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Articles and ABAC Letters

The rain never reaches the roots29 Jun 10
 
  
The ABAC survey on the state of UK athletic clubs.22 Apr 10
 
  
England Athletics announces UKA’s latest coaching initiatives and raises more questions than answers 18 Mar 10
 
  
Clubs begin to feel the pinch as essential volunteers and talented athletes disappear23 Feb 10
 
  
Notes of a meeting between the ABAC committee and England Athletics on
15 Jan 2010
26 Jan 10
15 Jan 2010
 
  
A summary of the latest Sports England report on satisfaction with athletics.11 Jan 10
 
  
The UKA Futures Programme23 Nov 09
 
  
Jim Cowan will be outlining new ideas on the strategic future of athletics 17 Nov 09
 
  
UKA changes insurance cover note excess details16 Nov 09
 
  
UKA's Insurance cover note for 2009-2010 has just been released. 2 Nov 09
The year ahead will see increased penalties on claimants. A good deal? Read on.
 
  
ABAC's report on its fourth year of operation lists many of its notable achievements.29 Oct 09
Read what it has done for clubs in the UK.
 
  
Reply to Tony Ward by John Bicourt6 Oct 09
 
  
A Pretence of Democracy1 Oct 09
 
  
DEMOCRACY AND TRANSPARENCY IN ATHLETICS5 Aug 09
With the unearthing of misdoings by our elected MP's, the performance, transparency and accountability of quangoes is moving to the top of the agenda. How does athletics rate?
 
  
Where is Power of 10 going?4 Jun 09
 
  
ENGLAND ATHLETICS TURN TO ABAC EXPERT FOR ADVICE1 Jun 09
 
  
Following its re-launch the Power of 10 web site is failing to deliver.21 May 09
 
  
Improved UKA Insurance cover12 May 09
 
  
Latest UKA Insurance cover23 Apr 09
 
  
ABAC SAFETY GUIDANCE FOR ENDURANCE TRAINING GROUP LEADERS16 Apr 09
In the absence of any guidance from UKA or EA, ABAC has asked a specialist health and safety consultant with considerable coaching experience to prepare Safety Guidance for those leading training groups on the road or country.
 
  
AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD? – New sport research study8 Apr 09
 
  
Comments on the 2009 AAA’s AGM and Annual accounts7 Apr 09
 
  
Cross Country Running in 20093 Apr 09
A review by Charles Gains
 
  
THE NEED FOR A STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATHLETICS IN THE UK9 Mar 09
Part 3 of Jim Cowan's interview which deals with relationships and the structure of the sport
 
  
THE NEED FOR A STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATHLETICS IN THE UK6 Mar 09
Part 2 of Jim Cowan's interview which deals with relationships and the structure of the sport
 
  
THE NEED FOR A STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATHLETICS IN THE UK5 Mar 09
ABAC ASK THE QUESTIONS AND JIM COWAN ANSWERS
 
  
Cross Country Running: Decline and fall?3 Mar 09
An article from Charles Gains
 
  
A proposal for new Competition League Structures for track and field teams23 Feb 09
In Feb 2008 Bill Laws produced 2 proposals for ABAC relating to Club and Competition structures. Part 1 on Clubs was put on this website on 22nd June 2008.
 
  
Could ABAC plans have influenced the latest EA proposals23 Feb 09
 
  
Tony Ward’s letter in last weeks AW points out a few home truths16 Feb 09
 
  
MINUTES & NOTES OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE ABAC COMMITTEE & ENGLAND ATHLETIC23 Jan 09
Held 14th January 2009
 
  
Sport Policy and the Governance of Athletics22 Jan 09
A response by Charles Gains
 
  
The Impact of UK Sport Policy on the Governance of Athletics12 Jan 09
 
  
Will falling bank rates scupper new funding plans for grass roots athletics?2 Jan 09
 
