Selections

[gross2006]

Actually I'd go further than most considering selections - I'd ditch the selection committees & make teams the responsibility of the coaches... they are reasonably well paid but have no real measure of thier performance.... the Finns have done it this way for years

[Mrs H.]

I think it's important at this stage to differentiate between slection for an event - like JWOC in this instance, and selection for a tour - or even start squad - when potential rather than performance should be the key factor - this may not show up in results but it may show up in splits and the like (someone on the pace let down by lapses in technique - i mention no names but follow the direction of my eyes ) i.e. - room for imporvement.

[old&slow]

I strongly agree with Mrs H (so no suprises there).Tours should be offered to those deemed to have most potential and the level of previous support (or not) given to juniors should be taken into account. If the start squad is of any benifit those in it should already be performing closer to their potential so somebody performing well if inconsistantly who is not in a squad may be a better investment for a tour place.
Clearly selecting for a competion team must be done on best predicted performance for the day.

[harry]

i mention no names but follow the direction of my eyes ) i.e. - room for imporvement.

what, you mean gross?
well he does get fast run in splits

[Mrs H.]

Ha ha ha you're not sitting where i'm sitting, i was looking up the stairs!
Gross stood me up at th JK - definite room for improvement there It's a good job he's got a bit of a sprint or he might get the frying pan on his head (Co-incidentally, Mr H. is pretty good at the run in as some of you know - I wonder why )

Klebe - i can see you might have cause for a moan - and there are others perhaps with an even great cause if it's JWOC you're talking about - but i think old&slow has got the start and tour differential about right (who is that I wonder). the door always needs to be kept open for those late developers not just physical but mental ( yes that's the word I was looking for Mental!)

[FatBoy]

this may not show up in results but it may show up in splits and the like (someone on the pace let down by lapses in technique

Sounds like me at 16. If only there were splits in those days...

[Klebe]

Klebe - i can see you might have cause for a moan - and there are others perhaps with an even great cause if it's JWOC you're talking about.

After Surrey we had written off any idea of JWOC, with, I think, reasonable justification. The 'fall back' and I am not belittling it, was European Youth Orientering Champs. Thats where I think she has been sorely let down.

[Guest]

It would have been nice if the selectors could have sent a note to those who were being dropped from start and tours, (particularly where they had been informed of the child's illness or injury) explaining their descisions. These kids were bitterly disappointed as they were sent mixed messages. They were told not to run if ill/injured and let the selectores know, which certainly some of them did. The coaches advised them to get themselves fit/healthy before competing again.(Hard to convince a child who is desperate to get selection that they shouldn't run because they've got tonsillitus or a heavy cold etc).
Also if all known form is considered could the selectors be looking at recovery races where the child is not pushing it because they've been advised, ' little and often and not to run at full pace until fit/healthy'


Hocolite

[Guest]

Folks - british athletics went this route about 15 years ago, making lots of allowances for illness. So it became a stratgy to run well then not turn out at the actual championships! (cynic view!!) and the up and coming folk - who would progress in leaps and bounds if invited to compete at international level -got missed out! and dropped out!.

Don't let it happen to orienteering.

It's a sport and it's about competing - injury is tough but remember those coming through may have reasons themselves why they are coming though later and not been at the top from the start.

[Jo-Jo]

Sorry bout my dad everyone, just anoyed. I was injured all last year and got dropped from the squad even tho selecters told me not to run. This year i've got to every event, trained hard and come out 3rd overall but still missed out on all the selections compared to ppl who i have beatern all season. This was the reason for my dads comment.

I will be back next year and prove all the selectors wrong!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

Folks - british athletics went this route about 15 years ago, making lots of allowances for illness. So it became a stratgy to run well then not turn out at the actual championships! (cynic view!!) and the up and coming folk - who would progress in leaps and bounds if invited to compete at international level -got missed out! and dropped out!.

Don't let it happen to orienteering.

It's a sport and it's about competing - injury is tough but remember those coming through may have reasons themselves why they are coming though later and not been at the top from the start.

The point was that it would have been nice to let the kids know the situation, and what they could do. Life is a bitch and they've already had the disappointment of not being able to compete when they want to. You could call it courtesy, they've told the selectors why they can't compete, but the selectors haven't dropped them a line saying sorry you've not made it, but don't forget the next opportunity is ........ and best wishes on your recovery.
Kids like to see the policies applied consistency over the years. As Jene said, if injured but considered good enough by the selectors you should not be in start but given the opportunity to prove fitness on tour. This has happened before with kids and so they can't see why not this time.

Do the seniors get treated the same I don't know. If I were in the situation I'd hope that I'd get a letter or a phone call or even an e-mail.

Hocolite

[Mrs H.]

As Jene said,Hocolite

It was me actually
It's a hard one this one - there are 2 messages going out over the run or not to run question. Yow have to wondr now whether rose H. would have ben better off sparing herself the trip down south, resting on her laurels and telling the selectors she wasn't well rather than risk a couple of poor runs -which is what she and Jo-Jo got! The selectors certainly seem to have taken performance on the day as the bench mark, except for those they knew to be injured. I don't think eiyher of the girls can be said to be out of the frame completely tho' - so the door is still very wide open.

I think the Uppsala tour is a bit different bacuse you get 2 bites at it so to speak -Jo-Jo will be going this year and hopefully Rob next year! but I agree a bit of explanation or warning might have been courteous - particularly to those who have been actively dropped from the start programme - I'm quite surprised if they have not received any personaly communication regarding that

[Jene]

still think more should have been selected for upsala...

n i think start is too harsh, esp at junior level when alot of ppl are still pretty erratic...

i dont think i should be on tour in front of any of the girls who were previously on start or stef or rach, but... i've spent every weekend this year orienteering, have been trainin more, in every selection race i was either 2nd or 3rd first year...and have beaten all the other 1st years in my age group at some point in these races...we're all pretty similar and all the girls are in the same situation really, have all beaten and been beaten by the other girls...we've all had good races, i did at barns cliff.. was 3rd overall b4 i made a 16 min mistake! which would of been a good result.. but i nvr have clean runs.. isnt tour about the technical trainin? and helping ppl lose the huge mistakes... going on potential...surely were all as likely to do well... fitness wise, we all train, we all got into the fcc final...

is it just money or was there an obvious divide between rach and stef and the rest of us?

or is it just because its too expensive to take people who "could" be good...

always next year i guess....

lol, tis a sad day mrs H when ppl start thinkin that you're me

[Haze]

[quote]is it just money or was there an obvious divide between rach and stef

hey sorry but i thought id just point out that those from scotland dont get any money from sport scotland towards tour and have to pay by themselves. n it aint that cheap either.

[El]

And I think there was an obvious divide between Rach/Stef and the others of you. Rach was consistently good in the selection races, and Stef added to an already fair season with two very good races at the FCC final.
I would have liked to have seen more of you first years go to Uppsala but the selectors made the decision I was expecting based on the results.
(btw I'm the personal coach of a first year W18 hence why I have an interest).