Welcome to the website of ABAC – The Association of GB Athletic Clubs.

An organisation formed to represent the interests of member clubs in a rapidly changing world of sport.

 

After 4 years attempting to bottom out coach numbers, ABAC has finally received the actual figures from Sport England. ABAC Fact File 20 reports on a deplorable 50% decline in actual numbers over the last 4 years and which clearly contradicts the official figure of 42,465 given by Sport England in February of this year!

The NUTS statistical review of British Athletics has been published annually by NUTS since 1958 and has faithfully catalogued the progress of British Athletics. The 2013 edition has just been released and contains a new and unique insight into the state of our sport’s demography. Read “The Final Page” here.

Full Minutes of the EA meeting held on 14th Dec 2012 in London to discuss proposed Affiliation Fees

 

ABAC ‘s letter to clubs on fees

Clubs are invited to post letters relating to the fees debate on this site. Send copies to feesurvey@britishathleticsclubs.com. Click here to see letters from clubs.

 

Track and Field Funding crisis deepens.  The looming funding crisis for athletics is already affecting future Track and Field competitions. Read the latest developments.

 

England Athletics’ plans to increase athlete affiliation fees has come as a shock to many clubs. Here is our analysis and advice on what you should do. (8th Nov. 2012)

 

The Government’s new schools sport plans will require more work from volunteers. 

 

England Athletics has announced that the role and delivery of its Run In England project is under review following the withdrawal of the management group. Here is ABAC’s assessment of this development.

 

Posted on, 19 Jan 2012, “New Coalition plans to boost club links as students shun sport on leaving school.” We comment on the latest Government initiative.

 

Several clubs have contacted UKA pointing out that the existing insurance scheme for coaches is inadequate for the new coaching structure. As a result UKA claims it is changing its insurance cover. But is it? Read the details.

 

ABAC announces it has commissioned World renowned athletics statistician –Rob Whittingham- to analyse track and field athletics over recent years.

 

ARC – The Association of Running Clubs- is getting strong support on the Runners World forum. We reproduce one message here. Also we assess the loss of funding to grass roots sport since the start of UKA’s “Run in England” and other initiatives….

 

Run Britain has taken a swipe at ARC. Add to this other recent UKA’s announcements and we see a Governing body looking in not out.

 

The following officers of ABAC were elected at the Fourth Annual General Meeting held at the Thames Valley Athletics Centre, Eton on 21st November 2009.

 

With the new Coalition Government threatening to merge Sport England, UK Sport and the Youth Sport Trust into a single quango Charles Gains reminds us that the bureaucracy and waste inflicting our sport was predicted.

 

In a previous article we criticised the expensive Sport Satisfaction Survey funded by Sport England which concluded that 81% of respondents were satisfied with the state of athletics. Since then ABAC has carried out its own more relevant athletic club survey. Here is -The ABAC Club Survey..

England Athletics announces UKA’s latest coaching initiatives and raises more questions than answers…

 

As the number of athletes, volunteers and officials continue to decline, the effect on clubs begins to bite…

 

Here are the agreed minutes of the latest meeting between officers of ABAC and England Athletics which clarify several of the latest initiatives by the Governing Body for athletics in England…

 

Sport England has published the results from its latest survey aimed at quantifying how satisfied people are with their sport experiences. What do they show?.. Here are the results for athletics together with our views.

The 2009 AGM Minutes for ABAC are now available for member clubs on The Members section of this web site access to which is password protected.

UKA is introducing a new scheme to help young athletes and their coaches. The concept is good but what about its implementation? ABAC comments..

 

Jim Cowan will be outlining new ideas on the strategic future of athletics in the UK after the ABAC AGM on 21st Nov. Here is the Agenda.

 

UKA changes insurance cover note excess details.

 

UKA’s Insurance cover note for 2009 – 2010 has just been released.