CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT AND PROGRESSION

CONTINUOUS

ASSESSMENT

Continuous assessment at the junior development level offers a comprehensive approach that integrates training, racing at home, parental support, and the academic pressures young paddlers face. Unlike traditional one-off evaluations, continuous assessment aligns racing performance with broader aspects of development. It ensures that young paddlers are challenged appropriately, considering their individual progression and balancing competitive demands with personal circumstances. This method fits within the “appropriate challenge” pillar of the competition pathway, which is fundamental to exposing juniors to the right level of competitive challenge, directly enhancing their progression and promoting long-term involvement in the sport. By incorporating a holistic view, continuous assessment acknowledges that racing ability is just one aspect of a paddlers growth, and it supports well-rounded development crucial for sustained success and well-being.

OBJECTIVES OF CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT APPROACH

1. Holistic Junior Development Approach: Move away from ‘snap-shot’ performance-based selection to a continuous, holistic assessment.

2. Continuous Assessment: Implement a continuous evaluation of paddlers based on a combination of race performance, training and time trials, and subjective analysis to give a fuller picture of their development.

3. Panel-based Selection: Utilise a three-member assessment panel to evaluate athletes on an ongoing basis, considering factors such as future potential, teamwork, and psychological well-being in the selection process.

4. Paddler Well-being: Prioritise the psychological and emotional health of junior paddlers, preventing burnout and undue stress by avoiding performance-focused selections keeping them active in the sport for longer.

5. Communication and Collaboration: Develop a collaborative relationship between the assessment panel, club coaches, and parents to ensure well-rounded paddler support and decision-making.

6. Opportunities for Late Developers: Ensure that the selection process considers paddlers developing at different rates, providing ongoing opportunities for inclusion in slalom competitions.

7. Review and Feedback: Conduct a year-end review involving coaches and stakeholders to assess both individual paddlers progress and the overall effectiveness of the development program.

8. Parental Involvement: Recognise the critical role of parents and the wider support network in fostering a positive and supportive development environment for young paddlers.

9. Club Coach Collaboration: Encourage collaboration between club coaches to share knowledge, ensure consistency in training, and improve the development of junior paddlers.

USE OF PERCENTAGES

Using percentages as part of the selection process offers a way for coaches and selectors to make inferences about a paddler’s racing ability and potential. By comparing each paddlers results against the fastest paddler in a given race, percentages provide a somewhat standardised benchmark. For instance, if the fastest paddler completes a course in 100 seconds, this time is set as 100%, and other paddlers’ times are measured as a percentage of that baseline. This approach allows coaches to evaluate relative performance within a competitive context, offer a method to track progression over time.

The calculation of percentages takes into account not only race times but also errors, such as touches, providing a fuller picture of performance under pressure. By averaging the three best percentage results from recent races, coaches and selectors can obtain a broader view of each paddler’s progression and race ability. This method allows for comparisons across different events, regardless of varying conditions or competitors. The use of percentages helps ensure that paddlers are assessed fairly, offering a soft layer of empirical basis for decisions about training and selection.

Moreover, percentages can highlight paddlers who may not meet specific benchmarks but are showing improvement. This nuance allows coaches and the selection panel to identify potential in paddlers who are progressing. As such, percentages serve as a tool for not only recognising current race ability but also for making informed judgments about future potential, aligning selection decisions with long-term athlete development goals.

PROGRESSION BETWEEN ACADEMY LEVELS

A wide range of variables are considered when assessing progression upwards through the Academy structure.

NOVICE → INTERMEDIATE

  • Predominantly at the discretion of the group coach.
  • Skill level, age, competency are considered to ensure the paddlers can ‘walk before they can run’. The most important factor will be their individual stage of development which means taking a holistic view of their journey and progression.

INTERMEDIATE → ADVANCED

  • Results and percentages from mock races and discussions with all involved (Paddler, Parents, Group Coach, Academy coordinator) are taken into consideration.
  • Showing a level of commitment to the sessions and camps that are already available to them, i.e. doing all 4 sessions in the week and, where possible, not missing training camps.
  • Performances in domestic races improving. Tracked via percentages off the fastest paddler in the race.
  • Clear progression in training with group coach.

If the paddler has vocalised the desire to engage with the sport at a lower level. Engagement at whatever the paddler’s chosen level is will be the main priority for the academy. The intention is that no paddler will have to return to the Intermediate Group from the Advanced group and can continue on the pathway from the Academy to the Junior/U23 Team.

If there are any issues with meeting the expectations around progression, a meeting between the Coordinator, paddler and parents will be facilitated to see what can be done to aid in their progression and retention in the Advanced group. Most importantly, if someone does move to the Intermediate group from the Advanced group, there is always the opportunity to return to advanced level. i.e Those in exam years of school with less time to paddle may want to engage at a lower level to allow for greater focus on academics but can return to the Advanced group at a time when they can commit the appropriate time to their sport.

In line with the Canoeing Ireland Pathway Strategy over the coming years, retention and appropriate challenge for all paddlers is of the utmost importance.