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Overview

The purpose of this program is to increase participation in the sport by removing barriers to the participants, the leaders/coaches and to the clubs involved.  The aim of this program is a combination of targeting regions requiring regional development but which have a high potential to achieve success in securing athletes to the program, and the development of biathlon in highly populated regions of the country which can access a large number of people and who have the capacity to do so in terms of programming levels.  The intent is to partner with our Provincial/Territorial Divisions in order to work towards our strategic plan objectives of both increasing membership, and increasing the base of athletes in the system for development of the sport through making biathlon the choice for health and physical activity for all Canadians.  The program will also allow access to First Nations peoples, girls in sport and under-privileged children who will gain the opportunity to participate in a sport that is practiced year round.

The intent of this SPDP is to use the NCCP Community Coaching Program and the Biathlon Bears Program as vehicles to increase participation for young participants between 8-14 years of age, create awareness for the sport of biathlon and provide the coach with a tool kit to help athletes hone and master various skills. This community sport program includes a comprehensive three-tier biathlon skills program and a participant recognition program and goes in line with the LTADM biathlon skills and growth development, particularly in the FUNdamentals stage with continuation of the program into the Learn to Train stage.

Scope and Partnerships

Clubs/Divisions are eligible to submit an application for SPDP under the proposed projects as outlined below.  The chosen clubs will be subsidized for coach training programs, coach honorariums and material costs. This will aid in the initial implementation/continuation of the Biathlon Bears program and continuation of the local program for a period of 3 consecutive years. It is expected that a minimum of 20 participants/year per club would be exposed to the Bears program and the program would build from year to year with the expertise and participants involved.

Objectives

1.         To increase participation in the sport and to ensure that this participation remains ongoing over the long term in order to build a base of athletes for future movement to the higher levels of the sport. This will be accomplished through recruitment of new participants, retention of current participants, and an increase of athletes graduating from the Biathlon Bears program to existing youth competitive programs.

2.         To work in collaboration with current and potential partners such as provincial sport organizations, local clubs, municipalities, educational institutions, and eventually corporate sponsors to make the Bears program self-sufficient and sustainable in the targeted regions to ensure long term growth in the sport.

3.         Regional development in areas of the country that do not presently have thriving Biathlon memberships or programs but which do have the physical infrastructure to support biathlon activities. Examples of this would be inactive biathlon ranges or existing shooting clubs that have access to cross country ski trails.

4.         Targeting of First Nations communities, young girls and under-privileged children in order that they can access this year round sport.

5.         To leave a legacy of coaching development, program tools and “know-how” that will allow for sustained regional development beyond the time frame of this proposal. This legacy will have an impact on the local club but also on the development of regional and provincial competitive programs as it has done in clubs and regions that accessed our previous SPDP program.

6.         Recruitment initiatives will be geared towards children and youth (8-14) with a desired 50/50 distribution in gender.  It is expected that a significant gain in ‘Recreational’ or ‘Athlete’ memberships could be achieved in years 1-3.

7.         Removal of the key barriers that limit sport development for biathlon.  These barriers include:

• Lack of resources to generate acceptable coach/athlete ratios and regular training schedules (money needed to hire and train coaches)
• Lack of club critical mass to support the creation of self-sufficient development programs
• Lack of educated coaches/parents to be able to deliver high-quality development programs

Timelines and Implementation Guidelines

Detailed Timelines:

July 31, 2010 – deadline for applications

August 6, 2010 – announcement of successful clubs/regions

September 2010 – 2 subsidized NCCP Community Coaching Courses (Manitoba and BC)

August – October – Demo Days and Promotional days and commencement or integration of full club programs as per applicable grant

October 2010 - March 2011 – ongoing weekly programming throughout fall and winter months

December 15, 2010 – mid- year report due to Biathlon Canada

April 15, 2011 – year end report with membership details and financial report due to Biathlon Canada

Implementation Guidelines:

2 Community Coaching Gold courses (Bears Leaders course) will be run and subsidized by Biathlon Canada in September 2010 with the intention of increasing the number of Gold Community Coaches in order that we increase Bears programs across the country.  Clubs wishing to access this grant must send key future Club Leaders to become fully certified.  Other clubs not successful at being awarded a grant are encouraged to take advantage of the subsidized course in their regions. 

The following major elements will guide the successful implementation of this project:

·   The Biathlon Bears Program is an in depth program designed for athlete development at the entry level of the sport (ages 8-14 years).  Currently Biathlon Canada has an up-to-date and revised (version 4.0 released in fall 2009) multi-layer tool for coaches and parents to be trained in and to run this program.

·   LTAD model introduced to prospective coaches and parents in order to educate the community about the needs and programming required for the ideal development of participants in the sport from the early ages through to the competitive level.

·   Divisional/Regional partners will be required to cost share in the program costs such as equipment maintenance or replacement, and some HR resources (coaching honorariums) required for implementation.

·   Divisional/Regional partners will be required to commit to conducting the required level of activity to initiate a minimum of 20 youth to the sport of biathlon and to conducting a minimum level of activity to introduce participants to the program and sustain and retain a minimum of 10 athletes per year to their club following year 1.

·   Biathlon Canada will oversee the selection of Divisional/Regional partners, develop and provide implementation guidelines and resources accordingly.  Biathlon Canada will also conduct a performance measurement at the end of each critical phase of the implementation timeline in order to ensure the highest possible level of success.

Projects available for application:

PROJECT A

2 Biathlon Regional Bears Leader Courses (proposed for British Columbia and Ontario/Manitoba) led by 1 instructor per course will be run in the summer and subsidized by Biathlon Canada.  There will be subsidies for the Bears Leaders to attend the Leaders courses.  The material package and registration fees will be waived for the participants.  There will also be some subsidy to attendees who must travel greater distances to attend one of the courses.  This will be provided on a case by case basis through the application process.  Clubs and Divisions are encouraged to provide financial resources to help identified leaders attend the courses.

PROJECT B

Biathlon Canada Demo Days / Summer Biathlon events (10 x $1000 grants): capitalize on the interest in the sport of biathlon from the recent Olympic Winter Games.  This will allow a follow up on that interest during the summer and fall months through 1-2 day events at local biathlon facilities and will allow for the    participant to link directly to a full time biathlon program throughout the fall and winter with the goal of increasing the retention of new participants and members.

PROJECT C

5 x $4000 grants: Club programs targeting First Nations communities, school groups, summer camps and members in local shooting clubs.  As well, certain large urban centres may be targeted by Biathlon Canada in conjunction with the local clubs in order to capitalize on the larger population and ongoing interest in those areas e.g. Greater Toronto Area to respond to the demand from interested people in that area and from the largest population centre in Canada or, in interior BC where future Canada Winter Games will be hosted in 2015.

Eligible expenses for the projects include:

Administration: Funding is available to support expenses such as general administrative costs, promotional materials, etc.

Staff Salaries / travel, room & board expenses, Course Expenses: Support is available towards expenses such as coaching salaries/honorarium, accommodation, travel expenses for Biathlon Bears Leaders, coaches, and administrative staff. 

Operations/Programming: Support is available towards activities, programming and equipment being undertaken by the club to run the Demo Days, Summer Biathlon events and Biathlon Bears program in accordance with its strategic and operating plans (e.g. Biathlon Bears material subsidy, Equipment subsidy Marketing / publicity / recruiting subsidy)

Please see the attached application forms by clicking here