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Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Articles and ABAC Letters
The rain never reaches the roots
29 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 disappear
23 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 Programme
23 Nov 09
Jim Cowan will be outlining new ideas on the strategic future of athletics
17 Nov 09
UKA changes insurance cover note excess details
16 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 Bicourt
6 Oct 09
A Pretence of Democracy
1 Oct 09
DEMOCRACY AND TRANSPARENCY IN ATHLETICS
5 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 ADVICE
1 Jun 09
Following its re-launch the Power of 10 web site is failing to deliver.
21 May 09
Improved UKA Insurance cover
12 May 09
Latest UKA Insurance cover
23 Apr 09
ABAC SAFETY GUIDANCE FOR ENDURANCE TRAINING GROUP LEADERS
16 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 study
8 Apr 09
Comments on the 2009 AAA’s AGM and Annual accounts
7 Apr 09
Cross Country Running in 2009
3 Apr 09
A review by Charles Gains
THE NEED FOR A STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATHLETICS IN THE UK
9 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 UK
6 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 UK
5 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 teams
23 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 proposals
23 Feb 09
Tony Ward’s letter in last weeks AW points out a few home truths
16 Feb 09
MINUTES & NOTES OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE ABAC COMMITTEE & ENGLAND ATHLETIC
23 Jan 09
Held 14th January 2009
Sport Policy and the Governance of Athletics
22 Jan 09
A response by Charles Gains
The Impact of UK Sport Policy on the Governance of Athletics
12 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 athletes
4 Dec 08
Fred Stebbings gives his proposals for improving athletic performance
As The Government Sets Policy, The Grass Roots of Athletics Whither
1 Dec 08
Article by Jim Cowan
The Association of Running Clubs - ARC - The First 18 Months
17 Nov 08
State sponsored athletics in schools is failing
17 Nov 08
ENGLAND ATHLETICS ANNOUNCEMENT
22 Oct 08
England Athletics have announced a major restructuring involving scrapping the 9 Regions
Power of Ten Analysis: Some observations
24 Sep 08
Charles Gains
Power of Ten results give little hope for 2012 Olympic glory
8 Sep 08
A FUTURE FOR ATHLETICS IN THE UK
29 Aug 08
by Jim Cowan
ABAC invites coaching members
29 Aug 08
Spending our way further into trouble
22 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 2008
18 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 2008
9 Jul 08
SEAA clubs give thumbs up for a new constitution
29 Apr 08
Joint Press Release
29 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 2008
11 Mar 08
We look at both theirs and England Athletics Annual Accounts for 2006/2007
Mike Winch steps down as UK Athletics Vice-President
26 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 LEAGUE
26 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 UK
7 Feb 08
THE JACK BUCKNER COMPETITION REVIEW DOCUMENT
28 Jan 08
A SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS TO THE ABAC QUESTIONNAIRE
Ł9 million project announced to promote sport in developing countries
22 Jan 08
Once again ABAC takes the lead in promoting clubs
17 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 questionnaire
10 Dec 07
Read a detailed commentary from Lincolnshire athletics
Sport England about turn
5 Dec 07
Derek Mapp quits after showdown with the Secretary of State for DCMS
30 Nov 07
Read more on Govt plans to re-direct Sport England
ABAC Committee meet Niels de Vos Chief Executive Officer of UKAthletics
20 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 involvement
20 Nov 07
Read his contribution.
A report on ABAC’s second year of operation
9 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 questioned
17 Oct 07
Osaka World Championships 2007
11 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 sport
3 Sep 07
CEO of England Athletics resigns
2 Aug 07
Read his resignation mail here
ROAD RUNNING LATEST PROPOSALS - LOOK BEHIND THE SPIN!
20 Jul 07
Regional Assemblies to be scrapped
18 Jul 07
The failure of England Athletics
17 Jul 07
Click
here for Petition
Abolish Sport England and those other subsidy-guzzlers
16 Jul 07
an article by Matthew Syed as published on TimesOnline
ABAC writes to Gordon Brown
3 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 flawed
22 Jun 07
A response from the Chairman of ABAC to comments made by UKA’s Ed Warner in Athletics Weekly of 24th May 2007
30 May 07
Undemocratic Regions are fleecing the taxpayer
8 May 07
A summary of recent publications
ENGLAND ATHLETICS – PROMISES UNFULFILLED
8 May 07
Chris Carter letter
20 Apr 07
Fast Track support volunteers with holiday offer
1 Apr 07
England Athletics takes competition initiative
1 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 REGISTRATION
6 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 coach
31 Jan 07
ABAC meets new UKA Chairman
29 Jan 07
Cutting Quotes
3 Jan 07
The Adam Walker email of 27th November 2006 to a Level 4 coach who has declined to re-license
30 Nov 06
UK ATHLETICS CAN’T GET COACHING RIGHT
7 Dec 06
AND THAT’S OFFICIAL!
SEAA EGM results and report
4 Dec 06
Coaching policy on the hoof? Or just a rogue email?
