Recently I had the opportunity look at a programme in Canada that is sponsored by RBC. The reason I did that is the usual—call it a ritual—desk research on different Olympic podium programmes around the globe. I undertake, especially in the last couple of weeks leading up to the TTOC GOIN 4 GOLD Marathon Challenge. The 12th annual 26.2-mile walk/roll challenge which will take place on Sunday.
But you may well ask, why engage in such a desk research ritual? The answer is a simple one. Every year around Marathon Challenge time I get asked questions about the validity of having a foundation that is focused on Olympic gold. Every year. Every time. Without fail. “Pipe dream” is the usual retort.
I have long gone past trying to convince doubters. What I do is desk research, when I find a programme that may serve as an idea or probable justification for setting an Olympic podium goal and having a plan to go after such a goal. I share the information.
The common aspect, no matter where in the world an Olympic podium programme is found, is that the first order of business is setting the goal to go for gold. Then work backwards to a plan that begins at a chosen start point. Today, we share aspects of the RBC programme. The credit for the information is https://rbctrainingground.ca.
What is RBC
Training Ground?
RBC Training Ground is a talent identification and athlete funding programme designed to find young athletes with Olympic potential and provide them with the resources they need to achieve their podium dreams.
With the belief that high-performance sports should be accessible to all athletes that are talented, qualified and have the will to compete, this programme travels the country searching for athletes between the ages of 14 and 25 that will fuel the Canadian Olympic pipeline.
Athletes are assessed using basic tests that indicate speed, strength, power and endurance capabilities. National Sport Organisations (NSOs) use combinations of these test results to identify skills that may translate to strong potential in their respective sport.
Each sport requires different physical abilities and skills, and therefore performance benchmarks vary by NSO.
Field-based assessment results must be viewed within the context of the requirements of the sport, the characteristics of the athlete, and the stage of their development.
The age range of 14 to 25 years aligns with long-term athlete development stages and allows the RBC programme to capture those with early- and late-stage Olympic potential. After registering for RBC Training Ground, athletes can select “Virtual Testing” from the drop-down list of RBC Training Ground events. Upon completion of their athlete bio, they will receive detailed instructions for how to complete the athletic tests remotely using minimal equipment. Exercises include a shuttle run, sprint test and vertical jump.
Test scores will be submitted to the athlete’s profile along with a video recording as proof of completion.
As you will note, the RBC Training Ground programme is comprehensive and far-reaching. Are there lessons for Trinidad and Tobago? The short answer is yes. However, what is important is the idea to create a programme that is acutely focused on the Olympic podium—medals.
We need here in T&T to stop running and hiding from setting Olympic podium objectives. We have to stop running scared from going for Olympic gold. Take a page from other countries where they are intentional about going after Olympic podium hardware.
The issue of which company in Trinidad and Tobago will undertake such a programme is a topic by itself for another time.
