Selections, Coaches, etc...????

[OBSrJr]

I have been wondering what the plan is for the upcoming year. Japan is not all that far away, and we also have Continental Cup fast approaching.
- Are selections planned to take place at the Canadian Nationals? If so, by whom?
- Has anyone any ideas with regards to coaching for the Worlds? Personally i think that individual coaches for each team would be a good idea, but i'm not sure what are options are. Is this something that the CCP is responsible for, or how do the players relate to this issue?
- :confused:

I think an early selections (e.g. at Nationals) with a chance to play together at the Continental Cup this year would be very good, and if the players had someone who was keeping track of training and providing consistent feedback from one source it would be even better.

Thanks,

Catherine

[Mareese]

I think it definitely sounds like a good idea to select for both the Continental Cup and the Worlds this year. It would allow for significantly more playing time for the team together and allow them to develop some strategies.

It would of course require all potential selectee's to be committed to going to Japan - but would also give them more time to save up the money required.

Mareese

[Brad]

It is obviously a good idea to select the team as soon as possible. It would allow people to focus on becoming a team and training hard for CC and Worlds. At least that is what you would think ... as we have experienced, once the team is selected many people chose not to train anymore cause "hey I'm on the team!" If I sound a little bitter it is cause I am.
We do need to train more as a team, as a committed team. Until there is the internal motivation by all the players or the real risk of being kicked off the team for not training I am afraid leaving the selection process maybe one of the only options.
Of course leaving it too late by taking additional people to worlds doesn't seem to work too well either.
I like Cats suggestion of having somone look at and direct the training of the individuals, at least then there may be some accountability for training.
As far as who to coach and select etc ... well I don't know that we have done our best there either.
Dealing with selections ... With the changes in the number of teams being allowed to compete in worlds it is becoming increasingly important to send the best senior team possible. Otherwise, we may no longer be able to compete at worlds. What I am getting at is that we need to be a little tougher with selections and if people have hurt feelings well so be it, maybe they will train harder to make the team next time. If not maybe they can be content with competeing at the level they train at. If they choose to leave the sport that is too bad, but then how committed were they really? I am not suggesting being heartless, but letting peoploe play because they are number eight or because they are older than 21 even if they are a step change below the rest of the group is a detriment to the whole team.
The coaching has been challenging in the past as well. We have done our best to recruit the best coaches available to us, but in many cases it is an unknown person to many of the players and each time has caused some unexpected problems. I know things won't always go smoothly, but if we can possibly get by with a coach from Canada, even if they are not a canoe polo player, that we all know at least we will all know what to expect. and contrary to what most of us believe ... the rest of the world doesn't know a lot more than us they just train harder.
Thats my two cents.
BC

[sp_edey]

I am really sure selections are right after Christmas on the weekend and then final selections are the second weekend in March. :guns:

Spedey