Where is Fife? - Scottish Athletics · –Fife AC was formed in the early 1975 by the amalgamation of several clubs in North East Fife –Geographically, it is a widespread club taking

• Where is Fife?

3/11/2018 1SAL Club Conference

• Club Structure– Fife AC is a private company limited by guarantee and a charity

registered in Scotland

• The business of the Club is run by a Board of Trustees– President, Vice–President, Secretary, Treasurer and at least 3

but no more than 5 other members all elected at the AGM

• Note that the CTO is not on the Board

• The club business is determined by the Articles ofAssociation

• The Club has just over 400 members, all automaticallyregistered with Scottishathletics (SAL) by the club– 140 (U20)


• The Objects of the Club (from the Articles)

– To foster the advancement of public participation in athletics as

a sport

– To organize recreational activities with the object of improving

the conditions of life for members of the public at large

• In pursuit of these objects the club will:

– Offer coaching and competitive opportunities in athletics

– Organize athletics events at local, district and national level

– Promote the club within the local community and Scotland

– Ensure a duty of care to all members of the club

– Ensure that all present and future members receive fair and

equal treatment


• History

– Fife AC was formed in the early 1975 by the amalgamation of

several clubs in North East Fife

– Geographically, it is a widespread club taking in Central and

North East Fife, with training groups currently in Kirkcaldy,

Glenrothes, Cupar and St Andrews


• Pre 2012

– Fife AC started as an all round club T&F, XC, Road, Hills

– From about 1995 to 2010 the club edged towards endurance

• It is easier

– Committee was about 30 people

• The committee could not make a decision without offending

• We were all getting old

– Club Together came along

• A group of members decided to change the club

– We lost some members & a breakaway was formed


• The history of Fife AC’s redevelopment began in 2012

– Oct 2012 – A new Constitution to reduce the Committee size

– Jan 2013 – 2–year Action Plan sympathetic to CT

– Apr 2013 – SAL Foundation Status Award

– Apr 2013 – CTO Appointed

– Oct 2013 – SAL Podium Status Award

– Jan 2015 – Incorporated as a limited private company

– May 2015 – Registered as a charity in Scotland

– Jul 2015 – Approved to the SAL Club 20:20 club

– Jan 2016 – Revised Action Plan


• How did we change & Action Plan

– Leading education and support for all

– Excellent communications within the area and nationally

– Delivery of integrated programmes for athletes with disabilities

as an integral part of athletics, and

– An excellent local competition structure that integrates with the

national picture for both mass participation and elite athletes


• Objective 1: Recruit new Volunteers

– Website

• Policy documents

• Post remits

• http://www.fifeac.org/about-fife-ac/documents.html

• Challenges

– Renewed funding for the CTO

– Gift Aid Development

– Fundraising that is now open as a consequence of becoming a

charity

– Professional development


http://www.fifeac.org/about-fife-ac/documents.html

• Objective 2: Improve the Coaching Structure

– We have about 20 new coaches in the initial surge but mostly

endurance

• This has no end

• Challenges

– Geographical diversity

– T&F facilities

– Upgrading of coaches

– Coach diversification


• Objective 3: Athlete recruitment

– Schools

– Active Schools

– RJT

• Challenges

– Find another way – teachers are busy

– Good coaching and communication is the essence


• Objective 4: Competition Structure (T&F)

– Kingdom Athletics (Dundee H & Pitreavie AAC) for U17/U20

– Tayside & Fife team in the Scottish Women’s League

– Funding for athletes at Scottish and UK level

• UK Championship, SAL entries, ERRA12/6 stage relays etc

– BMC events and Miler meets

– The club pays all entry fees and helps with travel costs

• Challenges

– Finance

– More participation in T&F


• Fife AC promotes many events to provide athletes with

competition pathways that are appropriate to their aspirations• The largest hill relay race in Scotland, the Devil’s Burden

• The premier 5 mile road race, the Cupar 5 mile

• The very popular cumulative, 5-day Tour of Fife

• The mini Tour of Fife (U16 down)

• The Festival of Trail Running U11, U13, U15, U17, Seniors

• plus a series of local races to cater for its members and the local community (150)

– The events (30) generate a significant income for the Club

• Fife AC also has a policy of hosting Scottish National and

District Championships

– National XC, National Short course, Trail, Masters + District


• Objective 5: Programmes for athletes with disabilities

– With Disability Sport Fife the Club has become the go-to centre

for disabled athletes. Successes are

• Derek Rae (Rio Olympics & 2018 World Cup T46 marathon)

• Owen Miller (INAS 2014 1500m)

• Sam Fernando (2018 INAS European 3000m S/C)

• Many other not so gifted


• Where does the money come from?