  
Proposals for a success based payment scheme for athletes4 Dec 08
Fred Stebbings gives his proposals for improving athletic performance
 
  
As The Government Sets Policy, The Grass Roots of Athletics Whither1 Dec 08
Article by Jim Cowan
 
  
The Association of Running Clubs - ARC - The First 18 Months17 Nov 08
 
  
State sponsored athletics in schools is failing17 Nov 08
 
  
ENGLAND ATHLETICS ANNOUNCEMENT22 Oct 08
England Athletics have announced a major restructuring involving scrapping the 9 Regions
 
  
Power of Ten Analysis: Some observations24 Sep 08
Charles Gains
 
  
Power of Ten results give little hope for 2012 Olympic glory8 Sep 08
 
  
A FUTURE FOR ATHLETICS IN THE UK29 Aug 08
by Jim Cowan
 
  
ABAC invites coaching members29 Aug 08
 
  
Spending our way further into trouble22 Jul 08
Extracts from the Daily Telegraph editorial of 19th July 2008
 
  
NOTES OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE ABAC COMMITTEE AND ENGLAND ATHLETICS ON 8TH JULY 200818 Jul 08
 
  
From the latest Tony Ward blog.14 Jul 08
In the last fortnight we have seen two articles dealing with the coaching of athletics. Somehow it is difficult to reconcile the two themes. On the one hand Tony Ward highlights the current problems while the England Athletics AGM report is bullish. We reproduce them here. Draw your own conclusions.
 
  
England Athletics AGM 20089 Jul 08
 
  
SEAA clubs give thumbs up for a new constitution29 Apr 08
 
  
Joint Press Release29 Apr 08
 
  
Proposed changes to SEAA Ltd Memorandum and Articles of Association 31 Mar 08
 
  
The AAA's AGM takes place in Birmingham on the 16th March 200811 Mar 08
We look at both theirs and England Athletics Annual Accounts for 2006/2007
 
  
Mike Winch steps down as UK Athletics Vice-President26 Feb 08
With still one year of his appointment remaining UKA Vice President Mike Winch has resigned. Mike is joining the Management Committee of ABAC with immediate effect. An announcement will be made soon on re-structuring of responsibilities within ABAC. In the meantime read Mike’s reasons for resigning from UKA Ltd.
 
  
BRITISH ATHLETICS LEAGUE26 Feb 08
CREATION OF MENS NATIONAL DIVISION 4
 
  
Competition from ARC has forced the RRLG to modify its proposed charges on the sport.22 Feb 08
Even so, Scottish Athletics appears to have decided to withdraw support for RRLG
 
  
A Proposal for Developing Athletic Clubs and League Competition in the UK7 Feb 08
 
  
THE JACK BUCKNER COMPETITION REVIEW DOCUMENT28 Jan 08
A SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS TO THE ABAC QUESTIONNAIRE
 
  
£9 million project announced to promote sport in developing countries22 Jan 08
 
  
Once again ABAC takes the lead in promoting clubs17 Dec 07
The Minister for Sport has thanked ABAC for its October Petition and confirms Government's future commitment to clubs. Read Gerry Sutcliffe’s letter.
 
  
Age Group competition questionnaire10 Dec 07
Read a detailed commentary from Lincolnshire athletics
 
  
Sport England about turn5 Dec 07
 
  
Derek Mapp quits after showdown with the Secretary of State for DCMS30 Nov 07
Read more on Govt plans to re-direct Sport England
 
  
ABAC Committee meet Niels de Vos Chief Executive Officer of UKAthletics20 Nov 07
Notes of a discussion held on 7th November 2007
 
  
As the debate on competition heats up Dr Philip Thomas writes to NoAA about Regional involvement20 Nov 07
Read his contribution.
 
