FYI: The Future of U.S. Sprint Kayaking Program in Jepordy

Hello Everyone,
This is currently what is happening to the national sprint kayaking program.

Message:
This past week, the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) informed the Olympic family that the 2011 NGB funding budget, where USA Canoe/Kayak derives the majority of its annual revenue, was cut by $5 million less than it had in 2010. With this significant decrease, the USOC had to make difficult decisions with regards to NGB allocation.

Their message to USA Canoe/Kayak is that their priority objectives for funding will be supporting what they feel are the best opportunities for medals at the 2012 Olympics in London, followed by programs that made significant improvement from 2009 to 2010. The parts of the USOC’s support equation most negatively affected are the programs that are identified as being on track for the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.

The USOC believes that USA Canoe/Kayak’s program is headed in the right direction and strongly believes in the new coaches that have been hired. However, the opportunities that the USOC felt were available in 2012 for medals are no longer realistic in Sprint. As a result, USA Canoe/Kayak is now forced to make changes to the Senior Sprint program despite the fact that the USOC has strongly reiterated that it is supportive of our new coaches and the direction in which the program is headed. Consequently, our residency program at the Olympic Training Center (OTC) is also not being renewed and now being directed to very specific programs from sports that have proven Olympians and international competition medalist as a part of their program.

Below is a quick outline of the USOC changes to our Sprint Program starting in 2011:

· USOC will no longer fund Senior National Team coaching positions despite their support for these individuals
· Funding for Program support has been dramatically reduced
· USOC requests 80% of the National Team Director’s time will be dedicated to the Slalom program and 20% to the Sprint program, which is currently being specifically defined
· USOC will cut the residential OTC program in Chula Vista and support one camp based athlete

As challenging as our next few steps will be, it is imperative that we pull together and work as one team to build and sustain the Sprint program for the long haul, as well as continuing the forward progress we have already begun to make. Within a short period, we have started to formulate a plan, that while it has some key elements to still to be determined, it will absolutely get us moving on the right track. We believe that we have strong partners across the U.S. that will rise to this new challenge and provide the funding and services needed to support those athletes committed to training for London and Rio.

In the wake of the news today we recognize that it is more important now than ever to make some important acknowledgements about moving our program forward:

· We must build sustainable ways to support the program outside of USOC funding (USOC does not want to see coaching positions removed because USOC financial support is pulled)
· Immediately act upon fundraising campaign to retain a full time national team coaching position
· One individual can not serve as the leader of High Performance for two Olympic disciplines without additional staff support
· Recognize our Strategic Plan as our guide for moving forward
· USOC acknowledges our growth at the lower and middle parts of our pipeline and the work of the National Development Director
· USOC acknowledges Oklahoma City as a center for progress and growth for Sprint
· Must explore additional opportunities in Hawaii and other cities for National Team

There is no doubt that we face some challenges over the next few months, but I believe only through adversity can you get stronger. In the near future this will put us in a better position to support you as athletes to the best of our ability. We believe in this team and your ability to be successful in face of our current challenges and hope that you believe in us to find the support needed to continue to support you at the highest level.

Next steps, we will be formulizing our plan to resolve the situations that we face and will organize an all athlete conference call next week to discuss. Our goal is to communicate things with you as fast as we possibly can.

We all have a choice right now, we can dwell on the things that we do not have or did not get and remain in the quicksand that we have been in, or we can choose to find the opportunity in the situation to get better. It’s a choice that each of you will need to make and one that we as an organization have made. I do not want to diminish the shock of this news to each of you, as you each decide how this affects you and your opportunity to make the 2012 Olympic Team. Young paddlers underneath you will be watching how you handle this situation and waiting on all of us to pave the path to a more successful USA Canoe/Kayak both on and off the field of play. Don’t allow the fear and trepidation that you feel today to prevent you from sticking to your plan and achieving your goals that you have outlined with your coach. Sure modifications to that plan might need to be made, but all you can do now is allow this to motivate you to train harder, work smarter and let the results be your voice. On the staff/volunteer end, it is now up to us to position the organization to be successful and have everyone roll up their sleeves to bring in funding.

USA Canoe/Kayak can and WILL get better….

Thanks,

William

William Irving
National Teams Director
USA Canoe/Kayak

Submitted by PatDolan on Wed, 11/17/2010 - 5:10pm