Thoughts from Chris
For most of us, our opinions have only as much reach as the range of our voice. But there are folks out there in positions to implement policy, and those opinions are worth highlighting.
I asked current US Speedskating board member/national sprint team skater/& good guy Chris Needham, for his opinion on the recent thriving discussion. Here is what he had to say:
On the topic of Inline to ice, I think that it can be a very good thing. There is no doubt that some of our best skaters have come from the Inline world, and I support the cross pollination of the sports.
One must realize that for every 1 great Inliner there are 5 who quit within a year and 4 who go on to be good skaters, but not great, we need to improve this ratio. These numbers are still much better than the current USS farm system. The problem that most Inliners have is that they think that they can walk into this sport and dominate like Chad did. When they don’t do this they get frustrated and usually quit. The ones that make it accept that they are learning something new and that it will take lots of hard work and commitment. Our best Inline to Ice athletes like KC, Jen, Derek, and Joey worked amazingly hard to get to the level they are at. Even Chad realizes that it takes a lot of work to maintain his position at that top level.
I also think that everyone looks to much at Inline for the next great thing, we can’t forget about the worlds of Hockey, and Figure Skating. Cindy Klaussen, Eric Flaim, Tucker Fredricks, Marc Pelchat, Dan Weinstein, Myself, John Loquai, Andrew Love, and probably a ton of others I missed came from the world of hockey. I know a lot of former skaters, especially women, an area that we need more depth, came from figure skating.
We also need to develop a strong farm system that starts with our local clubs. USS’s role in this should be to help develop better “real life” coaching education for our clubs, not to finance local clubs and coaches. Clubs need to step up by recruiting and developing new local skaters of all ages and abilities. We need to bring back the days when you went to a competition wearing your club skin, not a Cat 1 skin. The Inline world is a perfect example, everyone wears their team colors. We all look like clones of each other out there.
In order for USS to prosper we need to expand our recruiting not just to the world of In-line, but also to Hockey, Figure Skating, and grassroots development that starts at our clubs. We can’t get by looking for ready made stars. We would be like the Yankees if we did this, they spend everything on winning right now and nothing on the future. That is why the Red Sox will prosper in the long run.
Train Hard,
Chris Needham
It is worth mentioning that I have seen this proud member of the Red Sox Nation skate 24 second laps in his BoSox hat. How it stays on his head at the 35+ mph velocity this elite athlete travels is a mystery of physics (or perhaps a mystery of faith???).
Filed under: from the coffee shop
Thanks for sharing Chris’s thoughts with us. USS definitely needs to work on its development strategy, after they resolve their sponsorship issues so they have some $$$.
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those are GREAT numbers for both inline and club retention and performance rates! the problem is not the retention, production efficiency (though it is forgiveable since speedskaters focus on efficiency since that is what their sport revolves around) - it is the numbers you get coming in at the front end of the pipeline. take off your skater-engineer-administrator hat for a moment and think in terms of sales. talk to a salesperson. a conversion rate on leads like this is great! if you are unhappy with the results, you need more leads! more interested people coming to try it. then you need to take care of them and walk them through the first steps to get them hooked.
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True! Good point. I would add another problem is that ice speedskaters resent this kind of confidence, and, they resent it when an “outsider” like and inliner DOES make it in a big way.
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True! Good points again. But, I am concerned about your classic USS attitude where everyone and everything seems to have to flow just one way - to benefit USS. If you want to attract more cross-pollination, don’t cut the flower off and stick it inside your house! You have to encourage openess, trust, and a two-way street. A relationship with mutual benefits between ice speedskating and these other sports and their respective organizations, coaches, and athletes. What can ice speedskating and USS offer to them? It can’t be all take take take for USS. Can you teach hockey players, inliners and figure skaters technical principles that you have leading edge knowledge in? Improve their speed and endurance, for use in their own sports as well, without expecting everything to benefit you in return? Good relationships start with these principles and actions. USS has sorely lacked these principles and actions in the past, hence, their own troubled relationships with their own athletes. In a show of common sense and good faith, you got rid of many of the people causing these problems, but, to a point they were still implementing policy created by a board. Has this board changed its tenor? Or will it fall back and fingerpoint at certain athletes and play the blame game rather than accept responsibility for what it does? Only until that happens will athlete (and sponsor, and volunteer) relations really change for the better.
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What is “real life coaching education”??
Also, I don’t see or hear the clubs looking for financing. In fact, it is the other way around. Clubs and facilities tend to subsidize or finance USS. Coaches, officials, events - all are dependent on clubs and facilities for happening at all. And most of the expenses for the aforementioned are donated or absorbed by the clubs, coaches, officials, and facilities. Until USS recognizes this and treats them with the appropriate appreciation and recognition (not just lip service in the Ice Chips or in standard speeches at board meetings - but in terms of real respect shown by actions)USS may risk seeing further deterioration of its “funding sources” with this support from the clubs and facilities that flows IN to USS now.