– Events

– Subscriptions – £38 (The club pays SAL membership)

– Grants – like the Robertson Trust, Fife Council, Create &

Prosper, SAL Equalities & Inclusion fund

– Gift Aid

• Club Turnover

– £50,000 per year


• Club Development Success• Number of coaches up from 8 to 27 (level 2+)

• Development of the club’s social media

• Significant increase of juniors competing in T&F

• Seemless integration of athletes with a disability

• Increase in members especially juniors

• Podium status

• Limited company and charity status

– Funding

• Robertson Trust, Weir Trust, local charities


• The Robertson Trust – Sport for Change– https://sportscotland.org.uk/about-us/our-publications/archive/sport-for-change/

– In April 2016 Fife AC were awarded £18,000 from The Robertson

Trust, to be paid over 3 years

– The Robertson Trust focuses on health, social and educational

inequalities prevalent in Scotland

– The trust aims to improve the life and realise the potential of

people and communities in Scotland

– One way they do this is by funding and supporting charitable

organisations who are committed to achieving positive change

for individuals and communities across Scotland


https://sportscotland.org.uk/about-us/our-publications/archive/sport-for-change/

• Robertson Trust Programme in Fife AC

– Disability

– Bell Baxter & inclusion

– Recreational running (Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy models)

– Club Volunteer workshop series – developing people

– Lectures

• Endurance

– How the body works

– Training schedules

• Nutrition

• Sports Psychology


• How it works

– Setting Outcomes – start of each year of funding

– Reporting to the Trust – End of Year Report


• Activities and Outcomes 2016

– Improve the confidence of young people in the Fife AC

catchment area

• Formed an athletics group for young people from Bell Baxter School

Additional Needs Unit to encourage exercise, improved coordination

and athletic skills, confidence, health and wellbeing

– Improved the health and well being for athletes in Kirkcaldy

• Set up and adult running group in Kirkcaldy to encourage

participation in sport, reduce social isolation and improve health an

well being

• FAC Kirkcaldy Wizzards



– Increased knowledge and skills as a result of taking part in our

activities

• CPR/First Aid Training

• Increased understanding of how long-term personalised training

programmes are constructed

• Increased awareness about nutrition

• Training lectures



– Improve the confidence of young people in the Fife AC

catchment area

• Continued athletics coaching with young persons from Additional

Needs Unit, encourage participation in local school events

• Young people competed for Kingdom Athletic (a composite team of

Dundee HH, Fife AC, Pitreavie AAC) in the UK Youth Development

League at competitions in England, involving a weekend trip to

northern England without their parents and usual coaches

– Additional Support

• SAL support through Equality and Inclusion Programme



– Improved health and wellbeing for participants from Kirkcaldy

• >5 new women joined the group and reported doing more exercise

as a result of our programmes

• >15 people reported they have developed their core and overall

strength doing more exercise as a result of our programme

• >10 new people reported improved wellbeing as a result of

attending the sessions

• Results huge at the moment



– Club members will report gaining enhanced skills and knowledge

as a result of taking part in our workshops

• >10 people reported an enhanced understanding of marathon

training

• >10 have a better understanding of sports psychology and of how to

create a positive mental attitude to competition

• >10 people learned new and better techniques for athletics-related

stretching and injury avoidance


Athlete, Coaches & Parents Workshops

Training Sports

PsychologyNutrition


• Recreational Running – Glenrothes

– Established 2014

– Coached by Frani Horsburgh as Jog Leader and level 2

– Family friendly running group for all ages

– Tuesday session – 3-5 mile run

– Thursday Session – hill reps, strength, speed

– Successful C-2-5K last winter


• Recreational Running Group – Kirkcaldy

– Established August 2016

• Coached by Alison McGill and Dave Cowan

• 6 New jog leaders

• Monday and Wednesday evenings

• Speed endurance sessions

• Over 60 members – even mix of male & female (adult only)


3/11/2018 SAL Club Conference 27

• Recreational Running Groups

– Benefit to members

• Opportunity to join a mixed ability group with coaches

• Improvement in mental health and well being

– Free membership or membership with race discount

– Support on coaching qualifications

– Benefit to the club

• Promotion of athletics and the club

• Encouraging all levels to participate

• Supporting the local community

• Increased membership

• What is next in terms of club development for Fife AC

– Establishing a new T&F base in Glenrothes

– Increasing the number of T&F coaches especially throws and

jumps

– Developing links with Fife College Sports Courses

– Working towards the SAMH Charter


• Club development across multiple training bases

– Problems

• Communication – social media helps and hinders

• Delivering consistent policies – welfare, training records etc.

• Fragmentation – King makers

• Team selection – coaches are consulted

– Solutions

• Distributed decision making - selection

• The competition structure – 30 races a year

• Finance – enough money

• Appointing to decision making groups across sites

– Not representation


Documents

Where is Fife? - Scottish Athletics · –Fife AC was formed in the early 1975 by the amalgamation of several clubs in North East Fife –Geographically, it is a widespread club taking