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Individualized Programming, Bridging The Gap From NGSL To Rising Stars To MB Cup
When is the right time to move my child up to the next level? Do we need to go to all of the training/race weekends? How can I keep my child interested in skiing? Is my child mentally ready to go away on so many training days? The school won’t allow so many days away from classes that means one more year of the NGSL! How much more money will it cost me to have my child move up to MASS? What is your club providing in terms of transition or crossover programs for kids? Have you ever asked yourself or heard these questions being asked at the ski hill? Each of the racers we come in contact with (parent, coach, friend), have there own issues to be dealt with. The areas we need to consider while deciding about which series to have our children in for next year can be broken down into the following:

Financial - equipment, accommodation, transportation
Money is always a concern. For some it limits the quality (used, hand me down, older) of equipment that is being purchased, for others it is the amount (one or two pairs, new everything or only one piece) of equipment being purchased. How much can your family afford to be away from home? How many vehicles does your family have? How many children are in your family? If you need to keep the family traveling together then it’s a no brainer! Keep them together, keep your costs lower but don’t forget to change your expectations/goals.

Educational- time away from school, cooperation with teachers
How much time can your daughter/son spend away from school? This is the biggest concern right alongside money. It’s interesting that athletes who are in programs have shown, time after time, that they not only have the ability to keep up with their class mates, but in most cases do better than them. The drop in grades does not happen when the athletes are traveling during the winter but when they return in the spring to a class that has too much time to accomplish its tasks. Keeping the kids focused on what they are trying to accomplish helps their time management, their thought processes and their work habits. Does a student who possesses all of these abilities sound like someone the school system wants in it classes? You bet! The key to achieving the time away is communication with the Principals, teachers and most importantly getting them a schedule early in the school year. There are the exceptions you need to watch out for, I once coached an athlete who had to miss training due to a teacher who was going to fail them in, of all courses, gym! This was a kid who was up at 6:30 am for a run and stretch, learning about proper nutrition, training anaerobically all day (equivalent to doing 20 x 400 m sprint) then doing another dry-land session at the end of the day for 45 minutes including light aerobic activity and stretching. If your child wants to move up but you are concerned about school, set goals for grades, if the grades fall ski race or training time disappears. Challenge your child to get the same or better grades and stick to the deal. 10 year olds know what an allowance is and they know what a report card is!

Commitment- what are her/his and the parents expectations/goals
What are your hopes and dreams for your child? If the racer is truly trying to make the National Ski Team then there are a few things to do: ask about the NG TID camp at the end of the season, move them up to MASS at age 11, get them involved in all club activities (on & off snow), attend fitness testing in the spring and fall, always ask for more from your club (training, racing, fitness, mental). Are the parents trying to teach active lifestyles? Then have them participate in the sport at any level, remember that if they are held back, they will get bored! If they are not stimulated they will not continue to grow. Neural synapses will shut down to areas of the brain that do not continue to be used from the ages of 11-14! Our brains are highly efficient and will conserve energy at any cost. One more year in Nancy Greene for your child may end up being the last year they ski because no new challenges are offered. On the other hand, it may be a very important year of development for the athlete that is a late to mature (someone who has an age of 11 but has the body or mind of a 10 year old). Talk with your coaches about moving up to the next level; they know if your child is ready. Competition is the reality of life, there is only one winner and everyone strives to be that person.

Coaching - quality, amount, club resources
What are your club resources? How many coaches are there? Is the training split up because coaches are working with multiple groups or is your coach dedicated to that group? The best thing for your child, who is between 10-12 years old, to do is to start training more and with higher quality athletes. The coaching quality usually changes for the better as you get higher up in programs but sometimes it’s the same coaches working there too. Training at more hills, with better athletes is the biggest difference when you move up. If you have the option of training more with the older athletes the athlete will usually progress their skills faster and be more comfortable with the older athletes. If moving up to the next level is not an option because of maturity or skill level then training with this group is your best bet. Remember the Hero SL races are open to NG athletes without hurting their eligibility, it’s a great test event for those kids that are 11-12 that really should move up but mom & dad aren’t convinced.

Currently we have four programs in the Manitoba Alpine Ski Division, which are the Nancy Greene Ski League (4-8), Rising Stars (9-12), the Manitoba Cup (12 +) and Master (18 +). When I came through the system I started at 16 in a club racer program. It was a program designed specifically for those kids entering into the sport late and just trained with the MB Cup group. The option was then to enter into races at the end of the season. That was my path. Younger athletes have the MASS Hero SL being offered and no additional cost for entering those races, why can’t we have younger kids training with the older kids? More demanding courses, more days on snow, and less boredom for the kids involved. The number of days that the athletes participate in can be customized to suit everyone’s needs but it requires parents to ask the questions. No you aren’t required to attend every competition. The more training you get, the quicker the skill development should happen. If you’re not sure, take in the extra training camps offered in November and December and see if your child enjoys what is happening at the upper level. Find out if your child can train with the MASS group and race with the NG team until the end of the season. Most importantly ask questions to find out what is available for your child, the options are usually there.