Clear pathway
Australian Sailing has resolved to strengthen youth pathways in sailing after undertaking a thorough review.
Photography by Beau Outteridge
26 August 2020
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Australian Sailing has revealed details of a review commissioned by the Australian Sailing Board during 2019 that looked into youth sailing, including State sailing programs.
A working group was formed with representatives from the Australian Sailing (AS Board), State Association Boards, coaches, club representatives and relevant Australian Sailing (AS) staff.
All were connected to the youth sailing space and had significant experience and understanding of the programs and history.
As part of the review, a survey of stakeholders was conducted, which received over 200 responses from stakeholder groups across the country.
Australian Sailing reported that the youth sailing base is relatively under-developed and talented youth sailors were being taken out of their club environment too early.
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Their review found that resources were being disproportionality allocated to State Youth Sailing programs, benefiting a relatively small portion of the total youth sailing base.
In a statement released on 26 August, Australian Sailing noted: “The importance of ensuring clubs are at the centre of a sustainable future for youth sailing and that the development of a club-based coaching program is a priority.”
The Australian Sailing Board plan on adopting ten recommendations by the working group and work is now under way to implement the recommendations at varying levels. One of the recommendations is to discontinue the Australian Youth Championships as an annual standalone event.
The 2021 Australian Youth Championships were recently cancelled due to the impact of the pandemic. Moving forward, it seems that existing class nationals will be used as a means for the Australian Sailing Youth Team to qualify for the Youth Sailing World Championships.
“Resourcing in this space will be dual-focused: helping to develop sailors so that they stay engaged at their club and remain lifelong members of our sailing community; and provide opportunities for aspiring athletes to progress from club to national level,” continued the Australian Sailing’s statement.
Pathway strategy development
This news follows the recent appointments of Melissa Wilson into the role of High-Performance Network Lead in February 2020 and Mike McGovern as AS High-Performance Director as Australian Sailing further develops their Performance Pathway Strategy.
The strategy will address support frameworks for Youth and Emerging athletes in Olympic and Olympic pathway classes and will promote alignment and clear pathways from club level to the Australian Sailing Team.
Australian Sailing will soon announce a new National Pathway Manager to work alongside Melissa Wilson and Mike McGovern in the preparation and implementation of the AS Performance Pathway Strategy.
“While a large focus of the AS performance program continues to focus on sustained Olympic success, AS accepts that there are many pathway options for Australian sailors,” read Australian Sailing’s statement.
“AS are working to acknowledge these, document the options and promote them as participation and performance options among our sailing community as well as to those new to the sport and those interested in taking up the sport of sailing.”
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