Junior Competition

I can only speak from my own experience, I have yet to come across a club that doesn't make sailing fun and educational.

Edited by 423zero - 27 Feb 19 at 8:36pm

😀😀😀

Interesting Editorial piece in today's telegraph. I saw it on paper but its on line behind their paywall here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2019/02/26/north-harbour-make-first-brave-step-towards-culture-letting/
Basically a significant NZ Rugby club has abandoned its representative programme for U14s and younger. They're supported by the NZ Rugby Union's head of participation and development, who said "we do not see value in representative programmes at U14 and below in relation to both identifying those players likely to go on to the elite level and encouraging the largest pool of players who may have the ability to play at elite level to stay in the game". Its on the back of research that showed falling participation rates were related to children feeling disillusioned when not selected for a representative team.

Now obviously Rugby has a specific problem since it doesn't matter how talented you are it you won't do anything at junior level if you don't grow large young, but the editorial hopes this will be the start of something.

I agree. Its always seemed a problem to me that kids get to 17 and they've done worlds on three continents, they've sailed in the biggest championship fleets they're ever going to, they've done everything you can do in the sport without becoming a full time Olympic hopeful, they've done it all with a huge parental budget and smart new gear all the time, and we wonder why they give up when there's nothing new to look forward to and they've got to finance it themselves...