  
A report on ABAC’s second year of operation9 Nov 07
 
  
London Olympics Authority condemned as "a gravy train for pen pushers."7 Nov 07
From The Sunday Telegraph. Nov 4 2007 by Robert Watts and Ben Leach
 
  
Is the BOA set to move Olympic Targets?25 Oct 07
 
  
Role of Sport England set to be questioned17 Oct 07
 
  
Osaka World Championships 200711 Sep 07
The original target agreed between UKA and UK Sport for these championships, and which formed the basis for funding, was :- 9 medals, including 2 gold. However following poor performances at the previous three World Championship where the targets had been set at 5, 6 and then 7 medals the aim for 2007 became clearly unrealistic. In 2007 UKA finally announced a new target of 3 medals and 14 finalists!
 
  
Money, money everywhere but hardly a drop for grass roots sport3 Sep 07
 
  
CEO of England Athletics resigns2 Aug 07
Read his resignation mail here
 
  
ROAD RUNNING LATEST PROPOSALS - LOOK BEHIND THE SPIN!20 Jul 07
 
  
Regional Assemblies to be scrapped18 Jul 07
 
  
The failure of England Athletics17 Jul 07

Click here for Petition

 
  
Abolish Sport England and those other subsidy-guzzlers16 Jul 07
an article by Matthew Syed as published on TimesOnline
 
  
ABAC writes to Gordon Brown3 Jul 07
ABAC has written to Gordon Brown concerning the deteriorating performance of Sport England in general and UKA in particular. Read the key points of the ABAC submission here. Also note that ABAC is preparing a petition for clubs to support which will re-iterate the need to reorganise Sport England and the governance of athletics in England.
 
  
England set-up is Fatally flawed22 Jun 07
 
  
A response from the Chairman of ABAC to comments made by UKA’s Ed Warner in Athletics Weekly of 24th May 200730 May 07
 
  
Undemocratic Regions are fleecing the taxpayer8 May 07
A summary of recent publications
 
  
ENGLAND ATHLETICS – PROMISES UNFULFILLED8 May 07
 
  
Chris Carter letter20 Apr 07
 
  
Fast Track support volunteers with holiday offer1 Apr 07
 
  
England Athletics takes competition initiative1 Apr 07
 
  
REGISTERING WITH ENGLAND ATHLETICS?29 Mar 07
 
  
With assets falling for the sixth consecutive year what do the AAAoE Directors plan for the future?6 Mar 07
 
  
The ASSOCIATION of RUNNING CLUBS (arc)15 Feb 07
 
  
ENGLAND ATHLETICS REGISTRATION6 Feb 07
Clubs all over the country will have received the January 2007 information sheet from EA and will be wondering what to do about it. For clubs in the North there has been a separate letter from the NoEAA offering / threatening to pass on their club's database to EA.
 
  
UKA demands club expels senior coach31 Jan 07
 
  
ABAC meets new UKA Chairman29 Jan 07
 
  
Cutting Quotes3 Jan 07
 
  
The Adam Walker email of 27th November 2006 to a Level 4 coach who has declined to re-license30 Nov 06
 
  
UK ATHLETICS CAN’T GET COACHING RIGHT7 Dec 06
AND THAT’S OFFICIAL!
 
  
SEAA EGM results and report4 Dec 06
 
  
Coaching policy on the hoof? Or just a rogue email?30 Nov 06
 
  
UK ATHLETICS and INSURANCE28 Nov 06
 
  
Bedfordshire Sports Partnership23 Nov 06
A late 2006 postscript
 
  
A factual look at athletics in schools under UKA22 Nov 06
 
  
Coaching problems in the South14 Nov 06
 
  
FEEDBACK FROM THE NORTH OF ENGLAND AA EGM / AGM - 28 OCTOBER 200630 Oct 06
 
  
ABAC member Claremont Road Runners put their questions and concerns to ABAC30 Oct 06
ABAC's replies are shown in bold type
 
  
North Of England AA EGM / AGM - 28 October 0622 Oct 06
 
  
Resignations from the Committee of the Fell Runners Association13 Oct 06
Dave Jones and Margaret Chippendale two prominent members of the Committee of the Fell Runners Association have resigned
 