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And who undermines the clubs’ status by skimming the best skaters from them and who supplies those Cat 1 skins that skaters covet more than the club skins? Again, what does USS do to esteem this system it says it needs and says it respects? If you believe this then start walking the talk.
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Again, put yourself in their shoes - how helpful would you be to USS when all you hear is this talk about recruiting your own pride and joy - the athletes you attracted and developed? Even if this is the reality of what you are doing, at least dress it up a little. Offer them something in return that will help their athletes and organizations - technical expertise, maybe support their efforts to become an Olympic sport, or, stop throwing it in their faces that you are the top medal winning Winter Olympic sport (and make it more absurd of an in-your-face taunt when everyone knows there are way more medals handed out in speedskating than in figure skating or ice hockey or most other Winter Olympic sports. this just ruins your credibility and rubs others you need help from the wrong way!) If your going to steal their athletes at least offer something in return. Create partnerships and relationships. Offer benefits, starting with your own members, for joining or for working with you. (This will be good practice for working with your own elite athletes and sponsors. Do this and maybe they won’t feel so used and disgruntled.)
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Well put. Nice analogy too. And don’t take the comments personally. You deserve credit for talking with Andrew and having thought through these issues and come up with some ideas. This is more than the old Exec Director and the old board ever did on these issues. That is progress. Just try to break free of the rest of the “old” USS-think!
Just so you know that “Speedy” is not one to just opine and complain. Speedy also is proactive and constructive. If you want to empower and esteem the clubs or inline or hockey or others that support USS by helping to develop skaters, try this idea to give some benefits vs. just always taking…
Give each Cat 1 skater two skin suit places, one on each shoulder, it can be 2 x 6 inches, something small. Allow them, no - ENCOURAGE them to recognize the two entities that helped them the most become who they are in the sport. They can put the name of their parents, a coach, or some special benefactor that helped them on one side. On the other side they can put the logo or name of the club - be it inline or ice or hockey, or, the name of the rink that really helped them with ice time or a program or facility use.
This would help the skaters by giving them a chance to say thanks in a special way to the special people and groups in their skating lives. It would also help those clubs, coaches, rinks and other get some well deserved respect and recognition. A Cat 1 skater represents an investment by someone of $50,000 to $100,000 in added expenses over the time that person has been learning the sport. 12 square inches of fabric is a very inexpensive way for USS to say “thanks” and in the long run this little benefit it GIVES will probably turn out to generate additional returns for USS, both tangible, and, intangible in terms of goodwill (wow, how many times have you used the words ‘goodwill’ and ‘USS’ in the same sentence?!?).
Chris
I’m a Utahn who just spent a month in Boston, I [have heard/seen waaay too much about, and]don’t want to hear anymore about the RED SOX NATION…;)!!
speedy,
my spam filter almost ATE your comment, I happened to glance at the recent “spam harvest” and noticed it in the delete pile..
I think it disliked the extensive sections where you quoted chris… if you have ever commented and not had it appear, it wasn’t me, I promise…
I would be happy to edit your comment, and put the correct quotes you wanted in the right place, but then you would have to email me directly with what you wanted there, and I might then figure out who you are!!!
(actually, just get a free email adress at yahoo/hotmail, and use it once just for that)
IF ANYONE EVER COMMENTS, AND IT DOES NOT APPEAR WITHIN A DAY, !!PLEASE!! EMAIL ME DIRECTLY AT SPDSK88ER (at) yahoo (dot) com, I can usually retrieve it within 72 hours..
I welcome participation from anyone in this site, but I also am a target for uncounted daily spams, and my anti-spam filter has its phasers set to “annihilate”…
and Speedy, nice points, by the way.. I think that its a cosmic failing of the US speedskating website that there is no forum.. This is why discussions like the ones here and the excellent discussions at ohnozone.net have become popular…
Great comments Andrew and Chris! I see Chris is aware of wearing club suits at inline races. I just became aware of this myself at Indoor Inline Nationals. I understand this was the way it was in the “old” ice speedskating days. I have friends who still can proudly show me their Mid Atlantic or Northern New York Cards and club uniforms from Flushing, New Jersey Clubs, or others.
How about this? When I was 8 years old, I participated in something called the “Punt, Pass, and Kick”. It was sponsored by some youth orginazation or other ( maybe Jaycees ). One punted a football, passed it, and kicked it. The distance off the center line where one projected the football was subtracted from the distance it flew. So distance and accuracy were combined. It was 1st through 6th grade. Prizes for top 3 in each group and the age group winner went to state championships. Winners from those went to the finals which was held at half time at the Superbowl, I believe!
