Youth Athletics

Hi all, I am hoping that I can generate enough interest and support in this subject to convince Kurt that we should add 2 classes to the database; Youth Boys and Youth Girls. I would love to see a feeder system developed. I will also say that I have sent emails, and searched the message board, but could not get any results. I may not have been searching with the best keywords, I am not sure.

Here are my thoughts...

Start a class for Youth Boys and Girls (Ages 13-17) and have them ranked on the following:

Open Stone - 8 - 10#

LWFD - 9#

HWFD - 14#

Heavy Hammer - 12#

Post scores, have a ranking system... pretty much get the youth involved, let them see what is out there for competition and setup a real developmental system for the Highland Games. Maybe even give them their own forum for discussions, etc...

I know this will be difficult, some will say that it is not safe, etc... but I am willing to put the time in to make it happen if others think it would be a good idea.

What do you all think?

Leroy McDonough - AD, Maine Highland Games

hello all frank here in tulsa oklahoma we have been talking about a youth games in oklahoma.  i have 5 boys and all are eager to throw my oldest are part of a highland games demo at the castle of muskogee  this is a ren fest and we let the younger patrons throw two with parents cosent of course .  so we are interested  

frank

ps we have also spoke with people in kansas and some in texas  but have not got anything off the ground yet

Good topic and one close to my heart.

We have a youth class in Warrensburg, MO each year and it is always a success.

Nathan, Isaac and Emilly Burchett all started throwing when they were young. The were only a few AD's willing at first , but when they saw them throw, they granted permission! Nate was 17, Isaac 15 and Emily was 12 when she started. She just turned 17 this month and has been to the Women's World Championship three times and is currently ranked 6th in the Women's division.

Nathan and Ike have both held the <190 Title and are both ranked pretty high as well.

Bring on the youngsters, just teach them the safety stuff and watch 'em have fun!

Daryl Burchett

Coach Mac wrote: I don't think two wt-4-distances are necessary and I would actually propose ranking ALL implements on the light -end that will benefit them all physiologically in the long run, I would propose a Youth Championship at some point ?  THOUGHTS ?

I agree with you on the implements. I imagine there is a lot that can go wrong with a throwers development if too much is focused on the weight of the implement and not the form.

Is there any youth weights currently being used? Would boys and girls throw the same implements? I think the idea of a championship, either regional or national would be awesome!

I wanted to mention that one of the biggest reasons I am persuing this is because of Bruce Cole, the games chair for Maine. Bruce has always had an excellent focus on the youth games and feels like you do regarding the future of this sport. Bruce and Steve Graham are making some exciting changes to the youth athletics for this year and they have me inspired. Props to you Bruce.

What are the pitfalls? It can't be as easy as adding a few lines to a database.....

Leroy

Good point Wayne.

Just like the SAAA has "move up" standards to go from class to class, maybe we could do the same with the youth. Set standards that would be a guide. So, if a 16 year old is throwing all of the youth implements beyond that standard, then they can move up to the AM's.

Another thought... 16 and 17 year old boys could throw the 28 and 14 if they have gone beyond the youth throws.

Leroy

GA&CA Youth Classes

Stone Putting Weights Correspond with Traditional AAA and AAU weights for the Shot:

8lb, 12lb, (14lb) 16lb 22lb (UK/AAA) 24lb (NA/AAU)

Hammer weighs correspond with the weight of the shot used in each age class, these are also traditional weights.

Traditional UK, Cast Iron, Block or Conical Market Weight set, 1lb, 1.5lb 2lb, 4lb

7lb (1/2 Stone) 14lb (One Stone) 28lb (Todd/Two Stone) 42lb (Three Stone) and 56lb (Half-Hundred/Four Stone) The lighter weights are disk shaped.

Yes I have had them made:

An 8 pound Celtic Hammer is made, by counter boring a 4K (8.8lb) Shot to take the smaller diameter PVC handle.

A 7 pound Throwing Weight is made using a 3K (6.6lb) Shot, in the Bobby Dodd 14lb & 28lb LWD fashion.

RJ

Coach Mac, what are your thoughts on these weights?

As far as International weights.  They follow metric weights so I'll try too equate them.  We have a tendancy to go too heavy too early (imagine that )   Football and over-zealous personal trainers with an agenda tend too retard the complex motor patterns that should be programmed (learned) before mixing in heavy weight training.

This is from memory so take it with a grain of salt:

Hammer - 2K   ( 4-lbs 8 -oz)   8-10 year olds  boys-girls

3K ( 6.6-lbs)   10- 12-- Boys    2( k) girls

4k- ( 8.8 lbs)  13-14 boys          3k- girls

5-k ( 11-lbs) 15--16 boys         &n bsp; 4-k girls

6-k ( 13.2 lbs)  17-19 boys         &n bsp;4-k girls

Ditto on the shot putt.   TO be world class in the Olympic hammer the  Europeans  look for a 290-ft throw out of a 17-year old with the 3-k.   REcent 2nd place finisher in the World Youth Championships (Conor Mc Cougglah ) is pushing the envelope with a 310 + 3k and 250' with the 6K at 17-years old.

As far as insurance, is there a difference between an adult signing a hold harmless for, and a parent signing the form for a youth?

You can NOT sign away liability so as ALWAYS safety is a first concern and this is handled with EVERY  safety pre-caution so we are not letting the children " play on the freeway " so to speak-  GREAT topic and if nominations are in order ?

Carlos Borges (Commisioner in charge of rules)   I'll nomiate myself for Performance Enhancement Commisioner....

A thread that had some disccusion on this topic a few years back was under "High School Highland Games"

http://www.nasgaweb.com/forums/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=205 2

OK.. so I am seeing the need for four different classes, 2 female and 2 male (13-16 or 16) and (15 or 16 to 18/19) I question the groups listed above Greg because I have coached a lot of youth sports and the difference between a 13 year old and a 16 year old can be HUGE... Just a thought.

I also see that some games have youth divisions already, and assuming they are willing to perhaps alter the implements/weights a little bit we would have a good number of athletes to start with. The above mentioned games already have AD's and Games Chair's who support youth athletics so no new duties for them.

So.. is it as simple as finalizing the implements and creating a new class in the database? Can we do a trial?

Greg... I am glad to see that there is a Junior system in NS and that you were able to come form it. It lends a lot of credibility to the idea.

Leroy

The REAL reason I want this division... my 12 year old daughter Ivory...

Coach Mac wrote: You can NOT sign away liability so as ALWAYS safety is a first concern and this is handled with EVERY  safety pre-caution so we are not letting the children " play on the freeway " so to speak-  GREAT topic and if nominations are in order ? Carlos Borges (Commisioner in charge of rules)   I'll nomiate myself for Performance Enhancement Commisioner....

Ok... I second. Mr. Borges, what weights shall we use?

I am assuming one who is nominated cannot refuse...

Leroy