  
Great Eastern Run2 Oct 06
 
  
ROAD RUNNING IN ENGLAND2 Oct 06
 
  
South West Road Running secretaries seek National support for a boycott on the issue of Road Race permits.28 Sep 06
 
  
Time clubs got their monies back?11 Sep 06
 
  
Athletics in the UK - Changes I have witnessed since 19976 Sep 06
By Keith Atkins. Former Honorary Treasurer of AAA of England
 
  
Comments on the Statement issued by David Moorcroft on his resignation as CEO UKA Ltd.4 Sep 06
John Bicourt puts the record straight
 
  
Where’s my licence? UKA strikes again4 Sep 06
Les Hatton a javelin coach at Kingston & Poly recounts his experiences
 
  
The Moorcroft legacy – A grass roots judgement30 Aug 06
 
  
New information on funding for England Athletics Ltd16 Aug 06
How it is tied to Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) August 2006
 
  
Sport must remain true to itself by Paul Bickerton4 Aug 06
Paul examines some reasons for the low level of participation in sport by British adults and suggests a change of strategy
 
  
Endurance Officials Grading System3 Aug 06
Further amended following ABAC approach to UKA
 
  
ABAC comments on the "Power of Ten"3 Aug 06
 
  
Culture Media and Sport Parliamentary Committee Inquiry1 Aug 06
Submit your views on funding to encourage Junior Participation in athletics
 
  
The results of the 9 Regional Council Elections for Club representatives24 Jul 06
 
  
New Rules for Endurance Event Officials Grading20 Jul 06
The Rules have been reissued on 18th July 2006 to take account of ABAC concerns
 
  
Time for a new initiative – The Power of Ten17 Jul 06
 
  
Schools Athletics- Is Government Interference (here also) hindering not helping?14 Jul 06
 
  
An article from James Montgomery11 Jul 06
 
  
Endurance Event Officials11 Jul 06
New UK Athletics Rules for Testing and Grading of Road, Cross Country, Fell and Race Walking Officials
 
  
From the Evening Standard July 6 20067 Jul 06
High hurdles facing athletics before 2012
 
  
South East Region29 Jun 06
Clubs in the South East of England can expect little money from the legacy funding
 
  
Endurance Grading for Officials29 Jun 06
Grading scheme introduced for all endurance events from April
 
  
James Montgomery posted this on the BBC Website (Permission given by him to reproduce)20 Jun 06
 
  
SOME COMMENTS ON THE DECLINE IN ATHLETICS IN THE UK FROM 1990 TO 200626 May 06
 
  
The Schools' Olympics. Do the Government care about Athletics?16 May 06
 
  
Report on ABAC's First Year and Priorities for Next Year4 May 06
 
  
"Why I fear for the future of Athletics in the United Kingdom" 3 May 06
by James Montgomery
 
  
Richard Caborn supports schools sports competitions28 Apr 06
 
  
The Athletics Legacy Fund - Sport England reveal the Figures to ABAC Member27 Apr 06
 
  
Do politicians run athletics?26 Apr 06
 
  
Modernisation - Latest inaction from UKA Ltd and England Athletics Ltd18 Apr 06
 
  
A Difficult Future for Small Clubs by Trevor Jones of Cleethorpes AC10 Apr 06
 
  
Re-inventing the wheel15 Mar 06
An Article by MIKE WINCH BSc, Published in Athletics Weekly on 9th March 2006
 
  
ABAC’s approach to the forthcoming AAAoE AGM7 Mar 06
 
  
Letter to all Club Secretaries7 Mar 06
 
  
A message from Keith Atkins – former AAA Treasurer7 Mar 06
 
  
Letter from John Bicourt to George Bunner7 Mar 06
 
  
Modernisation6 Mar 06
A personal view from a Northern Club Secretary
 
  
UK Sport rattled by Daily Telegraph2 Mar 06
 
  
Reproduction of an article by Kate Hoey – Former Minister for Sport24 Feb 06
"Is it too much to hope that most of this money will get to the grass roots of the sport and to the small clubs who have continued to give youngsters their first taste of athletics?"
 
