The Amateur Athletes Federation of India (AAFI) has drawn out a comprehensive six year plan for development of junior athletes for inducting them into the senior team in a phased manner.

The first “rolling plan” expected to be launched in May, will cultivate with the 1994 Asian Games.

The “rolling plan” envisages special attention to selected juniors 80 boys and 60 sirlsona ix year pattem covering three periods, each of two years duration.

Mr. JS. Saini national coach, said that the new plan will meet a long felt need for imparting special attention to junior champions in the crucial period of 23 years prior to their entry into the senior stage, He said there were instances galore where many junior champions were lost during this phase for want of a follow up programme,

He said after every two years, a new six year plan will be floated so that it becomes a part of the “rolling plan”.

Boys between 17 and 19 years and girls in the 1618 age group will be picked up by the AFI on the basis of the performance in the Junior Nationals, National School Games and other schemes of the Sports Anthority of India, like NSTC and special ‘area games. Their selection will be confirmed by the sports scientist after putting them through various tests.

Mr. Saini, said a new 16 member panel of coaches is being drawn out for this

tis estimated that the new plan will cost about Rs 10 lakh per annum initially as the athletes will be provided free board and Todging facilities besides traveling expenses, The financial assistance will either be taken from the Government or from a private sponsor for its implementation.

Mr. Saini said the camps for the selected juniors have been scheduled in such a ‘manner, for the first four years that these do not disturb their studies also. Most of the Ionger duration camps will be held during the vacations. The coaches, imparting training to these selected athletes, at the homes will also be called to the national camps for two weeks to apprise them of the nature of training imparted during the camps. This will help them follow it up on these lines when the selected juniors go back to their homes.

The plan also proposes more competitions for juniors in the summer, as at present only two competitions are being held in junior level and that to in the winter. It has been suggested that juniors zonal meets in four zones should be held in August, The Masters meet for juniors in September and international junior meet at the Asian level also in September.

The performance of athletes in winter and summer competitions will be evaluated in order to weed out athletes who show poor performance.

Although the training in camps will be conducted in all events, special attention will be concentrated on eight events in the Boy’s section namely 400m, 110 meter hurdles, 8001500 meter, 3000 meter, 3000m steeple chase 5000 meter, long jump triple jump, shot put discus throw and 10 km walk and five events in the girls section (including 100200m, 400400m hurdles, 8001500 3000m, long jump and 10 km walki),

The training camps will be held at the SATs regional centers at Patiala, Calcutta, Banglore, Pune, Gandhinagar. The first camp, however will be held only at two centers. These will be at Patiala or Shillauru for throws, middle and long distance running and at Banglore or Pune for sprints, hurdles and jumps.

The new plan is in addition to the AAFTs developmental plan for the sub juniors under which two zonal coaching camps are held in a year. The plan, approved by the Government, was implanted last year.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 14, 1989