About BC Athletics

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What is BC Athletics? | Mission statements | Who are we? | Employment opportunities

BC Athletics

What is BC Athletics?

BC Athletics is the Provincial non-profit amateur sport organization for Track & Field, Road Running, Marathons/Ultras, Cross Country/Trail Running and Race Walking. A Branch member of Athletics Canada, BC Athletics is made up of individual members, member clubs and affiliated organizations. The purpose of the Association is to promote, encourage and develop the widest participation and the highest proficiency in the sport of Athletics.

BC Athletics is financially assisted by:

BRITISH COLUMBIA Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts

In order to meet its purpose, the Association annually:

publishes a Calendar of Events listing running, track & field and race walking events in B.C.
assists in the development of Running, Race Walking and Track & Field Clubs
provides education and training clinics for coaches, teachers, officials, athletes, event organizers and club administrators
hosts local, provincial, national and international events and competitions through member clubs and organizations
selects BC Men's and Women's Teams that compete in Canadian Championships, Cd/W Cd Games & Invitational Events
advocates for the identification and development of facilities for cross country running, road/marathon running, track & field and race walking
is the source for information, contacts, event entries and technical standards for Athletics

The vision which B.C. Athletics has for the sport of athletics can be stated as a simple variation of the Olympic motto: "Citius. Altius. Fortius."

This means that the endeavors of the organization are focused on the vision that, as a result of all its efforts, each individual athlete, of whatever age or level of ability, will be able to perform:

"Faster! Higher! Further!"

The values upon which B.C. Athletics operates and which it advocates to all its members stem from the belief that all can compete/perform to the best of their ability.

It believes in and promotes, through its programs, the concepts of equal opportunity and inclusiveness, of fairness and honesty, and expects the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct from all its athletes, coaches, officials and administrators at every level.

In particular, it promotes the following concepts:

For Athletes of all ages:

hard work and diligent training to develop one's abilities to the utmost;
striving through cooperation for team success;
that victory is not just winning but in achieving personal best performances;
learning how to be confident enough to accept with equal grace both winning and not winning;
complete rejection of banned/restricted substances and methods or any other means of unfair competition.

For Coaches:

commitment and dedication first and foremost to the needs of the athlete;
continued striving to improve one's knowledge of the best ways in which to assist in the physical and mental preparation of all athletes for which one is responsible;
recognition that athletic development is only part of the growth of the whole person;
respect for and cooperation with fellow coaches, parents, officials, and other participants in the sport.

For Officials:

fairness and impartiality in the carrying out of their duties;
patience and understanding of the needs of athletes;
the need to instruct as well as to judge of the evolving rules of competition;
respect for and cooperation with fellow officials, athletes, coaches, etc.

For Club and Meet Administrators, Executive Officers and members of the Board of Directors, staff members and all others associated with its operations:

integrity, cooperation, fairness, diligence, and the understanding that only through their dedication and commitment to the sport can its various members achieve the success for which they strive and which, through their own efforts, they are entitled.

Arising from the statement above, the mission of B.C. Athletics is:

To improve the quality and effectiveness of athletics programs at all level of participation and competition.
To continue the development of outstanding/high performance B.C. athletes to Juvenile, Junior, Senior and Masters national and international levels.
To support and promote all aspects of athletics (track & field, road running, cross country, etc.)
To increase the number of qualified and dedicated coaches throughout the province to assist with development of athletes at all levels.
To increase the number of qualified officials throughout the province so that all levels of competition can be properly serviced.
To continue the development of an effective communications network within the organization and with the community at large.
To provide support, advice and assistance to the Clubs and Schools affiliated with B.C. Athletics and other partners in the sport.
To continue the development of B.C. Athletics as a financially sound, efficient, effective, and in the long term, self-sustaining organization.

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