CENTRAL ATHLETIC CLUB

The Central Athletic Club Athlete Development Funding Policy is set out below. The Policy can also be downloaded as a PDF file:

Any athlete should contact treasurer@centralathletics.co.uk to raise any requests.

Objective

The primary objective of the Central Athletic Club Athlete Development Funding Policy is to support the growth and development of committed athletes associated with the club. This policy aims to provide financial assistance for both team events and individual pursuits, with a focus on promoting active participation, dedication to the club, and community engagement.

This document aims to capture the intentions of the policy however as with any policy it may not be possible to capture every aspect imaginable. Hence it is noted that any decision to support an athlete in any way is entirely at the discretion of the club (where decisions are made by way of a majority vote).

Types of Funding

• Team Events: Central Athletic Club will fund participation in team events such as relay races and team competition where the club is officially represented. This may include race entry fees, travel costs and accommodation costs. Typical examples include participation in the Scottish Athletics Track League Competitions, Cross-Country Relay Events, the European Cross Country Challenge Trials, the British Road Relay Championships , or the European Club Cross Country Championships.
• Individual Support: Athletes may receive financial support to help them achieve specific aims. This would typically be to support athletes to compete at high calibre athletics events or National Championships and usually would be located outwith Scotland. Such instances might be:
  • Travelling to a high-calibre event in order to achieve standards necessary to compete at a major championship.
  • Travelling to the British Athletics Championships.

A typical level of individual support provided to an athlete might be that the club supports travel costs and 50% of any accommodation costs. Additionally, on an exceptional basis, some funding may be provided to assist athletes with training camps, equipment, or competition entry fees.

Application process

Team Events

As noted above, athletes are selected for team events by the respective team managers (Junior’s, Men’s and Women’s). For the avoidance of doubt, the onus is on athletes themselves contact the team manager where they believe they may be selected for a particular event. Remember the athletes has only one team manager to contact but the team manager has many athletes to manage! The funding for club events is managed between the team manager and the treasurer.

Individual Support

The application process for individual support is expected to be athlete lead in order to support their independence and organisation. If athlete is under the age of 18 then the parent/guardian should apply on their behalf but we expect that the athlete assists with the application as far as possible. Applications received by coaches and/or parents/guardians of members who are over the age of 18 will not be considered.

The application process for funding will be as follows:

1. The athlete should communicate with the club treasurer and the respective team manager to inform them of their need for support. In this the athlete should specify:
   • What the support is for and the specific aim that the support will help the athlete to meet;
   • Full disclosure of any other support received (both financial and non-financial such as kit or physiotherapy); and
   • Details of how they meet the eligibility criteria including details of their volunteering for the club and their representation for the club and any educational institution.
2. The treasurer and team managers will present the requests for funding support at the subsequent committee meeting for discussion and approval. Where funding is needed within a shorter timescale then the following committee meeting then discussions will commence between the club office bearers (president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer) together with the team manager.
3. The treasurer and/or the team manager will then communicate with the athlete the outcome of the request.
4. If the request was granted and support is provided then the athlete should submit an athlete development claim form following the event or the other purpose for which funding was required.

Eligibility

General Principles

To be eligible for athlete development funding, athletes must meet the following general criteria:

1. Active Membership: Athletes must be registered and active members of Central Athletic Club.
2. Commitment: Athletes should demonstrate a high level of commitment to the club by participating in club activities and supporting its initiatives.
3. Regular Racing: Athletes must actively participate in club races and events regularly throughout the season.

Team Events

Athletes are selected for team events by the respective team managers (Junior’s, Men’s and Women’s). For the avoidance of doubt, the onus is on athletes themselves contact the team manager where they believe they may be selected for a particular event. Remember the athletes has only one team manager to contact but the team manager has many athletes to manage!

Individual Support

Athletes seeking individual support are expected to demonstrate a higher level of commitment and dedication to the club and its ethos. Additional requirements to be eligible for individual support include:

4. Volunteering: Athletes are required to have volunteered for the club a minimum of 6 times in the prior year for the club. The club provides ample opportunities to volunteer including the Junior Cross Country Series, the club time trials, the club championships, club races such as Cross Country league matches held by the club or the Stirling 10k, the club award nights amongst others.
5. Educational Establishment Representation: If an athlete is a student at a School, College, or University, they are expected to represent their educational institution at the relevant student championships (i.e. Scottish Schools, Scottish Student Sport, BUCS competitions).

