The creation of an Athletics Coaches Association known as Athletics Coaches United (ACU) in partnership with Athletics South Africa (ASA) and Provincial coach's committees, enables Athletics coaches from all over the country to form one network of excellence, which will guide, inform and unite all Athletics coaches (herein after referred to as “coaches”) with a singular focus, to make South African coaches and athletics the best in the world. Potential coaches from all parts of South Africa will now have the same opportunities, knowledge base, and assistance, leveling the field and empowering them to identify and coach athletes that might have gone unnoticed.
This will be done by setting and maintaining high standards in developing coaches from Novice, through Provincial, to Elite in a new Athletics Coaches Association known as Athletics Coaches United (ACU) coaching structure. The curricula are in line with that of World Athletics. This will empower coaches to develop athletes to their full potential without having to move away from wherever they reside.
The need for the Association became apparent at the National Championships and Coaching symposia over a couple of years. A clear strategy is currently under construction by the proposed Association for the development of new and existing coaches. Opportunities will be created for any person who is interested in coaching to join the Association where they will be registered and developed.
More clinics and coaching courses of a high standard needs to be organized to afford candidates opportunities to gain knowledge and experience in coaching under the watchful eye of seasoned coaches. A system must be developed to disseminate coaching information, make coaching courses more accessible, and establish a communication forum for implementation countrywide. More aggressive development of coaches from the previously disadvantaged communities of South Africa needs to be implemented, to name but one.
Athletics Coaches United (ACU) will be made up of active coaches. These coaches need to be involved in their respective codes and will ensure that the needs of all the events are addressed in an understandable language for athletes and coaches. At present unqualified person become involved on especially primary and secondary school level and unknowingly implement the wrong coaching methods that leads to burn out of many talented athletes b y the time they finish school. This has a negative effect on South Africa`s performance on Junior and Senior international level.
Everything a coach will ever need to develop from grass roots to world class athletes will be provided through a specialized network of coaches and coaching information. Athletics Coaches United shall remain a sporting organization with no political or social alignment to anybody or organization in the Republic of South Africa.
The aims are for Athletics Coaches United (ACU) to:
· remain an organization administering and developing Athletics Coaches in Provinces on a standardized curriculum, within the boundaries of the Province, as demarcated by Athletics South Africa (ASA),
· function in support and as a service provider of schools and provinces affiliated to Athletics South Africa (ASA),
· develop an understanding between Athletics Coaches United and Athletics South Africa (ASA) to ensure the development of coaches and facilitate exponential growth in coaching standards by uplifting the standard of clinics or physical coaching courses. Proper training manuals will be used nationally to ensure the uniform development of coaches all over the country and afford equal learning and development opportunities to all registered coaches.
· guide coaches how to liaise with the media and other important measures to protect our governing body from the spread of harmful and incorrect information will also fall under the functions of the Association,
· create and maintain a database of all registered coaches and play a vital role in exposing coaches to all the athletes in South Africa, should such an athlete require a coach, he or she need only contact Athletics Coaches United to find a coach in his or her province and city or town, close to their place of residence