Junior Development Squad (JDS)

The Junior Development Squad (JDS) is a program aimed at giving our talented athletes a little more in terms of coaching, education, competition and a sense of accomplishment. Athletes must qualify for the squad by achieving athletic results that better a set performance criteria.

The squad is open to all registered athletes from U/12 to U/15 that meet the performance criteria. Ranging from mid October to late February, the program consists of numerous activities including coaching days, alternate coaching sessions, coaching camp, education sessions, role model sessions with elite athletes and a presentation ceremony.

Qualifying

The JDS is open to all qualified athletes in the Under 12 to Under 15 age bracket.

The program is a continual program, once an athlete has qualified they do not have to re-qualify the next year, they remain in the squad. There is however a control on consistency of performance.

There is no cut off date for applications.

To be eligible for application, an athlete must perform better than the qualifying standard in one of the following:

• In the age group above the athletes current age at the State Championships.
• Record one performance in two different events that better the qualifying standards at any VLAA sanctioned athletics meet. (Performances must be signed off by Centre Executive member.)
• 1st to 8th inclusive at the State Cross Country Championships can be counted as a performance for one qualifying event.
• One Multi Event performance at a sanctioned VLAA event.

Results from the following events are also accepted: VPSSA & VSSSA State Championships and Athletics Victoria sanctioned events.

Qualifying performances must be current to the age of the athlete at the time of the athletes application. eg. If an U/13 athlete applies, they must have U/13 qualifying performances.

Qualifying for athletes with disabilities is calculated using the same percentages of National Records as the able body qualifying standards. For example an U/12 able body girl in the 200m needs to run a time that is 128% of the National Record. An U/12 girl athlete with a disability needs to run a time that is 128% of the National Record for her particular class of disability.

The Application Form must be fully completed and sent to VLAA. Contact Paul Mullarvey at the VLAA for an Order Form.

The qualifying standards are:

	Boys				Girls
Event	U12	U13	U14	U15	U12	U13	U14	U15
70m	10.2s				10.6s
100m	14.1s	13.5s	12.6s	12.0s	14.4s	14.0s	13.5s	13.0s
200m	28.6s	27.5s	26.0s	24.5s	29.6s	28.5s	27.5s	26.5s
400m	66s	62s	59s	58s	71s	68s	66s	64s
800m	2m 35	2m 30	2m 25	2m 20	2m 45	2m 40	2m 35	2m 32.5
1500m	5m 15	5m 5	4m 55	4m 45	5m 40	5m 30	5m 20	5m 18
80m Hurdles
14.8s	14.5s			15.6s	14.6s	14.2s
90m Hurdles
		14.6s					16.5s
100m Hurdles				15.9s
300m Hurdles		50s	47.5s	44.5s		54s	52s	51s
1500m Walk	9m 30	9m 20	8m 50	8m 45	9m 30	9m 15	9m 7.5	9m 0
Long Jump	4.5m	4.8m	5.15m	5.5m	4.35m	4.5m	4.6m	4.65m
Triple Jump	9.3m	10m	10.9m	11.5m	9.2m	9.65m	9.9m	10m
High Jump	1.4m	1.45m	1.55m	1.6m	1.3m	1.35m	1.4m	1.45m
Shot Put	9m	10.8m	10.6m	11m	9.9m	8.6m	8.9m	9.6m
Discus	27m	27m	32m	35m	24m	27m	24m	25m
Javelin	29m	30m	33.5m	38m	21m	25m	24m	25m
Multi Event	2500	2800	3300	3500	2200	2400	2550	2550
Cross Country	1st to 6th Place inclusive at the State Championships in each age group

Member Benefits

• 5 Coaching Days with experienced JDS event coaches.
• Official JDS member T-shirt.
• Chat sessions with elite athletes.
• Certificates.
• The opportunity to attend the JDS Camp at Melbourne University.
• Opportunity to purchase official JDS apparel.
• Recognition of being a member of the VLAA elite training group.
• Parent sessions including nutritional and sports psychology lectures and coach education.

Cost

Registration Fee -$5.50 (incl GST)
(All athletes to pay once off registration fee at time of first joining JDS)

Yearly membership fee - $22.00 (incl GST)
(All JDS members to pay yearly membership to remain a member)

Program

Presentation Day - Sunday 19 October 2003 - venue to be advised

Presentation Day is the start of the program, at this day we hand out t-shirts, welcome back members and welcome new members, conduct an information session for parents and athletes, introduce coaches and be entertained by a special guest speaker. JDS merchandise will be available on this day.

Coaching Day 1 - Sunday 19 October 2003 - venue to be advised

Coaching will be on an event basis with athletes selecting the event they wish to be coached in. Athletes will be exposed to different skill drills and given appraisal suggestions on areas of improvement.

Parent session:
Specialist dietician talking on nutrition for your young athlete, State u/13 team selection.

Coaching Day 2 - Sunday 23 November 2003 - Doncaster Athletics Track

Coaching Rotation Day, athletes will rotate between 3 events, spending 45 minutes at each. This reinforces the VLAA philosophy that young athletes need to have a well-rounded education on many athletic events.

Parent session:
Coach Education, our JDS coaches chat to you about the thinking behind coaching adolescents.

Coaching Day 3 - Sunday 14 December 2003 - Doncaster Athletics Track

Alternate coaching day with senior coaches using alternate training drills, eg. Swiss balls, circuit training, plyometrics, time trials.

Parent session:
Bring your sneakers and wear your tracksuit, you'll find out why these exercises are good for athletes.

Camp -(extra cost involved) 14-17 January 2004 - Melbourne University

Coaching Camp, staying at Queens College, training on Melbourne University track and fun packed social trips to Melbourne’s hot spots. All this, mixed in with chat sessions with elite athletes and coaching sessions with Olympic coaches.

Coaching Day 4 - Sunday 1 February 2004 -Meadowglen Athletics Track

Coaching will be on an event basis with athletes selecting the event they wish to be coached in. Athletes will be exposed to different skill drills and given appraisal suggestions on areas of improvement.

Parent session:
Chat session with sports psychologist, discover what makes young athletes tick.

Coaching Day 5 -Sunday 22 February 2004 - Meadowglen Athletics Track

Fine tuning day with coaches giving advice on different things concerned with preparation for State Championships.

Parent session:
Coach Education, the JDS coaches will be discussing with the athlete some good procedures in fine tuning for the State Championships, it would be handy for you to listen too.

Code of Conduct

The agreement between Squad members and the VLAA asks those members to abide by the Code of Conduct: -

Uniform

Once received, all members of the JDS are expected to wear the official Squad T-shirt to all Squad activities and functions.

General Standard of Behaviour

The general standard of behaviour of all members reflects on the image of the VLAA. JDS members will abide by the conditions set out and published in the VLAA Codes of Behaviour.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted and will not be tolerated at any sanctioned Junior Development Squad activity or function.

Disciplinary Action

Victorian Little Athletics Association reserves the right to terminate the membership status of any individual without refund of monies paid from the JDS for what it deems serious breaches of the Code of Conduct.

Qualifying Standards

Please call the VLAA office on 03 9676 3600 for qualifying standards for athletes with a disability.