Target 2028 – what’s it all about?

At our hugely successful Annual Presentation Evening last Friday, joined by around 200 of our members and their families, we shared our aim and plan for Target 2028.

By April 2028 we are aiming to have:

• An active membership of 450  (current average around 350)
• A fully operational athlete & coach development pathway
• Top tier representation in all athletics disciplines

In order to make this happen we believe all of the things in the one page document attached Kilmarnock Harriers Target 2028 Plan are required, and we already have some ideas and changes that are well underway.

We will measure our progress and share updates with you regularly.

However… to make this a reality, we need YOU!

Some details follow and If you’d like to find out more before committing, please attend our Drop In Session on Wednesday 25^th March, 6.45-7.15 in the General Purpose Room in AAA

What do we need urgently?

• A pool of volunteers who can help us on competition days – no athletics experience/knowledge required
• Helpers during coaching sessions on a Mon/Wed and Tue/Thu 7-8pm – no athletics experience/knowledge required
• Registration helpers

Specifics?

Volunteers for competition days:

• For the upcoming track and field leagues, open graded events etc we must supply a set number of volunteers otherwise we lose team points or events become cancelled
• Tasks would involve assisting Officials – for example replacing the high jump bar, raking the long jump pit, collecting the shot put – never unsupervised or on your own!
• You will always be able to watch your own child compete
• The more who come forward the less time and events each would have to do
• If your child takes part in track and field events and you do not currently volunteer please consider supporting in this small way
• We plan to hold ‘in house’ competitions in the next month or so to prepare our athletes for the outdoor season – this could be your ‘have a go’ night!

Coaching Helpers:

• To comply with coach/athlete ratio’s many of our groups are at full capacity and therefore we cannot bring in young athletes from our waiting list
• If each coach had 1-2 helpers this would ease the pressure and support groups better
• Full induction and support would be offered, even if you can only spare an hour once per week this would really help
• Do you know anyone in your family/community/work who does have athletics experience or knowledge and would be interested in coaching with the club?

Registration:

• Between 6.30 and 7pm on Mon/Wed and Tue/Thu athletes ‘register’ in the General Purpose Room in the AAA
• We need a pool of volunteers to tick athletes off a list as they register for training
• You’d be buddied up with an experienced helper initially until confident

What else?

• Could you help with vests/crop top selling during training nights or registration?
• Could you be part of a team who sort out the club tent – arrange who is taking it, putting it up, bringing it back etc, even for local AAA events?
• Could you help with declarations at local events – where athletes register and collect their number?
• Could you bring home baking to events or help with tea/coffee?
• Do you have other skills or contacts – eg data analysis/excel, comms, social media, graphic design?
• Do you have contacts with businesses for team kit for leagues or any of the above?

What are your ideas to help us achieve our Target 2028?

• How do we recruit and retain more senior members, particularly in the 18-40 age range?
• How do we build our coaching team so we can bring in more members?
• How do we get more of our U12 and U14 athletes competing? – Highest % of members but lowest % taking part in events…
• What else needs to happen?

We’d really appreciate any contribution you can make! (and we do offer incentives…. Roon The Toon places up for grabs!)

All suggestions and offers of support please send to community@kilmarnockharriers.com and/or speak to any of our coaching team at training nights.

Please pop in and chat to some of our team at our Drop In Session on Wednesday 25^th March, 6.45pm at the Athletics Arena!

Huge thanks,

Kilmarnock Harriers Board of Trustees