Expectations of the club on an athlete

Furthermore, the club expects that where an athlete has been provided funding (via individual or team funding) that they adhere to the following principles:

• Reduction of costs: Athletes are expected to minimise costs associated with any funding request. This includes sharing transportation, using off-peak travel, using rail cards and using affordable accommodation options in order to keep the costs involved to a minimum.
• Adherence to Fair Play: Athletes are expected to uphold the principles of fair play, integrity, and sportsmanship both on and off the field. Fair competition and ethical behaviour are integral to the values of Central Athletic Club, and athletes are required to compete with honesty and respect for fellow competitors.
• Compliance with UK Athletics Rules: Athletes must familiarise themselves with and adhere to the rules and regulations set forth by UK Athletics in all competitions and events. Any breach of UK Athletics rules may result in disciplinary actions, and athletes are expected to stay informed about updates and changes to these regulations.
• Wearing Club Vests: The athlete is required to compete in the club vest where athletes have been provided funding either individually or as part of a team to compete in the specified competition. The club vest serves as a symbol of recognition of the support that the athlete has received from the club as well as a symbol of unity, showcasing a collective identity and commitment to Central Athletic Club. Where an athlete is unable to wear the club vest for a specific reason then this should be communicated to the Club committee when applying for support.
• Regular Communication: Athletes are expected to maintain regular communication with the club committee via the treasurer and the team managers. They should provide updates on their progress, achievements, and any challenges they may face. Transparent communication fosters a collaborative relationship between athletes and the club, ensuring mutual support and understanding. The club can similarly assist the athlete in gaining the relevant recognition for their achievements.
• Positive Representation: Athletes receiving funding from the athlete development fund are ambassadors of Central Athletic Club and are expected to represent the club in a positive and respectful manner at all times. Positive behaviour includes interactions with fellow athletes, officials, spectators, and the broader community, contributing to a favourable image of the club.
• Respect for Teammates, Coaches and Club Officials: Athletes are required to show respect towards teammates, coaches, and club officials, fostering a positive and supportive team environment. Disagreements or concerns should be addressed in a respectful and constructive manner, promoting effective communication within the club.

Limitations and exceptions

There are a number of limitations and exceptions that the club retains the discretion to limit financial support to an athlete. These include:

• Sponsorship: Individual Athlete development funding is intended to be used to support athletes who have no other financial support or sponsors. Where athletes have received financial support or sponsorship from other sources then the athlete is expected to use this support in the first instance. Financial support may still be given by the club to the athlete but the athlete will be expected to give a clear case of why the support is necessary.
• Commitment: Individual athlete development funding is intended to support athletes who are working towards a goal such as qualifying for a major games or championship. If it is felt by the club committee that the athlete will only race the event with the support of athlete development funding (and that this is not due to financial hardship, see below for support concerning financial hardship) then the club retains the right to not grant support to the athlete. In simple terms, the funding is there to support athletes to achieve their aims – and not to support them with a cheap holiday.
• Team representation: Where team funding has been allocated to support a team to attend a given event then no individual funding will be given to an athlete. An athlete who wishes to compete in an event to which team funding has been allocated but has not been selected for this event should discuss with the team manager the possible options.

All athlete funding provided by Central Athletic Club is entirely discretionary, and the club committee retains the right to refuse funding at its sole discretion. Funding decisions will be based on the athlete’s adherence to the eligibility criteria, compliance with club policies, and alignment with the values of Central Athletic Club. Non-compliance, or behaviour inconsistent with the club’s standards may result in the denial or reconsideration of funding requests. The club committee’s decisions in these matters are final.

Financial Hardship

The club has a number of means to support athletes who may be facing financial hardship. Any athlete who feels that their own financial situation may be limiting their participation in athletics should contact the club committee via the treasurer and this will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

Masters Athletes

The athlete development fund is primarily intended to support young developing athletes to fulfil their potential within athletics. Where athletes may represent the club on the international stage for masters athletics then limited financial support (such as contributions to the cost of entry) may be considered by the club committee.

Possible Questions and Misconceptions

I’ve paid my membership fees. Doesn’t that entitle me to support?

No, the club is a not-for-profit organisation and has very limited resources. Essentially any money distributed to athletes is either raised through membership fees or by the club fundraising. If every athlete were entitled to support then the club would quickly run out of money. The club committee has decided that the limited amount of support that can be afforded by the club should be first and foremost used to represent the club in major national and international competitions. Any further support that can be afforded can then allow individual athletes to race at National Championships or to qualify for major championships.

I asked for support to race at several races yet the committee has decided to only support me at one race?

Again, the club has limited resources. Whilst the club wants to help athletes achieve the committee needs to make sure that any funding is used wisely and represents the best value. Generally the club supports the idea of athletes focussing on specified targets rather than repeatedly chasing a target.

Why do I need to volunteer for support?

The club is voluntarily run. Therefore the club committee requests that you to support the club in recognition of any financial support you may receive.

Why should I race in the club vest?

If the club is supporting an athlete with financial funding then the club deems it fair that its support it recognised in the field of play. This helps promote a sense of pride amongst other club members, recruit new club members and can inspire junior athletes to achieve their goals in athletics.

My coach said I should get funding but it was refused. Why is this?

Whilst coaches fulfil an important role within the club, they are not involved within the day-to-day management of the club and its resources. The treasurer and team manager will discuss with the coach as to the athletes needs and the financial limitations and other priorities of the clubs management. It might simply be the case that in past years the request may have been granted but the club’s current or planned resources may be insufficient to support this request.

Why do I need to represent my educational institution?

The club believes in being active partners with the local educational institutions such as Stirling University, Forth Valley College and the local schools. We believe that athletes should take pride in representing their respective institution and we strongly encourage this.