What about something like that for speedskating. Grass roots. Use hockey skates or figure ( maybe speed skates not allowed ) Short track. It could be competed at any hockey rink in the U.S. ( or Canada ). Clubs could sponsor it. Maybe shorter distances, elimination heats or time trial. A required clinic put on by the club. Maybe even a U.S. Speedskating “traveling team” of retired speedskaters or coaches. Guest coaches and starters of former and current Olympians. Maybe a traveling set of mats could be involved ( sorry - I am drifting to micro management here ). Simply put - who is the fastest skater in town? Winners could go to the “State Winter Games” that many states have. Or better yet, an association championship in their own class. Or how about Nationals? It would reuqire clubs and associations to get together on a format. But it could be doable. Especially if done in conjunction or a nationa wide youth services group that has local chapters. The local Jaycees ( or whatever ) could do the logistics and the clubs or U.S Speedskating affiliated group could run it.
How about it? There are lots of hockey rinks and kids getting in trouble for skating too fast all over the nation. I know my friends and I did. We would have loved something like this!
John
Hey Chris,
Andrew warned me to be nice, but I don’t object to what you’re saying. I hope you can convince others you’re working with in USS to follow through on your plans for development.
I agree that recruiting from other sports is a great idea, and that a really good way to start would be to offer speedskating as a way to cross-train, especially for sports like inline, hockey, and figure skating. Keep it fun, so the athletes will enjoy it, and you might get some who stick with speedskating because they find they have more of a chance of making it in speedskating than in their other sport, or they just might like it better.
I totally agree with all who say that speedskaters should be able to give credit to all who helped them along the way, and that USS should respect where their skaters came from, and not rub American speedskating medals in everybody’s face.
As far as building a strong women’s team goes: I’d like to know what people think about the purpose of women’s sports, because right now I’m a little confused. I’m also afraid I’m going to say something I’ll regret, so I’ll just cut myself off right there.
The Canadians have a somewhat controversial idea for recruiting athletes from other sports, in preparation for the Vancouver Olympics. In their “Own the Podium” program, they’ve chosen athletes from other sports such as hockey or cycling, and have supported them in their transition to sports like speedskating, in the hopes of discovering “another Cindy Klassen or Clara Hughes.”
One of USS’s longtime National Team “hangers-on” was very offended by the idea of this program, snidely referring to those athletes by my blog’s own term of “The Chosen Ones,” which I had in fact used to describe quite a different type of athlete. I believe it’s much better to give fresh new athletes a chance than it is to keep on supporting those athletes who grow stale over time, lose their motivation and their tolerance for pain, and keep on milking the system for all it’s worth.
One last thing from me: Does USSPEEDSKATING really recognize talent? And if they do, do they treat talented athletes as a “threat?” That is how they had treated me ever since I made my first World Cup team in 2001.
The whole time I was competing for USS, I was made to feel like I was taking a World Cup team spot AWAY FROM one of “their girls.” Well, now I’m not going to do it any more. I’m still going to skate for fun, but I have absolutely no desire to compete for the USA in speedskating.
Are they going to treat new athletes coming into the sport in the same way? I hope not.
Also, with regarding to recruitment, USS has to ask itself what does it want - does it want to find and skim or cherry pick just the top couple of athletes in a given cross-discipline? Or, does it want to establish a larger base of athletes that extends all the way to the entry level and grassroots athletes? The answer to those questions will determine its approach. Logic says there is no downside and more upside to developing a larger grassroots base, and, it seems like USS has given lipservice to wanting to develop a larger membership (will help with the sponsor attractiveness and TV/media ratings attractiveness). But, will it do what it takes to attract and retain a larger base? Or, will it continue to NOT walk the talk and simply go after a few top athletes and cherry-pick? Your strategy has to match your methods or you will fail at whatever you try to do.
Eva you should skate for TEAM MEXICO!
That’s some great stuff Chris I’m glad we have somebody like you on the board that will put people in their place like you do to Ryan.
TEAM ARMENIA!
Is it US Speedskating’s job to “recruit” top talent for the purpose of fielding a winning team, or to use their stewardship of the sport to create and foster a thriving competitive enviornment for speed skating in the US that automatically attracts and develops a winning team.
Actually, while they are certainly inter-dependant items, shouldn’t the stewardship of the sport and its industry part supercede the winning team bit anyway?
Might I also note that during the late 80s - early 90s a certain Mr. Stienbrenner was actually a member of the US International Speedskating Association Board of Directors…his attendance at meetings, however, was quite poor. In fact I don’t think he actually attended even one.
what is “real life coaching”?
Real life coaching is being able to see and understand all the fine points of technique, knowing when your athletes need to be pushed more, or when to back off. These things can’t be taught out of a manual. They need to be learned through experience, and observation of top coaches. We are doing a good job creating “book smart” coaches. Now we need to begin working on creating “ice smart” coaches.
I completely agree alot of people just think that they will dominate at anything they try and they no longer what to put in any effort to it…..we would have alot more people if they were willing to stick around long enough to work hard and become better.