european athletics high-performance conference

European Athletics High-Performance Conference

European Athletics High-Performance Conference 23-24 November 2013, Frankfurt (GER)


ESTONIAN ATHLETICS High Prefomance

Marko Aleksejev

Estonian Athletic Association

Sports Director


About me

• Former high jumper

• PB best 2.28; indoor 2.27 (indoor NR), U23 - 2.26 NR

• Started at age 12

• Ljubljana U20 (97), Annecy U20 (98), Amsetrdam U23 (2001), Ghent (2000), Vienna (2002), Madrid (2005), Birmingham (2007), Athens OG (2004), Helsinki (2005)

• Finished at age 29 (2008)

• Working in the Estonian Athletic Association since June 2012

• Sports Director


Estonia and Athletics

ESTONIA

•Population 1,34 milion inhabitant

•Capital – Tallinn, about 430 000 inhabitant

•Language - estonian

ATHLETICS IN ESTONIA

•Over 1600 licensed athletes (U16 to Seniors incl.)

•249 coaches

•68 clubs


Our team

• President and board

• General Secretary

• 5 discipline group head coaches– Sprint disciplines head coach

– Middle&long dictance disciplines head coach

– Jump disciplines head coach

– Throwing disciplines head coach

– Combined events head coach

• Other high perfomance coaches

• Top athletes

• Physiotherapist and team doctor

• Athletics clubs’ leaders


Dicipline head coaches

• Co-ordinating trials for youth athletes (U18-U23) 2 times a year (autumn and spring)

- 30m fly, shot throw front (3kg, 5kg), stand (without approach) long jump, - triple jump, 5 jumps with 4 step run-up. Body stabilaiser. From U20 snatch

- At least two lectures (out of athletics) per year for event group.

- At least one former high perfomance athlete lecture

- Presentation of results of trials

• Planning of event group preparation togheteher with SD

• Formulating teams for Baltic Matches and other regional team competitions

• Makeing action plan for year. Changeing their mind in the middle of season

• Recommend three U20-U23 athletes to be added into physiotherapy and medical cear croup.

• Dicipline group head coaches in regional matches and European Team Ch


TV10 Olümpiastarti (youth competition seried) – planting seeds

AGE - U13 and U15•Well known (since 1971) – connecting generations •National television attract 4x20min+30min multi event final each 2-3 time on screen•Supporters involved •Competition based scoring system. Individual and school scoring system. All time top 100•From all countys to national finals•Many of todays coaches and almost all todays top athletes have been competing•Many other well known todays specialist have been competing – connecting different fields•Like a small World Championships

EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT ATHLETICS IS - THE SEEDS ARE PLANTED PERFECTLY!


Into the National Championships – SproutingAGE – U16 - U18

• Beginning of athletics

• Choosing club and coach

• Clubs are funded according to number of young athletes and points earned at youth championships

• Clubs are motivated

• Highest participation

• First international champinoships

• Firts team camps with „old fishes“

• Training in clubs under athletic sports clubs coaches

• Active coaches schooling system

SOME SEEDS DO NOT FALL ON PROPER GROUND


Some have fun, some want more, some are leaving – growing pedicle

AGE U20 - U23• National training camps - time to change experiences between discipline

groups. From top athletes to young athletes. From other countries to Estonia

• Audentes Sports School system

• Extended graduation period (1 year)

• Top U23 athletes sports centre (full infrastructure)

• Training camp support (2-3 weeks, South Europe)

• Medical care and physiotherapy for selected some athletes

• Dreams and funds are out of balance

• Only true spirits keep going hard, the rest are staying for fun or will secede one by one


TEAM ESTONIA CATEGORIES

• European Athletics Team Championships

• European Athletics Championships entry standard

• World Championships B standard

• World Championships A standard

• Championships TOP 8


European Athletics Team Championships

• Best in their sports club – club support

• Involved to discipline group national training camps

• S E training camp support

• Many are amateurs – studing/working and training

• Half of the team has reached European Athletics Championships standard (see next slide)


European Athletics Championships

• Fixed financial support every month

• Involved to discipline group national training camps’ system

• S E training camp support

• Medical and physiotherapy


World Championships B and A standard

• Fixed financial support every month

• Invloved to discipline group training camp system

• 2-3 S training camp support

• Medical and physiotherapy


Championships and/or OG TOP 8

• Olympic Commitee salary – A group: OG 1.-3. or WC 1. or EC 1.

– B group: OG 4.-6 or WC 2.-4. or EC 2.-3.

– C group: OG 7.-12. or WC 4.-8. or EC 4. or Universiad 1.

– D group: high perfomances in age group, top places in international competitions, high potential in future championships


2 years before OG

• Top coaches from last OG period get salary for self manage at their training group– 5 to 7 high perfomance groups

– Free decision which athletes should belong to group and how to use finances

– Leaders (coaches) of each group form high perfomance comission


SUMMARY

• TV 10 OS - great starting position for athletics

• Small country – the olympic champion is the greatest guiding light in state

• Good indoor and outdoor athletic infrastructure

• Audentes Sports School

• Training centre for the best U23 athletes

• Discipline groups (sprint, jump etc.) national training camps

• Motivation 1 – relatively easy to become athletic champion in Estonia and ahead to Estonian team

• Motivation 2 – no long term projects where to „sit“. Have to prove yourself every year

• Improved high perfomance coaches will have budget and large independence

• Family business


Thank You!

european athletics high-performance conference

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