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Questions & Answers
In 2018 the Alpine and Ski Cross disciplines began implementing the Alpine & Ski Cross Review and Roadmap recommendations which were evidence based and ultimately aimed to improve sporting outcomes.
As a continuation of the 2018 Review and Roadmap, Snow Australia and the National Alpine Committee (NAC) have developed a six year rolling National Alpine Plan with the purpose to:
- Lead and facilitate a systemic, better-practice approach to sport development within Alpine and Ski Cross;
- Build a collaborative platform to support aligned approaches for all stakeholders, leading to higher functioning investment and engagement;
- Identify strengths and opportunities within the pathway to leverage, create and deliver initiatives across Capability, Communication, Community and Capacity.
The National Alpine Plan is not intended as a ‘set-and-forget’ approach but rather a functional, living, adaptable approach, responsive to the needs of the sport, community, organisation, and social environment in which it operates.
To assist the Alpine community to understand and clarify these changes, the NAC has generated a number of common questions and answers.
Q: What is the Athlete Pathway Review and Roadmap document?
A: The purpose of the Athlete Pathway Review and Roadmap document was to undertake a complete review of the Australian Alpine system for the development of athletes. Re-examine the goals of Alpine, look at best practice from around the world and in other sports and make a series of recommendations for future implementation.
Q: What is FTEM ?
A: FTEM (representing Foundation, Talent, Elite and Mastery) is a user-friendly framework of sporting development that is representative of the 'whole of sport' pathway continuum. It integrates three key outcomes of sport participation: active lifestyle, sport participation and sport excellence. FTEM is the framework used by Alpine to explain the athlete participation and performance pathway across an athlete's lifespan.
Q: The Alpine & Ski Cross Handbooks discuss Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD), what does this mean and how does this relate to FTEM?
A: The Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Framework outlined in the Alpine and Ski Cross Handbook, describes what athletes need to be doing at specific ages and stages. LTAD will be replaced by the FTEM framework. Handbooks including an overview of the Alpine and Ski Cross Pathway are currently being updated and will be available online prior to the 2019 Season.
National Skills Assessment
Q: What is the National Skills Assessment?
A: The National Skills Assessment is not a test, it’s an assessment that provides valuable feedback for long term development. The assessment is not mandatory, however, Snow Australia and Alpine race clubs strongly recommend participation. The data provided will help athletes better understand their strengths and opportunities for improvement. In conjunction with their club coaching staff and the National Development Coaches a plan can be put in place to help athletes make improvements during the season. The earlier the assessment is conducted in the season the better equipped clubs will be to have an evidence-based approach to programming and skill building.
The Alpine & Ski Cross Calendar
Q: Why has the Domestic Calendar Changed?
A: The Domestic Calendar has been aligned with the FTEM framework. This realignment allows clubs further opportunity to focus properly on skill development, removing perceived pressure from parents to focus on high volume gate training/race prep/racing at younger ages (U8-U14) which evidence suggests is detrimental to long term success.
Q: What are the age cut-offs for the different Alpine divisions?
Q: What age groups participate in the Children’s Nationals Carnival?
A: U14 - U16 - no U12 races will be held
NAST
Q: What was the purpose of the Realignment of Nation Ski Team Criteria?
A: The objective of the National Ski Team is to develop and support highly skilled skiers capable of achieving success at World Cup, World Championships and Olympic Winter Games. The National Alpine Ski Team Criteria is informed by an evidence-based approach. This sets aspirational and realistic benchmarks to inform selection and understanding the athletic journey and milestones along the way for athletes to strive for elite performances in the sport.
Q: How will FIS points work this 2018-2019 season?
A: Snow Australia has been working closely with FIS to better understand the implementation of these changes. The implementation of the changes are as follows: All competitors will use the Base List (BL) points 2019 during the season 2018/2019. This list will be published around June 10th. All results for the 2018-19 season will continue to be calculated throughout the season using the old penalty system. Additionally, there will be a second column on the right with the new penalty values added. This second column will represent the points that will determine the competitors BL 2020, which will be published around June 2019. All results in this second column will be calculated with the old penalty and recalculated with the new values. For example, adding for COC + 9.00; for NC + 12.00 and for FIS races + 14 While all competitors FIS points may change, it is important to understand that these changes will only affect a very small percentage of FIS competitors in terms of their World Rank. These changes will mainly affect the World Cup level to approximately top 200WR. Click here for more information.
Q: Race Suits - When do I need to purchase a race suit with a label?
A: You will require a FIS races suit with a FIS label to compete at the ANC. You will not require a FIS label to compete in the National Championships/National Junior Championships
Children Teams and Events
Q: What was the purpose of Removal of Children’s team.
A: Removing Children’s Squad will help to take the emphasis away from race results and a rush to early specialization, creating critical time for skill development and long-term athlete development. It also will help to extend participation and development through these ages and avoid potential pitfalls such as Talent Selection over Talent Identification and Relative Age Affect. A Children’s Talent Watch List will monitor and affect development throughout the pathway, using metrics supported through Skills Assessment, Physical Benchmarking, coaching reports, race results.
Q: Why was the first leg of the National Children’s Race removed from the calendar?
A: Removing the first leg of the National Children’s Race Series creates more time for skill development in the calendar and removes financial burdens on families travelling interstate multiple times a season. Suggestions from strong Alpine skiing nations stress train to race ratios of between 9:1 and 6:1 in these developmental ages.
Q: Will failure to participate in the children’s carnival, skills assessment and/or the physical literacy program, negating the opportunity for potential acceptance to represent Australia at international children's races for the upcoming 2018/19 season.
A: Non-participation in the children's carnival, skills assessment and/or the physical literacy program will not negate anyone's opportunity for potential acceptance to represent Australia at international children's races for the upcoming 2018/19 season.
The Criteria is designed by Snow Australia to monitor and affect development throughout the pathway, using metrics supported through Skills Assessment, Physical Benchmarking, coaching reports and race results. These metrics identify, engage, and educate upcoming athletes through their developmental process. It also will help to extend participation and development through these ages and avoid potential pitfalls such as Talent Selection over Talent Identification and also Relative Age Affect. This will provide an inform decision and will help to take away the emphasis away from race results and a rush to early specialization, creating critical time for skill development and long-term athlete development.