Chairman’s Report 8/03/2009/10
Mr A Couldwell
April last year we were in full attempts to get Club Mark for the Club, this was taking the committee about 20 hours a week amongst them, and had been since the September before. We had created documentation; see the web site, gone on courses required by Club Mark. This was done by the committee members while still having a home life, feeding the kids. Taking them to clubs, cleaning the house and Oh all of the committee have full time jobs too, some doing degree courses, staying up until late at night, total dedication to life. All of the committee never seem to draw breath and I congratulate them all. Club Mark was attained In July 2009 and I thank everyone who helped us attain the standard.
Coaching continued at the Grammar School, by the end of the spring term it was obvious that the gym in use was not large enough. The committee approached the Grammar School to see if we could have the larger gym but they would not move on that. A couple of the committee took time off work to see the headmaster to strengthen the clubs relationship with the school. I’m sure this will be beneficial should we need to go back as we did have a few complaints and these were solved in due course with the help of the coaches. At the end of the spring term we were looking for a new larger gym for the winter, after many hopeful attempts at other schools we accepted the High School as the best venue, even with the drawback of a exact hour in the gym. We are now creating a relationship with the High School, this is being successful.
The summer term at the Grammar School was excellent even having a Charity Skipping event raising money for the British Heart Foundation. We will do this again this summer.
Starting at the High School was daunting for all of the Harriers, we coped exceeding well having had to do risk assessments, fire precautions, one very helpful item was that Harrogate Borough Council are letting us use their equipment for each of our sessions. Many thanks, to Harrogate Borough Council.
Coaches have done exceptionally well, supporting each other, raising the standard by every coaching session. We are a new Club now with many new coaches and thank them for their dedication. It’s not easy coaching sixty athletes aged ten to seventeen in a gym that are high on adrenalin, keeping them training and having fun is a fine line that can be a skill in itself. Thank you coaches you are the best.
Once again I would like to point out to all that read this report that this junior club is run by volunteers, no one’s paid, and it is a club and a club only. This is why Parents or Guardians only pay a very small amount compared to a Borough Council football or swimming course for example for their athlete to take part. In return the club would like respect and a return if possible for athletes to compete when asked this summer and if they do that a Parent or Guardian help the club at coaching sessions and at meetings, only four YAL (Young Athlete League) meetings this summer. To help with this we will be offering transport bus for the athletes and parents to each meeting.
Engaging parents is not easy to do and we are not too good at it at the club. There are many reasons for this, the main one being communication to parents, we Email, hand out letters, I feel the best way is to speak to parents one to one and this we will be doing over the coming weeks.
Health and Safety at the club is excellent and every month the committee meet and discuss any actions that need taking action to prevent issues or a near miss. For example we are mailing all parents to pick their athletes up in person rather than the car park. Health and Safety is ongoing.
Welfare of athletes is close to my heart having been their age many moons ago. Any instances of bad behaviour or bullying are taken very seriously and action is always taken. This may not been seen by the athletes or parents but is constantly monitored and dealt with. All Coaches are CRB checked and this is monitored by our welfare officer. All coaches have a welfare duty to the athletes.
Our success the past year has been varied as the older athletes leave for university and move to the Senior Club. It is an honour to be selected to compete for the club and not to be taken lightly. New competing athletes find attending a meeting quite daunting but quite an experience. Although they run for themselves they also run as part of the Harriers team and will always have the support of the team no matter where they finish. Please parents if your son is selected for one of the meetings, please encourage him to attend, above all it’s a great experience.
Cross Country meetings, attendance was excellent, we could with more organisers at these meetings and as I may not be there to help next autumn we need a volunteer or two. Ideally we need two mangers for each male and female team. Someone to enter the athletes in each meeting, do a report. Also someone to take the tent that is the focus for our athletes attending.
The Future, look good, if we keep the momentum of the club going as it is and we keep finances tight, continue to get the brilliant fund raising the committee does, and support from the Senor Club. The Club survives on its members not to taken for granted. To care about the people in it, from committee, coaches, helpers and above all the athletes, we can but progress upwards. We must guard against complacency, keep an interest in what’s happening, do not expect the same people to do all for the club but to keep it vibrant, forever changing as it progresses. Open to new ideas embrace them and be truthful.
I would like to thank everyone for their support this year, and wish the club success in the future.
