By Jeromy Corrigan

Athlete Development

What challenges do organizations run in to when getting athletes to the next level

May 13, 2020 | 2:14 PM

Athletes always want to compete at the highest level, but as Director of Club Operations PGYSA Terrol Russell explains, putting labels on young athletes could be more harmful than good.

“Many times when you label a young player. Div 1, Div 2, or whatever it might be, there is an expectation that this athlete is performing or producing a certain output,” shared Russell.

“Years ago I was asked a question about how is it athlete-centred if everybody has an opportunity? Why aren’t you just focusing on just the top ones to make it? When I look back at the years I spent in Saskatchewan and now the time period here where we are starting to produce players at the other end, we have a 100% graduation rate. Every single player that was part of that environment was put in a position that they were the driver of their own success.”

In comparison, the Association or club is the car, and the athlete is the driver.

“The biggest piece is, and I like the analogy of driving a car. The one interesting piece and we kept data over a period of time, the players who worked the hardest, for the longest, utilized the environment,listened to the guidance and teaching, and had supportive guiding parents, went the furthest,” stated Russell.

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“It’s not a magic formula, there isn’t a magic wand, but yes, there is a theme that underlies athletes which transition on to higher levels.”

Tomorrow we will look at the safety and risk aspect of getting athletes to the next level.