SCUM Juniors?

[riderdown]

As a father of 4 kids from two to ten I am very keen to get something happening for our kids. A SCUM junior program that can bring kids from a 3 year old on runner bike up to a level that our Scott team is (not that they need to reach any goals, enjoyment and fun priorities at all times).

Obviously there are a multitude of things to take in and need to be thought through so let's start doing that now.

Can I suggest that if you can get a copy of the latest Enduro mag as it has an article on juniors that was interesting.

This is a discussion thread so please contribute so we can make plans. I would like to be trying a few things in term 4 and to have something in place by next year.

Cheers
Matt ;D

[Lewy]

Myself and Whitto put in a Juniors track at Coondoo before the 2008 8hr.

It never really got used and was not included in the plan for State Forests.

We could always get that going again.

[riderdown]

Two things have got me thinking about Juniors and the need to do something soon!

Firstly James Wright, who is a champion for the Juniors, has asked if we are giving away a free Junior membership again next year. My responce to James was that I wanted to look at how we do Juniors next year. Last year we paid for 2 junior memberships and paid the entry for the Scott team, both good things and the Scott boys did extremely well but with both these we only benefited 8 juniors. How many turned out at yesterdays race? Is there a better way to do it?

The Second thing was Yesterdays race. I look forward to seeing the results to see the numbers but there are a lot of young riders around and I think we need to look after them!!

I want everyone be thinking about juniors, what they need, what they want, coaching, training, racing experiences, under 10's 8's 13's 17's 15's ect. I have no experience in the area, other than being a father of 4, but will make it a focus once our OP is finalised.

Cheers
Matt

[Between the Tape...]

I've got some very simple, (gained through experience of having kids riding with the club from the age of 7 up and observing junior MTBers for over 10 years) ideas that I am keen to discuss at the next meeting. As far as free memberships etc....lets face it they dont pay for anything anyway it's the parents...the secret is to keep the interest/motivation and it's not just one solution, because from 7 up to 17 there are massive changes of opinion of what is cool and not cool...(sorry hectic and lame!)....

[riderdown]

I received an email from a parent and rider last night that was very challenging and encouraging, lot's of great ideas and some honest questions of things we (SCUM) have done in the past. I'm at work at present so haven't been able to reply to it but will be making contact with a big thanks, it really was a quite brilliant email. I hope to use it as the basis for further discussion.

Please, if anyone has any thoughts on this or anything else (Female participation?) Forum Post, email [e-mail] , Phone [phone], home 44464124 work 42951940. or arrange a get together. I still wish to get OP sorted then we can see where we are at with ideas, people and dollars and start "moving forward".

Cheers
Matt

[jimmy313]

SCUM Juniors.....we need to look at this i think from a coulple of different points.
1- Development of riders for further advancement in the sport.
2- Participation / general numbers at SCUM round races
3- What age is MTB aimed at and do we have a 'Dirt Rider' program (just made that name up)
4-What do we already do to attract/support young riders to our sport and SCUM

1- MTB is unlike any other sport I have seen. Do we have olympics- yes, Do we have pro athletes- yes, How do we get to these levels? We must work our way up the tree e.g Club, region, State, Nationals.....NO NO NO. I dont know how we do it, we just go out and ride at the nationals & hope to be spotted.
Even if MTB Aus, MTB NSW dont talk why cant we plot a course for our young riders. Have a person to work with them on their programs, select some specific races that they need to ride at. Make it a progression as they get older. Also make it prestigious to ride for SCUM in these races. Yes maybe be a small financial support? Have skill development days with our elite riders.

2- Kids want to have fun, they want to build up to the harder tracks. Maybe Big Junior race days at easier tracks like Cabbage, Coondoo? Do they want to race a couple of long lap races or short sharpe laps where they see every body more and get that support/ cheering. I know what I'd rather!
Kids love free stuff/ prizes certificates/ recognition maybe this would make more kids come back and ride and then they would tell others about what a good time they had. Therefore increase numbers next time.

3/ I have little kids, one who loves to ride bikes, she did a night lap at cabbage as a 4yr old. Do I think MTB is the sport for her at the moment? No, she does BMX riding they have a great program for little kids. She learns her skills and if she wants to come back and ride mtb thats great if not so be it.
We need to think what age is MTB appropriate for. Under 10yrs its hard work, but that doesnt mean that we cant cater a smaller version for those little ones just like AFL with Aus Kick, NRL with Mod league and Cricket with Kanga cricket we to could have a 'Dirt Rider' Program something for 1/2 hr riding where mum and dad can see them for that time. ages ranging from 5-10 approx. Simple track, few little obstacles, certificate for rider of the week. great done. Maybe a relay race style race, little teams? This may get kids into MTB at an early age and maybe we can keep them as they get older.

4- What do we already do? - Yes SCUM and Vincentia High started 4 years ago. Paul Musgrove (pres at time) and I saw the potential to develop MTB and get it into high schools. SCUM and VHS run TOGETHER a race that has grown to just over the 200 mark from the south coast the 'Coondoo Classic'. It affordable, its covered by DET and they kids love it. Not only Vincentia have improved their numbers but bomo and nowra HS have gradually increased their numbers also. Vincentia have a great MTB program at the school level. From approx 100 riders SCUM have gotten a good number of these riders. Vincentia had 20 riders at the last race, approx 1/3 of the race. so yes they they do filter through to SCUM. Which in turn support their local club. They have developed part of your Scott team, and finally the junior riders who are getting older are putting back into the club e.g XC coordinator Luke Harden.
SCUM also send riders to the SCOTT & have in the past support 2 Junior riders with membership, as riders with potential.