  
A letter from George Sinclair ABAC Committee Member22 Feb 06
Sports Councils pursue deliberate Policy to destabilise Clubs
 
  
Modernisation and Regionalisation21 Feb 06
Who is right and who is wrong ? by Jim Cowan
 
  
ABAC Chairman calls for Unity21 Feb 06
Letter written by Jack Walters the Chairman of ABAC to Athletics Weekly
 
  
Contribution from Luton AC16 Feb 06
 
  
Article taken from the Sunday Telegraph16 Feb 06
"Heads hire personal trainers to help pupils get in shape"
 
  
An article from the Politics Page in the Daily Express of 10.2.200613 Feb 06
 
  
The Cost of Governance in athletics - An International Perspective (REVISED)31 Jan 06
 
  
Governance of Athletics in the UK30 Jan 06
 
  
UKA Recruitment Policy19 Jan 06
 
  
Club Affiliation fees – What happens after April 1st 2006?17 Jan 06
 
  
The Cost of Governance -An International Perspective (UPDATED 31.01.06)22 Dec 05
 
  
Luton back up Middlesbrough18 Dec 05
Middlesbrough letter to AW
 
  
Letter from Middlesbrough AC18 Dec 05
Letter sent to Athletics Weekly
 
  
Letter from the Isle of Man18 Dec 05
 
  
West Lothian Question in athletics5 Dec 05
Letter published in the Daily Telegraph 2 Dec 05
 
  
ABAC response to AAA’s of E letter to clubs dated 1st December 20055 Dec 05
 
  
England Athletics - A Foster Project Update. Nov 28th 200529 Nov 05
 
  
News update20 Oct 05
Tim Hughes' Comments
 
  
News update10 Oct 05
The highly respected athlete and journalist Martin Duff has forwarded to ABAC his original article sent to Athletics Weekly and which was published in slightly modified form in the 5th October edition. We add his personal views to our articles page as countdown to change continues.
 
  
The State of the Sport- where do we go from here?7 Oct 05
A personal view by John Bicourt
 
  
POLL OF ATHLETICS CLUBS IN THE UK30 Sep 05
Once this train leaves the station, the station will be demolished and the track torn up - there really will be no going back.
 
  
Countdown to Change30 Sep 05
ABAC's report of its review of the Foster modernisation proposals, summarising all the key events leading to the present position
 
  
News Update29 Sep 05
"Countdown to change" available here 30 Sep
 
  
An Article from the BBC29 Sep 05
"Helsinki Horrors" by Tom Fordyce
 
  
An Alternative to the Foster Review27 Sep 05
A personal view by Zac Zacharides
 
  
Why is Participation Falling?27 Sep 05
A personal analysis by Dennis Orme
 
  
Independent Poll23 Sep 05
Comments by Michael White
 
  
Implications of the Foster Report plans for "modernisation"22 Sep 05
By Zac Zaccarides
 
  
Max Jones Claims in Perspective13 Sep 05
By John Bicourt
 
  
Luton Athletics Club28 Jul 05
A paper for discussion at Association of British Athletic Clubs
 
  
The Running Paradox24 Jun 05
An article from Running Fitness magazine by John Bicourt
 
  
Foster public statement24 Jun 05
Dated 5 June 2005
 
  
Appraisal of UKA8 Jun 05
Personal view from Mike Bateman
 
  
The Initial Proposal for ABAC8 Jun 05
September 2004
 
  
An Open Letter to Roger Draper8 Jun 05
From Tony Ward
 
  
Review of UKA prepared by Belgrave8 Jun 05
As presented to the Foster inquiry.