Toronto Olympic Club
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
TOC Junior Olympian Program
The Toronto Olympic Club Junior Olympian Program (JOP) is designed to introduce 12-14 year old athletes to the sport of middle distance and cross country running in a fun, team based atmosphere.
This program provides guidance to young runners with an emphasis on sound running mechanics and age appropriate work loads. Our goal is to teach key fundamental running skills, creating a foundation that allows each individual to reach his or her potential.
Athletic Development
Athletes of this age are at both an opportune and challenging stage in their development. They are changing both physically and mentally at a faster rate than at any other time in their lives. Our Junior Olympian Program allows runners to build a strong athletic foundation in these early stages of development. We recognize that all athletes develop at different rates, particularly at this stage of their lives. We base our training program on developmental age (maturity) and training experience, allowing each athlete to progress at his or her own pace.
Developing a proficient runner is a long term process that can take anywhere from 8 – 12 years, this is why our Junior Olympian Program emphasizes the importance of “training to improve”, rather than “competing to win”. At this stage of athletic development winning is a bonus. The young Junior Olympians will have an opportunity to grow with our club as they mature as an athlete, moving on to our more competitive programs when they are ready.
Program Emphasis
Our program emphasizes these key points in the development of a young runner:
- Technique training
- Flexibility training
- Mobility training
- Strength conditioning
- Aerobic training
- Speed training
- Nutrition
Competitions
Junior Olympians are registered with Athletics Ontario (AO) and the Minor Track Association of Ontario (MTA), and are encouraged to represent the Toronto Olympic Club in indoor and outdoor track and cross country events throughout the year. In addition to these competitions athletes also have the opportunity to compete in their school events. These competitions allow the young athletes to gain valuable race experience as they strive to improve their results.
Training Groups
The Junior Olympian Program is offered in two locations in Toronto. Our west end program is located at Swansea Community Recreation Centre, south of Bloor, near High Park. Our east end program operates indoors (January through April) at the Variety Village Recreation Centre, and outdoors at Northlea Middle School, near Bayview and Eglinton.
Coaches
Gary Westgate
Coach – Toronto Olympic Club Junior Olympians (West)
Gary has been a member of TOC for 26 years. Before organizing the JOP he coached soccer in the Swansea Community 2001-2008. Prior to this, he helped senior level distance athletes with their running and race plans for over 10 years.
As an athlete, Gary was a competitive runner, since the age of 14. Hence, he has first-hand experience of what it’s like to be a young runner. In total, he competed in over 600 running races representing Canada at the World Cross Country Championships five times and qualified for the 1992 Canadian Olympic team at 10 000m.
Brent Lockridge
Coach – Toronto Olympic Club Junior Olympians (East)
Brent has been coaching young athletes for 8 years. He is the coach of the Northlea Middle School Cross Country team and an assistant coach with the Leaside High School Cross Country team. He also coaches the Leaside Youth Athletic Club, a program that introduces athletics to 10-12 year olds. Brent is certified as a level 2 track and field coach through the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), and is currently completing his level 3 Middle Distance Certification. He also has his NCCP level 1 triathlon, cycling, and swimming certification.
More Information
Dave Christiani, TOC Coach at davidchristiani@rogers.com
Or go to www.torontoolympicclub.com