30 Nov 06
UK ATHLETICS and INSURANCE
28 Nov 06
Bedfordshire Sports Partnership
23 Nov 06
A late 2006 postscript
A factual look at athletics in schools under UKA
22 Nov 06
Coaching problems in the South
14 Nov 06
FEEDBACK FROM THE NORTH OF ENGLAND AA EGM / AGM - 28 OCTOBER 2006
30 Oct 06
ABAC member Claremont Road Runners put their questions and concerns to ABAC
30 Oct 06
ABAC's replies are shown in bold type
North Of England AA EGM / AGM - 28 October 06
22 Oct 06
Resignations from the Committee of the Fell Runners Association
13 Oct 06
Dave Jones and Margaret Chippendale two prominent members of the Committee of the Fell Runners Association have resigned
Great Eastern Run
2 Oct 06
ROAD RUNNING IN ENGLAND
2 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 1997
6 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 again
4 Sep 06
Les Hatton a javelin coach at Kingston & Poly recounts his experiences
The Moorcroft legacy – A grass roots judgement
30 Aug 06
New information on funding for England Athletics Ltd
16 Aug 06
How it is tied to Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) August 2006
Sport must remain true to itself by Paul Bickerton
4 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 System
3 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 Inquiry
1 Aug 06
Submit your views on funding to encourage Junior Participation in athletics
The results of the 9 Regional Council Elections for Club representatives
24 Jul 06
New Rules for Endurance Event Officials Grading
20 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 Ten
17 Jul 06
Schools Athletics- Is Government Interference (here also) hindering not helping?
14 Jul 06
An article from James Montgomery
11 Jul 06
Endurance Event Officials
11 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 2006
7 Jul 06
High hurdles facing athletics before 2012
South East Region
29 Jun 06
Clubs in the South East of England can expect little money from the legacy funding
Endurance Grading for Officials
29 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 2006
26 May 06
The Schools' Olympics. Do the Government care about Athletics?
16 May 06
Report on ABAC's First Year and Priorities for Next Year
4 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 competitions
28 Apr 06
The Athletics Legacy Fund - Sport England reveal the Figures to ABAC Member
27 Apr 06
Do politicians run athletics?
26 Apr 06
Modernisation - Latest inaction from UKA Ltd and England Athletics Ltd
18 Apr 06
A Difficult Future for Small Clubs by Trevor Jones of Cleethorpes AC
10 Apr 06
Re-inventing the wheel
15 Mar 06
An Article by MIKE WINCH BSc, Published in Athletics Weekly on 9th March 2006
ABAC’s approach to the forthcoming AAAoE AGM
7 Mar 06
Letter to all Club Secretaries
7 Mar 06
A message from Keith Atkins – former AAA Treasurer
7 Mar 06
Letter from John Bicourt to George Bunner
7 Mar 06
Modernisation
6 Mar 06
A personal view from a Northern Club Secretary
UK Sport rattled by Daily Telegraph
2 Mar 06
Reproduction of an article by Kate Hoey – Former Minister for Sport
24 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 Member
22 Feb 06
Sports Councils pursue deliberate Policy to destabilise Clubs
Modernisation and Regionalisation
21 Feb 06
Who is right and who is wrong ? by Jim Cowan
ABAC Chairman calls for Unity
21 Feb 06
Letter written by Jack Walters the Chairman of ABAC to Athletics Weekly
Contribution from Luton AC
16 Feb 06
Article taken from the Sunday Telegraph
16 Feb 06
"Heads hire personal trainers to help pupils get in shape"
An article from the Politics Page in the Daily Express of 10.2.2006
13 Feb 06
The Cost of Governance in athletics - An International Perspective (REVISED)
31 Jan 06
Governance of Athletics in the UK
30 Jan 06
UKA Recruitment Policy
19 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 Middlesbrough
18 Dec 05
Middlesbrough letter to AW
Letter from Middlesbrough AC
18 Dec 05
Letter sent to Athletics Weekly
Letter from the Isle of Man
18 Dec 05
West Lothian Question in athletics
5 Dec 05
Letter published in the Daily Telegraph 2 Dec 05
ABAC response to AAA’s of E letter to clubs dated 1st December 2005
5 Dec 05
England Athletics - A Foster Project Update. Nov 28th 2005
29 Nov 05
News update
20 Oct 05
Tim Hughes' Comments
News update
10 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 UK
30 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 Change
30 Sep 05
ABAC's report of its review of the Foster modernisation proposals, summarising all the key events leading to the present position
News Update
29 Sep 05
"Countdown to change" available here 30 Sep
An Article from the BBC
29 Sep 05
"Helsinki Horrors" by Tom Fordyce
An Alternative to the Foster Review
27 Sep 05
A personal view by Zac Zacharides
Why is Participation Falling?
27 Sep 05
A personal analysis by Dennis Orme
Independent Poll
23 Sep 05
Comments by Michael White
Implications of the Foster Report plans for "modernisation"
22 Sep 05
By Zac Zaccarides
Max Jones Claims in Perspective
13 Sep 05
By John Bicourt
Luton Athletics Club
28 Jul 05
A paper for discussion at Association of British Athletic Clubs
The Running Paradox
24 Jun 05
An article from Running Fitness magazine by John Bicourt
Foster public statement
24 Jun 05
Dated 5 June 2005
Appraisal of UKA
8 Jun 05
Personal view from Mike Bateman
The Initial Proposal for ABAC
8 Jun 05
September 2004
An Open Letter to Roger Draper
8 Jun 05
From Tony Ward
Review of UKA prepared by Belgrave
8 Jun 05
As presented to the Foster inquiry.