Need to entice younger people to joys of running

Enticing youngsters into running should be a priority for any nation and especially South Africa.

In this column we have discussed the dearth of senior talent ad nausea. Seniors were naturally once juniors who perhaps lacked adequate coaching and the teaching of fun and enjoyment that running offers.

It is perhaps easier to attract children to ball sports as they are deemed to be fun. There are team ethics involved and a sense of belonging evolves.

That said not everyone is going to be a top class footballer, rugby, hockey, cricket or netball player. Nor can everyone make the Olympic marathon, but every child can participate in running.

Local runner, Gavin Stephens suggested I chat to Gavin van Rooyen, who heads up the very impressive North End soccer community, to get a feel for their model and the numbers involved.

They start with a U9 Academy, which then feeds into leagues from U10 through to U18s.

There are 25 clubs, and in the age groups 3,260 players are involved annually, which is impressive.

Given that running is the sports, why would it not be with youngsters?

In formal running there is no such structure in place to cater for juniors, and the majority of clubs are focussed on seniors all the way through to 60 and over.

Parents who see children that might have basis of all overflowing a natural aptitude for running are mostly unsure where to channel them.

In desperation parents send children to run time trials on busy roads without any traffic or other supervision. Often it becomes the parent’s goals rather than that of the child that dominate.

Cross country season does offer some activity with variety, but it is a short season that clashes with winter team sports, and there is no follow through.

So the reason for playing a ball sport is because it is fun. I get that. Been there, done it and wasted years of running potential.

Running, simply put, has to be made fun. Racing three times a week is not fun. It’s a recipe for burnout, and early burnout at that.

Going to an athletic track two or three times a week and running repetitive laps is not fun most of the time. Sadly the local track is not exactly aesthetically pleasing, nor is it secure or blessed with amenities.

With that in mind it seems as if a concerted effort by like minded coaches and mentors could be agreed upon and executed across the city and province that would enthuse children, teenagers and young adults to become “runners” first, and thereafter follow whichever discipline is best suited to them and their interests.

When that path comes to an end, or interest wanes, there will always be running to fall back upon.

To share thoughts contact me: bob@boastrunningsuccess.co.za