Thunderbirds Training Commitment

In this section:

  • Required Training Commitment
  • Detailed Policy
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Required Training Commitment

All members are required to agree to the following training commitment as a part of the registration process:

As a condition of my membership, I agree that I will only train for track & field with Vancouver Thunderbirds coaches.*

I will not train with outside coaches or trainers without the express consent of both my Vancouver Thunderbirds coach and Club CEO.

*Note that training with official school coaches & teams (i.e. elementary, secondary, university) is exempt from this requirement.

Detailed Policy

In order to hold an Athlete Membership with the Vancouver Thunderbirds Track & Field Club, athletes may only engage in (non-school) track & field training with official Vancouver Thunderbirds Club coaches.

This policy is in place to:

  • Help foster a tight-knit community, to
  • Better protect athletes from overtraining & injury,
  • Ensure athletes receive consistent & coordinated advice, and
  • Ensure a safe sport environment, as mandated by BC Athletics, for club athletes including:
    • Training conducted in an open & observable environment,
    • Coaches undergo background screening at regular intervals, and
    • Coaches undergo regular safe sport and ethics training.

Exemptions

Note the following coaching/training arrangements are not affected by this policy and individual exemptions are not required:

  • Training with a K-12 school coach as part of the athlete's school programming.
  • Training with a University coach during and after the collegiate season.
  • Training for another sport (e.g. soccer, hockey, swimming)

Exceptions

Individual exceptions to the above must be pre-approved by the Club's Leadership (CEO and/or Board of Directors).

Consideration for exemptions will be at the Club Leadership's discretion based on:

  • Whether it is felt that the athlete (given their proposed coaching/training and other circumstances) would be a net benefit in working towards our objective being a tight-knit community. Would they be helping weave the fabric tighter together, or would they be unravelling it.
  • Contextual information such as the athlete also having a coaching role themselves with the club, contributions to club fundraising, seminars, fundraising, and other community building initiatives.
  • Legacy membership status & coaching arrangement prior to the implementation of this policy in the fall of 2023.
  • The coaching and training opportunities (or lack thereof) that the Club is able to offer for that athlete in their event & geography.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why has this policy been implemented?

This policy is being implemented to:

  • help work toward s the Club's purpose (to foster a thriving community where members continually discover & chase their potential on the track, so they have a greater capacity to make an impact off of it),
  • better protect athletes from overtraining and injury, and
  • ensure consistent & coordinated advice.


Does this mean I can't play other sports?

No, it does not. The Club is a strong supporter in athletes playing multiple sports throughout elementary and high school to develop physical literacy, enhance athleticism, and to prevent burnout and overuse injuries.

When athletes train & compete in other sports, they are typically using different muscles (or using the same muscles in different ways) which reduces the risk of overuse injuries. In some cases, it can even make athletes more dynamic and decrease the risk of overuse injuries.

We encourage multi-sport high school athletes to let their Thunderbirds Coach know which sessions each week they are able to attend and commit to attending those regularly. Naturally this may look different during different times of the year - communicate this as well to your Thunderbirds Coach so they know when to expect you and can help hold you accountable to your overall athletic goals.


Does this mean I can't train with my school track & field or cross country team?

No, it does not. School track & field and cross country represent an integral part of a youth athlete's season and are a great opportunity to be a part of a team and integrate more deeply into your community.

Thunderbirds strongly supports athletes competing for and training with the school team. Just be sure to keep your Thunderbirds coach in the loop with regards to the type and volume of training you are doing with your school team to prevent overuse injuries.


Why is there a distinction made between school & other sports vs non-club and non-school track coaches?

The vast majority of school elementary & high school training programs are limited in duration (often 2.5 months or less) and training load (# of training sessions per week and intensity of those sessions). Therefore, the potential for injuries is reduced (although not eliminated - hence the need to keep your Thunderbirds coach in the loop regarding the school training you're doing).

Additionally, the Club is philosophically supportive of Club athletes being positive contributors to their school communities & teams both on and off the track.

Thunderbirds Club training is carefully and intentionally designed to align with the Long Term Athlete Development ("LTAD") model. Programming decisions carefully consider what is in an athlete's best long-term interests, even if that means sacrificing short term performance benefits.

