Policy 3: Programming Levels

Adopted at AGM of 29 January 2006; Revised and approved at the AGM of 27 January 2013. Revised by Board 6 May 2023

a) Fitness Walking

Members primarily interested in Fitness Walking may expect to attend all scheduled training sessions of the Club, and to receive coaching, guidance and information appropriate to their involvement.

b) Competitive Walking

Members primarily interested in Competitive Walking may expect to attend all scheduled training sessions of the Club, and to receive coaching, guidance and information appropriate to their involvement.  Members wishing to participate at this level are advised that success results largely from an athlete’s commitment to a regular and consistent program of specific training towards clear objectives.

Members may expect to be made aware of races scheduled as Club activities.  They have the responsibility to tell the Technical Director/Coaching Team about other races they are considering, and other training activities in which they participate, so that training loads can be appropriately adjusted.

c) Race Walking

Members primarily interested in Race Walking may expect to attend all scheduled training sessions of the Club, and to receive coaching, guidance and information appropriate to their involvement.  Members wishing to participate at this level are advised that success results largely from an athlete’s full commitment to a regular and consistent program of specific training towards clear objectives.

One additional training session per week will be scheduled for those interested in Race Walking.[1]  This is in order to provide the specific training required for a demanding Athletics event, and to allow members to become familiar with the rules and procedures of the competitive sport.

Members may expect to be made aware of races scheduled as Club activities. They have the responsibility to tell the Technical Director/Coaching Team about other races they are considering, and other training activities in which they participate, so that training loads can be appropriately adjusted.  The Club’s competition schedule will include specific Race Walking competitions appropriate to each member.

d) “Good to Great” Program

Members interested in significantly improving present levels of performance may ask to be included in the “Good to Great” program. While this programming level is designed to be a natural progression from previous levels for qualified athletes, the “Good to Great” program inherently involves enhanced training, preparation and focus. The “Good to Great” program includes all provisions of the Competitive Walking or Race Walking levels above. In addition, to be considered a “Good to Great” member, an athlete must:

  • have race walking or competitive walking as the stated sport of choice OR
  • have competitive walking as the stated sport of choice and be interested in adding race walking
  • have specific goals significantly, but realistically, ahead of present levels of achievement and planned for a time period not to exceed two calendar years from the end of the calendar year in which “Good to Great” programming is requested
  • be registered as a club member for each year of the program
  • be registered as a competitive member in the sport governing bodies that will allow fulfillment of racing goals
  • compete as a member of Bytown Walkers, unless selected for a representative team (provincial or national)
  • identify at least one main goal competition annually, with associated “competitive” and/or “performance” goals
  • and, in support of the main goal(s):
  • be committed to a minimum of four sanctioned competitions per year and other preparatory competitions recommended by the coaching staff
  • normally attend the “Thursday” workout for “specialized race walkers”
  • normally include one long distance “muscular endurance” walk in a typical week of training
  • normally include at least one, preferably two, formal strength sessions in a typical week of training
  • work specifically towards the main goal(s) for at least one full, periodized, annual training and competition cycle, if necessary de-emphasizing other club competitions in order to do so.

General

All club members must be individual members of Athletics Ontario or another provincial/territorial organization affiliated with Athletics Canada.  Those members entering events sanctioned by athletics governing bodies must also be registered in a competitive category.

[1] Session is focused on Race Walking technique for both judged and competitive race walking.

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