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Doug spent a LOT of time talking with the athletes yesterday. I missed the first session, but they didn't finish so he came back for a second session. Here are some highlights:
- The Olympic Trials for 2012 are still up in the air, the contract is still unsigned (and it didn't sound like he was on the verge of signing it, there are a lot of unresolved issues in that department).
- Both the athletes and Doug think the relay program needs to be revamped. Concerns were expressed about where resources had been directed in the past.
- Doug made a lot of really strong statements to the athletes about staying clean and choosing clean coaches. He told them on no uncertain terms that if they wanted to dope they needed to get out. He told them not to hire people (coaches/agents/etc) who have steered others toward drugs. Doug will make sure those people are banned.
- Regarding agents, Doug encouraged all of the athletes to think of the agents as serving the athletes, and not to feel like they have no say in anything. The athletes expressed an interest in having the PAA run the agent program, but Doug did not feel comfortable with that, said it was generally the function of the NGB/League to regulate agents. He said he was not necessarily opposed to another group taking over the program in the future, but it would have to be the right situation. He said that IAAF has some kind of agent program as well and USATF has been working with them to also.
- Doug said USATF lacks a business model and that roles need to be defined more clearly.
- Talked with the athletes about substinence payments. Thinks there should be some sort of base level income for athletes outside of prize money and such. This is obviously something that depends on USATF bringing in more sponsors, and an idea that would have a million details to be worked out.
- They briefly discussed health insurance issues and dental insurance issues and there was going to be someone else to speak more about it later (but I did not stay for that part).
- Development funding was discussed, and there were feelings by both sides that too much of the development funding had been spent on athletes who didn't really need it and that not enough of it was going to the emerging elite athletes. I strongly agree!!
- There was talk about looking into moving the rookie camp to NCAAs for graduating seniors.
- Doug talked a lot about issues about TV. He said there is a dearth of talent of talent in the broadcasting business (as it relates to track and field). He encouraged athletes to consider a career in this.
- Said that USATF is trying to weed out the negative commentators, but we have very little leverage with the networks. Talked about our need for more influence at the producer level.
- Doug's goal is to is to earn more respect from TV every year - he made that a pledge.
- Said he wanted to see better presentation of our events on TV. Said he loved the Trials in person and hated them on TV.
- Felt that storylines did not belong in the middle of a track meet, would be better in a special leading up to the event.
- He was asked (not by me haha) about situations involving implements like pole vaulting poles being transported to National Championships (right now the pole vaulters are on their own for transporting poles from the airport to USA Indoors which is ridiculous) and Doug said that was unacceptable and something needed to be done about it.
- Some of the athletes felt that in the past there had been favoritism toward Nike athletes (because Nike is a major USATF sponsor). Doug strongly assured them that this would not be tolerated, and if he learned of a staff member doing that, it would be grounds for dismissal.
Doug did a great job. I am really impressed with him, and especially impressed that he took so much time to talk to the athletes (this was an hour and a half, and he had talked to them at length in an earlier session).
- The Olympic Trials for 2012 are still up in the air, the contract is still unsigned (and it didn't sound like he was on the verge of signing it, there are a lot of unresolved issues in that department).
- Both the athletes and Doug think the relay program needs to be revamped. Concerns were expressed about where resources had been directed in the past.
- Doug made a lot of really strong statements to the athletes about staying clean and choosing clean coaches. He told them on no uncertain terms that if they wanted to dope they needed to get out. He told them not to hire people (coaches/agents/etc) who have steered others toward drugs. Doug will make sure those people are banned.
- Regarding agents, Doug encouraged all of the athletes to think of the agents as serving the athletes, and not to feel like they have no say in anything. The athletes expressed an interest in having the PAA run the agent program, but Doug did not feel comfortable with that, said it was generally the function of the NGB/League to regulate agents. He said he was not necessarily opposed to another group taking over the program in the future, but it would have to be the right situation. He said that IAAF has some kind of agent program as well and USATF has been working with them to also.
- Doug said USATF lacks a business model and that roles need to be defined more clearly.
- Talked with the athletes about substinence payments. Thinks there should be some sort of base level income for athletes outside of prize money and such. This is obviously something that depends on USATF bringing in more sponsors, and an idea that would have a million details to be worked out.
- They briefly discussed health insurance issues and dental insurance issues and there was going to be someone else to speak more about it later (but I did not stay for that part).
- Development funding was discussed, and there were feelings by both sides that too much of the development funding had been spent on athletes who didn't really need it and that not enough of it was going to the emerging elite athletes. I strongly agree!!
- There was talk about looking into moving the rookie camp to NCAAs for graduating seniors.
- Doug talked a lot about issues about TV. He said there is a dearth of talent of talent in the broadcasting business (as it relates to track and field). He encouraged athletes to consider a career in this.
- Said that USATF is trying to weed out the negative commentators, but we have very little leverage with the networks. Talked about our need for more influence at the producer level.
- Doug's goal is to is to earn more respect from TV every year - he made that a pledge.
- Said he wanted to see better presentation of our events on TV. Said he loved the Trials in person and hated them on TV.
- Felt that storylines did not belong in the middle of a track meet, would be better in a special leading up to the event.
- He was asked (not by me haha) about situations involving implements like pole vaulting poles being transported to National Championships (right now the pole vaulters are on their own for transporting poles from the airport to USA Indoors which is ridiculous) and Doug said that was unacceptable and something needed to be done about it.
- Some of the athletes felt that in the past there had been favoritism toward Nike athletes (because Nike is a major USATF sponsor). Doug strongly assured them that this would not be tolerated, and if he learned of a staff member doing that, it would be grounds for dismissal.
Doug did a great job. I am really impressed with him, and especially impressed that he took so much time to talk to the athletes (this was an hour and a half, and he had talked to them at length in an earlier session).
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