Sept. 18, 2006

As interest and participation in Rowing Canada Aviron’s National Junior program grows each year, it is our responsibility to ensure that we properly assess the status and management of the program each year. In terms of athlete success, we see that reflected in our results from the CanAmMex and World Junior Championships - there is no question that the quality of athlete development within our club programs remains high and will continue to serve Canada well in terms of international performance. In terms of program administration, RCA needs to make sure that the quality of "experience" for both athletes and coaches within our junior program is high as this represents (in many instances) a first exposure to RCA national team programming.

In reviewing our current management approach to the junior program, we have recognized that the scope of expectation is exceeding our current capacities and management framework. The national junior program used to be an "add on" to our high performance activities, but it is now becoming a more integral element of our national team program in line with our Long Term Athlete Development model recommendations. As well, with the growth in interest from athletes and clubs, there is a greater expectation from the membership for a more centralized administrative approach to the management of the program, one that is in line with the operations of the national senior and U23 teams.

During the fall of 2006, RCA will review its management protocol for the National Junior Team in order to facilitate the adoption of an administrative and coaching model that will be more reflective of future growth needs. In doing so, we will engage active junior club coaches and other interested members to provide feedback on proposed protocols as this is an RCA program that particularly requires solid “buy in” from clubs and coaches.

As part of this re-orientation of the National Junior Team, we have decided to discontinue the position of National Junior Program Coordinator (effective September 15th) in its current guise. John Ruscitti has been instrumental in building the junior program to its current capacity and we thank him for his service in this very challenging position. The determination of a contractual position in the future will be dependent upon the eventual look of the junior program – this will be determined well in advance of the December RCA AGM.

RCA staff will be in contact with the current regional junior coordinators and key junior club coaches over the next few weeks to initiate discussion on revisions to the program. As well, our restructuring process will not impede on any planned national junior team activities through the next six months – we will follow the normal process of communication with athletes and coaches on these opportunities, and we will determine an efficient method of managing the projects in the meantime.

It is important that such programming be reviewed at key times in their development and we feel that the national junior program is a program entering a critical juncture in its development. As such, it is timely to dig a bit deeper in terms of feedback from key players as to what will serve us best as we move into the future. We thank you for your patience on this matter and, in the meantime, please feel free to contact either Phil or me for further information.

Phil Monckton, VP High Performance, pmonckton@scepter.ca

Ian Moss, Executive Director, ianmoss@rowingcanada.org