Most elementary and high school athletes join a track & field Club because they want more training than their school team can provide. Club training supplements their school training and ideally tops it up to a level appropriate for the age and stage of the athlete in accordance with LTAD principles.

While additional training beyond this may yield some short-term performance benefits, it comes at the increased risk of:

  • overuse injuries,
  • confusing the athletes with inconsistent technical advice, and
  • compromising their long-term development and ceiling in the sport.

As a member club of BC Athletics and Athletics Canada, we are bound to uphold the universal code of conduct to prevent and address maltreatment in sport (“UCCMS”). It is our duty to ensure that the training environment for Thunderbirds’ athletes adheres to this code of conduct, which we can only do via official Thunderbirds coaches.


I have some constructive feedback on my (or my child's) training programming - how can I communicate those and work towards a collaborative solution?

As a Club run by human beings with finite time and resources, we fully acknowledge that our offerings and programming will always have room for improvement. Just as we are striving to help our athletes discover & chase their potential, our coaches and administrators are also striving to discover & chase our individual & collective potential too.

We’re all on the same team here - working towards mutually beneficial goals.

One of our Club's core values is "be coachable and curious." The more we all (athletes, coaches, parents and administrators) take personal responsibility to act in accordance with this value, the better off we'll individually and collectively be - especially when we give and receive feedback.

So when feedback is constructively provided to our coaches about how they can better help an athlete - that can be a welcomed contribution from the coach’s perspective. You would be contributing to their growth both personally and professionally. It can be quite challenging for a coach to lose an athlete without first having an opportunity to learn how they could better help that athlete and implement changes.

Keeping this in mind, if you have constructive feedback that you'd like to contribute to your coach - please start by discussing them with your coach.

  • If sharing constructive feedback feels a bit daunting, consider using the following template:
  • I see…(acknowledge the issue from the other person’s perspective - so they feel understood and can begin to be open to yours)
  • I feel…(explain how the issue makes you feel on a personal level)
  • I need…(make a constructive suggestion on how the issue could be collaboratively remedied)

Then be coachable & curious about other potential remedies and perspectives.


I have tried communicating constructive feedback with my coach, and still feel that some of my points have been fully acknowledged or remedied, what can I do?

If you’re at this stage, feedback can also be shared with the Club's Head Coach (Laurier Primeau) and/or CEO (Nigel Hole).


Can I train with a personal trainer in the weight-room?

Please consult with your Thunderbirds coach for clarity and coordination.

  • In cases where the training is strictly limited to the weight-room, the answer will tend to be "yes."
  • In cases where the training starts to overlap with track & field training offered by the Club, the answer will tend to be "no."


I'm a university athlete, can I continue to train under the guidance of my university coach during holidays and the summer season club while retaining Club membership?

Yes. When an athlete is in university, the Club understands that their primary focus is the university season (especially for scholarshipped athletes). As their university season is typically 7-11 months in duration (depending on event & collegiate system), it can be disruptive to switch between training programs mid-year.


How do I apply for an exception?

Send an email to the Club's Head Coach, CEO, and your Thunderbirds Coach outlining your exception request along with rationale for why you feel you warrant an exception and how you would still be a net contributor to weaving the fabric of the club tighter together.


Can I appeal an exception decision?

Yes. If you are denied an exception request and wish to appeal it: email the Club CEO and highlight factors that you feel were overlooked or not given due consideration.


What’s an example of an exception that could get approved? An athlete who is a longtime member of the club, with a history of volunteering and being a good teammate, begins to specialize in an event in grade 11 that their Thunderbirds coach acknowledges they have limited experience in.

The athlete and their Thunderbirds coach agree it could be beneficial for the athlete to train with a coach at another BC Athletics club who does specialize in that event, while still coming to the Thunderbirds practices for their secondary events.

The athlete, the Thunderbirds coach and the coach from the other club are all on board with this arrangement and the two coaches agree to proactively communicate their training plans to prevent the athlete from getting injured.


What are the consequences for not complying with this policy?

Athletes who are determined to not be in compliance with this policy will have their Club membership terminated, will not be eligible for Club relay teams, and will not be eligible for travel or BC Team funding. Club membership dues will not be refunded.