2014/5 Sprint Season Plan
Canoeing South Africa Sprint Strategic plan. ( 2015 and 2016)
1. This plan comes directly from the Sprint committee meeting that was held for this very purpose on the 28th June 2014.
2. The plan is based very much around Olympic qualification, but also is trying to create as many events as possible to help up and coming paddlers test themselves and gain experience.
3. This plan also mentions a holistic approach to plan the following year. ie: finances as well as the overall program.
Olympic Qualification.
1. Rule number one is to consider that World Championships 2015 is the surest way to qualify. Olympic Qualification is subject to SASCOC approval but direct qualification at the World Championships should secure selection where as qualification trough Africa is unlikely to be accepted. That counts for k1, k2 and k4.
2. If you look at Olympic qualification there is nothing easy about it. There is no easy route. However South African chances of qualification are at their best if you are involved in a k4 boat. The first 10 boats which must include 4 continents will qualify at the 2015 World Championships.
3. If one looks at k2, if we don’t qualify directly by making the first 6 at the world championships, but are one of the next 3 continents in the results we will earn a the right to qualify at the African championships to be held at Roodeplaat in 2016. This comes with a distinct proviso: SASCOC must deem your track record and performances up to a standard that will give you a chance of performing at the games if you qualify. So your fate is then distinctly in SASCOC s hands.
Above i have broken the qualification down to its bare bones. We will post the full document up on the CSA website for you to look at more detail.
Athlete Plan
1. It is absolutely essential that the athlete and their coach sit down and plan the qualification plan properly and it must include all aspects.
2. Too often we all focus on the paddling and forget the financial planning that needs to be done , a tour overseas these days i very expensive and can cost in the region of R45000.
3. There will always be a financial implication and for this saving needs to start at least one year ahead of the time.
The Planned Events for 2015
FEB – KZN 31 Jan/1st Feb ; Nagle Dam , Regional sprints open to all
MAR – WCCU March 7/8; Venue to be announced; Regional sprints open to all
MAR – GCU ?; Possible event TBA
APR SA Sprints 3/4/5 Roodeplaat Dam.( Trials for World Cups)
Trial – June 13/14 June Nagle Dam (senior and U23 trials for World champs)
SA Schools – 31Apr/1 /2 May at Nagle Dam. ( u 18 trial for World champs)
2016 Trial for Junior Championships at .Roodeplaat Dam and 2017 in ECCU.
May 15/17 1st World Cup in Portugal
May 22/24 2nd World Cup in Germany
May 29/31 3rd World Cup in Denmark
World Championships:
Junior and U23 24/26 July 2015 in Portugal
Senior : 19/23 August 2015 in Italy
PLEASE NOTE: AS FAR AS PARTICIPATION AT THE WORLD CHAMPS IN MILAN IN 2015 FOR SOUTH AFRICA THERE IS ONLY ONE COMPULSORY EVENT AND THAT IS THE JUNE 13 AND 14 TRIAL AT NAGLE DAM IN 2015.
AS FAR AS PARTICIPATION AT THE WORLD CUPS IS CONCERNED THERE IS ONLY ONE COMPULSORY EVENT AND THAT IS THE SA CHAMPS TO BE HELD AT ROODEPLAAT IN APRIL
AS FAR AS PARTICIPATION IN THE JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPS IS CONCERNED THERE IS ONLY ONE COMPULSORY EVENT AND THAT IS THE SA SCHOOLS EVENT
AS FAR AS PARTICIPATION IN THE U23 WORLD CHAMPS IS CONCERNED THERE IS ONLY ONE COMPULSORY EVENT AND THAT IS THE JUNE TRIAL
Now that I have said all of this and made it perfectly clear the above events have been set up so that the athlete s can prepare themselves as best they can for their big race . It would be beneficial to attend as many of the events as possible to prepare oneself and create a track record in case of a problem like illness when it comes to the June trial.
I am now going include some important matters that arose in the planning meeting and they directly affect the athletes. This also includes some info on regional events. A new series is being created called the SA SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS.
At the end of March next year our Lotto finances will be finished so unless more Lotto funding becomes available there will be very limited funding for events next year..
We will be trying to get sponsorships to assist athletes and provinces must try to raise funds for their athletes.
We need to advise the paddlers and coaches regarding what funding is available (see 6.12) CSA will try and fund logistics as far as Manager and Boats are concerned. Travel, entries and accommodation will be self-funded. We will try to assist financially on a Performance Based system. We need to educate coaches, parents and athletes on how funding works. Athletes need to take responsibility for their future planning.
We need to give the athletes a program through to 2020. We need to have a template from now of plans for the future.
Team Boats
The Roodeplaat Academy – have made their facilities available to CSA and athletes if required.
Roodeplaat, Pietermaritzburg and WCCU are seen as the venues to host or base K4 training. It will be up to these centres to try and attract and retain athletes that want train and specialise in K4’s
Wewould like to encourage K4 but within the scope of what the Federation can offer.
The teams will have to prove themselves before there can be support from SASCOC as CSA does not have money to support any initiatives at this stage.
There are boats and coaches in each province so let’s see what happens. K4 has to be provincial driven.
The plan is to approach the coaches and athletes in the above provinces to drive their own K4 initiatives as this is the best chance to qualify for Olympics.
This approach can only change in the future if CSA gets funding for a centralised approach.
Regional Plan
Sprinting has got to be driven by each Union so the Unions must have a strong regional plan in each Province. We need to set up communication through the provinces then coaches then athletes.
Don’t change calendar dates. Stick to dates and plans. C Good Communication is so important.
Coaches must be included in all decisions. Athletes must approach us via their coaches.
Coach is the first person athletes must go to then their regional rep.
There will be a weekly communication to Sprint Committee and all coaches.
As you can see above this really affects people who want to be involved in a k4. Also there is some important information regarding how we communicate with all of you.
It is really important that you are working with a coach and that that coach is in constant communication with the sprint committee in each province.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me via your coaches or directly;
Neil Evans
0725063909
Committee’s Contact Details
Neil Evans: sprints@canoesa.org.za (072 506 3909)
Tim Cornish: cornisht@mweb.co.za
Martin van den Bergh: martin1864@gmail.com
Saal de Jager: saal.dejager@harcourts.co.za