http://lorisbertolacci.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/little-athletics-is-not-a-good-pathway-for-track-and-field-excellence/ Sport, Health and Fitness Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:06:01 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://lorisbertolacci.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/little-athletics-is-not-a-good-pathway-for-track-and-field-excellence/#comment-150 Piero Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:02:25 +0000 http://lorisbertolacci.wordpress.com/?p=189#comment-150 What you have written in your latest post regarding Little Aths/Track & Field is so true. I can personally relate to this while at high school but what I experienced and observed would bring tears to the eyes of many junior athletes & parents. Not only were sprinters, runners, jumpers and throwers beaten by the soccer player or footballer but I would also extend this to the kids who hung around in groups and I would almost consider them anti-sport/fitness. They actually loathed any physical exertion......but would come out on a school sports day just after finishing a cigarette with their mates behind the school toilets and run 100m in 11secs, 200m in 23secs,challenge the record in longjump and throw a shotput further than those that had a years training under their belts. I just experienced it again on the weekend where the regional little aths competitions were held throughout the state and listening to the dialogue going on between parents and children. Unfortunately there were numerous title holders that were psychologically battered from pillar to post and many a parents dream was washed away with their childs tears....but the important statistic will be how many of these kids will find the fortitude to rise through to senior ranks and ultimately to represent our country?? Judging by the conversations on the weekend not many!! What you have written in your latest post regarding Little Aths/Track & Field is so true. I can personally relate to this while at high school but what I experienced and observed would bring tears to the eyes of many junior athletes & parents. Not only were sprinters, runners, jumpers and throwers beaten by the soccer player or footballer but I would also extend this to the kids who hung around in groups and I would almost consider them anti-sport/fitness. They actually loathed any physical exertion……but would come out on a school sports day just after finishing a cigarette with their mates behind the school toilets and run 100m in 11secs, 200m in 23secs,challenge the record in longjump and throw a shotput further than those that had a years training under their belts.
I just experienced it again on the weekend where the regional little aths competitions were held throughout the state and listening to the dialogue going on between parents and children. Unfortunately there were numerous title holders that were psychologically battered from pillar to post and many a parents dream was washed away with their childs tears….but the important statistic will be how many of these kids will find the fortitude to rise through to senior ranks and ultimately to represent our country?? Judging by the conversations on the weekend not many!!

]]>