Post
by Seedy Paddler » Wed Jul 14, 2010 7:04 pm
With apologies for the length but hope it makes some sense:
Comments on the Strategy Document
#1 It fundamentally fails in addressing the basis of slalom, it is not about why organisers take on events or the current divisional structure. We need to consider our Clients or Customers – the slalom paddlers.
In my experience (>30 years as paddler, coach & Organiser) we can identify 3 groups of paddler:
Participant – May be entrant to the sport, casual participant or someone who is happy with their situation and is looking for a series of tests by which they can assess their progress or status.
Developer – a paddler that is looking to move up the ranking structure, improve their skills, speed and status.
Performer – a paddler that is all about the competition, focus is on being the best, spending time, money and effort to achieve that
A Paddler may move between these groups starting as a participant, getting the bug pushing into a developer. Years as a Performer chasing the Holy Grail, then backing down to a participant, still competing but at selected venues and without the same effort in training or indulgence in getting the latest go faster kit.
If we consider that in alignment with the current Divisional structure: (Please can we stop making the continual error of assuming that because we got rid of Division 5 all the other Divisions remained the same. Division 5 became Division 4; Divisions 1, 2, 3 & 4 were concentrated and redistributed between Divisions 1, 2 & 3. The past is the past Strategy concerns the current and the future, the learning from the past is that if we grow we can expand the divisions and re-establish past participation.)
Division 4 – Entry level primarily participant paddlers
Division 3 – includes a slightly higher level of participant than mere entrant but will be largely participant with some developer
Division 2 – has a high level of developer, progressing from flat water entrant slaloms onto more challenging rapids, yet retains a strong participant level of those who enjoy slalom but don’t want to (or can’t afford) time and expense to travel widely to participate.
Division 1 – transition point with strong developers seeking to move up, some participants that wish to maintain a strong personal challenge and some performers (particularly Junior and Veteran).
Premier – primarily a performer based division.
What are the characteristics of the various groups?
Participant – often opportunistic (particularly at entrant), limited willingness to travel or expend expense and time to continue. May consider local events but unlikely to travel great distances to participate. Will make value judgement on entry fees and costs. Has loose and limited objectives (i.e. a clear run, not to be last, etc.)
Developer – remains home focussed planning development through local events, will travel a further as they progress. More accepting on costs but retain a consideration of return value aligned with objectives. Tend to have more defined objectives (i.e. overall ranking in the top half of the Division, promotion to next division before the end of season, etc.)
Performer – will plan season with training on key sites and travel as required. Less concerned with entry costs and values more with clear objectives (i.e. squad selection, top youth, top 5, champion).
What is our vision – growth of the sport, development of future Champions at World and Olympic levels?
If we want to grow the sport why restrict opportunities to participate? If we want future Champions we need a method of developing them and then testing them at the performance end.
I would agree that at Premier there is validity in defining a fairly strict series of races. This ties in with current issues and clashes with International calendar and performance. I know that many of our top paddlers already struggle to compete throughout the series and it always raises the question of who is really the best – our top International Performer or the winner of the Domestic Series? So 9 races would seem a reasonable target. However cost to the paddler will play a part and there is potential to consider that extremities (Grandtully; Cardiff; Lee Valley) could provide potential double events and hence mitigate costs. There is also a requirement that is limiting the series to encourage full participation then the series cannot conflict with alternative international events – e.g. the clash between Cardiff and the World Junior Championships would not be acceptable.
Division 3 & 4 events are the bottom of the funnel and need to be as accessible as possible. Multiple events with ease of local entry, low costs (including transport), limited pre-event bureaucracy including side shows and fun events (e.g. handicaps, topo duo, night races, BBQs, etc.) to encourage participation. Active Clubs should be encouraged to consider these events as a means of growing participation.
Division 2 events are certainly a step up and should involve Regional collaboration; I believe that we could still keep as high a number of events as possible. Much will be down to the Organiser to determine if an event is viable.
Division 1 events are a transition between Participation and Performance, we need to keep a strong regional network to provide the high end participation venues and retain former performers within the sport to act as peers, mentors and coaches. There is also an element of performance so it is correct that National Organisation should be involved in perhaps identifying a series within the series. i.e. Have as many Division 1 events as organisers are willing to propose, retain a strong regional element in their distribution. However BCU Slalom (in association with National Organisations) to identify a sub series of key events at Premier sites (e.g. Grandtully; HPP; Tryweryn etc.) to host combined Div 1 and national style events – e.g. British Vet and Junior Champs.; Celtic Cup series; junior and U23 selection.
Currently performers in Premier are fairly static, we should deal with the issue of increased growth when it happens – that may mean greater demotion from Premier and increased levels of Performance paddling in Division 1. That would be regarded by most as development and growth.
So in summary:
Our strategic objective should be for growth and development not restrictions on practises and opportunities.
Our strategy should be based on customer or client focus, not organisation and pyramid structures.
Restrict Premier to a meaningful series for the elite performers.
Retain all current events from Division 1 – 4, look for opportunities to enhance and expand.
Division 1 is a transitional division and needs to be inclusive throughout the Division until organic growth will allow the creation of a more sustainable supply base.
All slaloms provide a challenge and the best should still out perform, including the less able promotes participation and future development.
From other sports – it is far easier to convert a competitive Performer with coaching and experience than to change the psychological profile of a recreational participant to become a performer. i.e. Provide the path for performer/developers to get white water experience within the overall structure and you will develop performers. Block the path with a requirement to be able to compete on the toughest water, then be prepared to see performers depart onto other sports and disciplines.
Finally on the other thread there is a list of lost sites, as a former assistant and organiser for events at: The Awe; Netherton Bridge; Comrie; Potarch and Cairnton. Once you break the habit and lose the site it will take 10 times as much effort to bring it back. It will take a summer of exceptionally long dark nights before I resurrect the Cairnton slalom, and yes I still have all the files!
Craig Douglas
PS Yes Anne I have been there and got the T-shirt, family comes first now!
To those ready to launch on about travelling from Scotland to Notts - I share your grief as I am 2 hours further North than Grandtully. So a participant that judges my performance but seeks to remain in Div 2 as it provides a sufficient range of local (i.e. 2 - 4 hours travel) sites to participate in throughout the year. I prefer the challenge of Div 1 style courses but that is limited to 2 weekends and a single venue!