European Athletics High-Performance Conference

1. European Athletics High-Performance Conference 23-24 November 2013, Frankfurt (GER)

2. ESTONIAN ATHLETICS High Prefomance Marko Aleksejev Estonian Athletic Association Sports Director

3. About me • Former high jumper • PB best 2.28; indoor 2.27 (indoor NR), U23 - 2.26 NR • Started at age 12 • Ljubljana U20 (97), Annecy U20 (98), Amsetrdam U23 (2001), Ghent (2000), Vienna (2002), Madrid (2005), Birmingham (2007), Athens OG (2004), Helsinki (2005) • Finished at age 29 (2008) • Working in the Estonian Athletic Association since June 2012 • Sports Director

4. Estonia and Athletics ESTONIA • Population 1,34 milion inhabitant • Capital – Tallinn, about 430 000 inhabitant • Language - estonian ATHLETICS IN ESTONIA • Over 1600 licensed athletes (U16 to Seniors incl.) • 249 coaches • 68 clubs

6. Our team • President and board • General Secretary • 5 discipline group head coaches • Sprint disciplines head coach • Middle&long dictance disciplines head coach • Jump disciplines head coach • Throwing disciplines head coach • Combined events head coach • Other high perfomance coaches • Top athletes • Physiotherapist and team doctor • Athletics clubs’ leaders

7. Dicipline head coaches • Co-ordinating trials for youth athletes (U18-U23) 2 times a year (autumn and spring) • 30m fly, shot throw front (3kg, 5kg), stand (without approach) long jump, - triple jump, 5 jumps with 4 step run-up. Body stabilaiser. From U20 snatch • At least two lectures (out of athletics) per year for event group. • At least one former high perfomance athlete lecture • Presentation of results of trials • Planning of event group preparation togheteher with SD • Formulating teams for Baltic Matches and other regional team competitions • Makeing action plan for year. Changeing their mind in the middle of season • Recommend three U20-U23 athletes to be added into physiotherapy and medical cear croup. • Dicipline group head coaches in regional matches and European Team Ch

8. TV10 Olümpiastarti (youth competition seried) – planting seeds • AGE - U13 and U15 • Well known (since 1971) – connecting generations • National television attract 4x20min+30min multi event final each 2-3 time on screen • Supporters involved • Competition based scoring system.Individual and school scoring system. All time top 100 • From all countys to national finals • Many of todays coaches and almost all todays top athletes have been competing • Many other well known todays specialist have been competing – connecting different fields • Like a small World Championships • EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT ATHLETICS IS - THE SEEDS ARE PLANTED PERFECTLY!

10. Into the National Championships – SproutingAGE – U16 - U18 • Beginning of athletics • Choosing club and coach • Clubs are funded according to number of young athletes and points earned at youth championships • Clubs are motivated • Highest participation • First international champinoships • Firts team camps with „old fishes“ • Training in clubs under athletic sports clubs coaches • Active coaches schooling system SOME SEEDS DO NOT FALLON PROPER GROUND

11. Some have fun, some want more, some are leaving – growing pedicle AGE U20 - U23 • National training camps - time to change experiences between discipline groups. From top athletes to young athletes. From other countries to Estonia • Audentes Sports School system • Extended graduation period (1 year) • Top U23 athletes sports centre (full infrastructure) • Training camp support (2-3 weeks, South Europe) • Medical care and physiotherapy for selected some athletes • Dreams and funds are out of balance • Only true spirits keep going hard, the rest are staying for fun or will secede one by one

13. TEAM ESTONIA CATEGORIES • European Athletics Team Championships • European Athletics Championships entry standard • World Championships B standard • World Championships A standard • Championships TOP 8

14. European Athletics Team Championships • Best in their sports club – club support • Involved to discipline group national training camps • S E training camp support • Many are amateurs – studing/working and training • Half of the team has reached European Athletics Championships standard (see next slide)

16. European Athletics Championships • Fixed financialsupport every month • Involved to discipline group national training camps’ system • S E training camp support • Medical and physiotherapy

17. World Championships B and A standard • Fixed financial support every month • Invloved to discipline group training camp system • 2-3 S training camp support • Medical and physiotherapy

18. Championships and/or OG TOP 8 • Olympic Commitee salary • A group: OG 1.-3. or WC 1. or EC 1. • B group: OG 4.-6 or WC 2.-4. or EC 2.-3. • C group: OG 7.-12. or WC 4.-8. or EC 4. or Universiad 1. • D group: high perfomances in age group, top places in international competitions, high potential in future championships

20. 2 years before OG • Top coaches from last OG period get salary for self manage at their training group • 5 to 7 high perfomance groups • Free decision which athletes should belong to group and how to use finances • Leaders (coaches) of each group form high perfomance comission

21. SUMMARY • TV 10 OS - great starting position for athletics • Small country – the olympic champion is the greatest guiding light in state • Good indoor and outdoor athletic infrastructure • Audentes Sports School • Training centre for the best U23 athletes • Discipline groups (sprint, jump etc.) national training camps • Motivation 1 – relatively easy to become athletic champion in Estonia and ahead to Estonian team • Motivation 2 – no long term projects where to „sit“. Have to prove yourself every year • Improved high perfomance coaches will have budget and large independence • Family business

22. Thank You!