excerpts from home-page-linked article (underlines mine)
Recommendation 1: Hire a General Manager of High Performance
Recommendation 2: Create a transparent, criteria-based Team Staff selection system
Recommendation 3: Restructure the composition of Team USA staffs
Recommendation 4: Shorten the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Track & Field to five days
. . . . It may be five consecutive days; five days of competition spread over a longer length of time, or a different length entirely. One option we will strongly consider is to host six competition days over two weekends with a youth meet in the intervening down days. . . . The short-program format of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Track & Field will be finalized by July 1, 2010.
Recommendation 5: Terminate the National Relay Program
Recommendation 6: Establish a comprehensive 2012 team preparation program
. . . I propose a $15,000 bonus for athletes setting a personal best at the Games, and a $5,000 bonus for a seasonal best. . . . The linchpin of the Task Force's 2012 preparation plan is the establishment of a long-term training base in Europe, for six weeks or more, in 2012. . . I strongly agree with adding some Olympic tune up meets that would be nation-based, team competition. . . . Televising these meets domestically, as well, will give our athletes an even higher profile. I will negotiate and secure two such events in Europe in 2012, while also providing a tune-up meet for athletes in the United States prior to the London Olympic Games.
Recommendation 7: Target technical events for medal growth and develop those events
. . . The Project 30 Task Force recommended a nationwide network of High Performance Training Centers to provide group-based training and career development for athletes. In 2009, 2010 and 2011, USATF will develop two (2) High Performance Training Centers (HPTCs) in the United States each year. The two initial HPTCs will be locales that emphasize the development of jumps and/or throws. . . . . . USATF will invest $450,000-$500,000 to host developmental events at no less than eight domestic track meets in 2009, including funding targeted events at the Mt. Sac Relays, California Relays, and several other meets. All event groups will be covered, with immediate post-collegians who have already achieved the World Championship "A" qualifying standard being the focus of development funds to provide travel for athletes to these meets.
Recommendation 8: Create a well-defined Professional Athlete designation
. . . . Unlike other professional sports, USATF has no contract with its professional athletes. Having a Professional Athlete designation would put such a contract into place and would create responsibilities on both . . . The first tier is to develop a "rookie contract" signed by all newly declared professional and/or post-collegiate athletes. It will bestow upon an individual the Professional Athlete designation and will enumerate the duties of a Professional Athlete in the sport of track and field, including but not limited to completing "Rookie training," competing clean, fulfilling contracts, abiding by a code of conduct and supporting the sport through public appearances and media events
Recommendation 9: Establish a more stringent anti-doping reinstatement system.
Recommendation 2: Create a transparent, criteria-based Team Staff selection system
Recommendation 3: Restructure the composition of Team USA staffs
Recommendation 4: Shorten the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Track & Field to five days
. . . . It may be five consecutive days; five days of competition spread over a longer length of time, or a different length entirely. One option we will strongly consider is to host six competition days over two weekends with a youth meet in the intervening down days. . . . The short-program format of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Track & Field will be finalized by July 1, 2010.
Recommendation 5: Terminate the National Relay Program
Recommendation 6: Establish a comprehensive 2012 team preparation program
. . . I propose a $15,000 bonus for athletes setting a personal best at the Games, and a $5,000 bonus for a seasonal best. . . . The linchpin of the Task Force's 2012 preparation plan is the establishment of a long-term training base in Europe, for six weeks or more, in 2012. . . I strongly agree with adding some Olympic tune up meets that would be nation-based, team competition. . . . Televising these meets domestically, as well, will give our athletes an even higher profile. I will negotiate and secure two such events in Europe in 2012, while also providing a tune-up meet for athletes in the United States prior to the London Olympic Games.
Recommendation 7: Target technical events for medal growth and develop those events
. . . The Project 30 Task Force recommended a nationwide network of High Performance Training Centers to provide group-based training and career development for athletes. In 2009, 2010 and 2011, USATF will develop two (2) High Performance Training Centers (HPTCs) in the United States each year. The two initial HPTCs will be locales that emphasize the development of jumps and/or throws. . . . . . USATF will invest $450,000-$500,000 to host developmental events at no less than eight domestic track meets in 2009, including funding targeted events at the Mt. Sac Relays, California Relays, and several other meets. All event groups will be covered, with immediate post-collegians who have already achieved the World Championship "A" qualifying standard being the focus of development funds to provide travel for athletes to these meets.
Recommendation 8: Create a well-defined Professional Athlete designation
. . . . Unlike other professional sports, USATF has no contract with its professional athletes. Having a Professional Athlete designation would put such a contract into place and would create responsibilities on both . . . The first tier is to develop a "rookie contract" signed by all newly declared professional and/or post-collegiate athletes. It will bestow upon an individual the Professional Athlete designation and will enumerate the duties of a Professional Athlete in the sport of track and field, including but not limited to completing "Rookie training," competing clean, fulfilling contracts, abiding by a code of conduct and supporting the sport through public appearances and media events
Recommendation 9: Establish a more stringent anti-doping reinstatement system.
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