I hope this makes some sense, ( I am a PE teacher not a English Teacher) I found it very hard to put down all the potential things that could improve our club but it takes time , planning and members who can support each other.

I hope this helped
James Wright

[riderdown]

Below is some of the email I received from Meaghan Binder, with the italics being my add ins. There is a deal of similarity with James above both very good and a direction to move is becoming clearer. Please keep ideas coming and start thinking practically where we can start. At some point it is going to need people do drive it but let's start with the easy stuff and build.

Hi Matt,
Just read your thread about scum juniors and thought I''d give my two bobs worth, just not on the forum.
My impression of the southern highlands club is that they have a whole lot of really keen juniors so looking at what they do may help.
Here's some stuff I have noticed.


1. They recognise achievements by their juniors. (Kids love to be congratulated when they do well.)
Paste this link to your browser and have a look at what they had up only the day after this national race:
www.southernhighlandscc.com.au/news/mtb/highlanders-conquer-mt-buller-national-mtb-xc-round-3-2011%20


Or this:
www.southernhighlandscc.com.au/images/stories/Jnr_newsletter_January_2011.pdf

[glow=red,2,300]This is an area where we have, I have, dropped the ball and is something that we can easily work on. My opologies go to those that have done well in particular Zoe Binder who is our only National Champion and as a club we haven't celebrated that well enough [/glow]

2. They regularly have skills sessions run by top riders as well as lots of support from the local bike shops, especially McGees, where kids hang out and meet up to go riding.


3. They have a system whereby kids can get refunds for entry fees into state and national races. This is all on their website under "juniors".


4. They are running a camp in combination with CORC for Corc and SHCC juniors with aspirations for national competition. This will be on in two weeks time and is free. Yes, free! You had to apply for a spot and it provides all food and accomodation for 3 days as well as coaching from Shaun Lewis, Niki Fisher, Jenni King and Dylan Cooper. This must be expensive but obviously they like to spend their profit on their juniors.


5. They make their club kit readily available in small sizes and affordable.


6. They let parents know about funding grants etc. A SHCC parent we know last year tipped us off about a travel grant you can get for $500 to help with cost of travelling to national races. It is a federal thing (Joanna Gash called me to let me know when we got it) so nothing to do with SHCC but the application was on their website. Stuff like that helps parents to help their kids race, which helps the club.


7. They have a bbq at the end of many of their races so kids get a chance to socialise. For teenagers, this is possibly more of a drawcard than the race.


8. They have a short kids race before the main event rather than after as SCUM used to do a few years ago before they gave up altogether with kids races. The adults and bigger kids all stand at the start for the briefing etc and then all watch as the littlies go round the small track. Everyone gets cheered on because the spectators are all assembled ready for their own race. The little kids love it. If you race the kids later, they have to wait around all morning for the elite men to do their 6 laps before everybody gets in their cars to go home and the poor kids have a race in front of a few stragglers who are kind of over it all by then and just want to go home.


9. They have been keen to hold state races in the last few years. Nothing beats a home track advantage in a big race. In 2010, Craig Armour asked SCUM if we could host a state round. I went to the meeting where the idea was promptly dismissed with no discussion, even though the only other people there were Dave Tuckerman and the Whittons, all of whom were in favour of it, as we race the state series. Kel said no because it was too much trouble, even though Duncan Miller was happy to do all the legwork and said so. Instead they opted to hold a round of the Chocolate foot series, saying it was the better event of the two because it would bring in revenue. I checked the ChocFoot website and found that riders under 13 were not allowed so I had two grumpy children who wanted to compete in state series (and would probably have come first and second) but would not even be allowed to ride in the race that took its place. Bad decision I think. Money over opportunities for juniors. Made me not want to go anywhere near the choc foot event. Meanwhile southern highlands has hosted the state champs the last two years. Great, its right near our house. Their juniors are thriving because of it. They taste a bit of success at a state event, get excited about racing and they are hooked. Its fantastic that SCUM hosted it this year, so obviously things have changed and I know you have made some good decisions since becoming president.
[glow=red,2,300]This was an area that Duncan raised with the commitee and we are fully behind. We are hosting a round of the championship in July and after talking to Mark McInnes the series has got great sponsorship and is something that we will be looking to support[/glow]


Talk soon
Meaghan


Thanks James and Meaghan I appreciate the ideas. It would be good to get some feed back from the juniors.

Cheers
Matt

[riderdown]

I'm looking to organise little tackers race before our xc events. 3 to 10 year olds sort of thing. As I work from time to time I need someone else involved so it can run when I can't be there. Let me know if that someone is you!
cheers
Matt
0405568096

[oka]

I'm all for this as well Matt. To make it happen though we need a "little tacker trail" at each of our venues. I know Coondoo has one sort of scratched in.

[riderdown]

Tracks are really the only tricky issue, but one that can be fumbled trough. People, as usual, is the thing holding it back.