeting skills and understanding of the importance of feedback loops

Rineanna

Yeah, Max Jones always said that he'd step down after Beijing.

This mightn't be a popular opinion, but I'd hope they again appoint someone from outside of Ireland; someone to bring fresh ideas and perspective to the set-up and someone who isn't caught up in vested interests and the like. I'm not at all saying there isn't an Irish person capable of doing a good job in the position, but it would be great to get someone who's been involved and has experience in the system of another country like Max Jones.

Just my opinion on the matter anyway.

thirtyfoot

Rineanna wrote: »

This mightn't be a popular opinion, but I'd hope they again appoint someone from outside of Ireland; someone to bring fresh ideas and perspective to the set-up and someone who isn't caught up in vested interests and the like. I'm not at all saying there isn't an Irish person capable of doing a good job in the position, but it would be great to get someone who's been involved and has experience in the system of another country like Max Jones.

Just my opinion on the matter anyway.

I agree, an outsider would be good. I have one in mind who I think would fit the bill and has a proven track record working with and coaching world and olympic champions. It'll be interesting to see who gets it, its going to be crucial they can bring us up to the next level.

RoyMcC

I'd forgotten that Max Jones was Ireland's Director of Athletics. He came with an impressive CV and a great reputation. He can't be said to have produced the results. I'm surprised to have heard no words of criticism aimed at him.

Compare Dave Collins who is the target of plenty of abuse for both his methods and input into selection. I guess the vitriol will at least be muted for a while as he appears to be getting performances out of the GB athletes, which is his primary responsibility.

thirtyfoot

Who would you take if you could get anyone?

John McDonnell of when in his prime at Arkansas. Coach Hart from Baylor but could only dream.

Maybe a young coach like Pierre Jean-Vazel of France or your one Olijars (mother of Slanislav) as I know she was touted before. Is there anyone in Britain who is young and still keen. Malcolm Arnold maybe 10 years ago.

Maybe an outsider from within Ireland from another sport. Sean Kelly (ex GAA president), or someone like that.

Dr Watson

Was the suggestion of Sean Kelly a joke? GAA is a local parish sport, with a massive fan base due to its "amateur" structure

I think Jones was sold a pup, in terms of what he was told what he was coming to do- not one high perfomance centre, no actual institute of sport.

What about Terry McHugh?

RoyMcC

The fairly recent appointees by UK Athletics of Performance Director, Chairman and CEO have had little previous involvement in athletics per se. This has had the effect of stripping away much of the pre-existing deadwood and has brought a new, business-like approach to the sport.

It has not been an entirely popular approach, and it is probably too early to hail it an unqualified success.

I speak with little knowledge of what has happened in the past with regard to the sport's infrastructure in Ireland. In my short time here however I have been struck by the lack of good facilities (especially indoors), a frighteningly small participation level in athletics by schoolchildren, and a lack of good young coaches.

I do feel that Ireland might need a hard-hitting outsider to review the sport's structure from grassroots upwards - and be given the teeth and finance to implement change.

thirtyfoot

RoyMcC wrote: »

. In my short time here however I have been struck by the lack of good facilities (especially indoors), a frighteningly small participation level in athletics by schoolchildren, and a lack of good young coaches.

.

Thats a pretty good summary of where we are at, fancy applying yourself??

shels4ever

I'd agree with you there, My former school once had about 20-30 runners each year and produced a couple of national winners, was talking to the coach there about 3 months ago and they only had 4 runners this year. When i was in the US may schools at least had a track , in my view all CC parks with football pitches should have a running track also.

Dr Watson

UK Sport has invested over £26million into athletics in the run up to Beijing (2005/2009 funding cycle)

So you can see why Collins gets the abuse that he does, when they will struggle to meet their 6 medal target.

Racing Flat

shels4ever wrote: »

I'd agree with you there, My former school once had about 20-30 runners each year and produced a couple of national winners, was talking to the coach there about 3 months ago and they only had 4 runners this year. When i was in the US may schools at least had a track , in my view all CC parks with football pitches should have a running track also.

Maybe low numbers of children participating in sport not just athletics. We used to have trials for the A and B gaelic football team in my school 20 years ago. They couldn't field a team this year, even though there are more poeple in the school. Lack of interest.

Also, we used to have an annual cross country race, for each year in the school. In first year a fellow won by a few hundred metres, the fellow who was second was a hundred metres up on third. Those 2 never ran again, they were good GAA players so were always saved for GAA, by their clubs mainly. One went on to play for the county a few times, both were very good Senior club players, getting to 2 county finals in a tough competition. However, the fellow who was 3rd won county and provinical underage medals at the 800 and 1500, and ran for Ireland schools in cross country - I wonder what the other 2 might have done in athletics? The fellow who won in first year the year below me went on to play for Arsenal. So I think a lot of our best athletes are being lost, at a young age to other sports, purely because these are more popular or have better scouting strategies.

shels4ever

Racing Flat wrote: »

Maybe low numbers of children participating in sport not just athletics. We used to have trials for the A and B gaelic football team in my school 20 years ago. They couldn't field a team this year, even though there are more poeple in the school. Lack of interest.

Also, we used to have an annual cross country race, for each year in the school. In first year a fellow won by a few hundred metres, the fellow who was second was a hundred metres up on third. Those 2 never ran again, they were good GAA players so were always saved for GAA, by their clubs mainly. One went on to play for the county a few times, both were very good Senior club players, getting to 2 county finals in a tough competition. However, the fellow who was 3rd won county and provinical underage medals at the 800 and 1500, and ran for Ireland schools in cross country - I wonder what the other 2 might have done in athletics? The fellow who won in first year the year below me went on to play for Arsenal. So I think a lot of our best athletes are being lost, at a young age to other sports, purely because these are more popular or have better scouting strategies.

]

Thats very true, when i was in school iin my first year I would have been one of the worse runners in the school, couldnt compete with most people. But by 4th - 6th year everyone had dropped out and were playing football, and i was one of the best runners in the school, maybe second best , we had one girl who won national titles and was due to go to the states, then she jsut gave up. People she used to beat well have won many national titles and one is now running in the olympics, If she had recieved any offers in ireland at the time , she would have jumped at them, just looked that the US was the only option for her. I was actually gutted when she gave up as i did all the session with her..