NACAC seeks Director of Coaching

NACAC is in search of a Director of Coaching that would complement our Development Department’s Competitions’ Director.

This position has won the approval of the World Athletics Development Department.

Advertisements are being placed throughout NACAC to allow all members to have the opportunity to assist in getting the best person to fill the position.

Serrette resigns from NAAA

On 18 February 2021, the NAAA of Trinidad and Tobago issued a media release that revealed the resignation of the organization President and former Treasurer of NACAC, Ephraim Serrette.

The release stated that Serrette “has resigned from his position as President of the National Association of Athletics Administrations of Trinidad and Tobago (NAAATT) with effect from 2021 February 16. In his letter to the General Secretary of the association, Serrette explained that the demands of a recent job appointment precluded his continuation in office. The formal announcement did not come as a surprise as he had signaled his intention to his fellow board members over 2 weeks ago.

“Serrette has been on NAAATT’s board for over 15 years, 13 of which he has served as President. Under his leadership, the association made significant strides and has often been recognised as the best local sporting organisation. While he was at the helm, the organisation developed a new constitution, underwent a rebranding exercise and became incorporated resulting in a more businesslike approach to the administration of athletics in the country.

“The term of the president and all directors on the current board was due to expire in 2020 November but given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the membership approved a 1-year extension for all directors. As a consequence, NAAATT’s 1st Vice President, George Commissiong, will assume the duties of President until the next AGM which is due in November 2021. Commissiong is no stranger to the sport, having served as Director and Vice-President for over 20 years.”

NACAC is aware of the new role that Serrette has undertaken and looks forward to our continued collaboration on athletics matters.

We join the NAAA is extending best wishes to Ephraim Serrette in his new challenge.

NACAC Constitution

On Saturday 20 February 2021 the NACAC Council, led by President Mike Sands, conducted a full session at which the NACAC Constitution Review Working Group detailed the proposed amendments to the existing NACAC Constitution.

Robert Hersh, former IAAF (now World Athletics) Senior Vice President and current Chair of the NACAC Constitution Review Working Group, explained the rationale used to arrive at each of the proposed amendments. He was accompanied by World Athletics and Working Group and member, Abby Hoffman.

The meeting saw Council members air their views on each of the amendments and eventually agreed the several changes.

The Working Group will now review the draft constitution to ensure all of the discussions are featured, where agreed, before re-sending to the Council for circulation amongst NACAC member federations, well in advance of the proposed NACAC Congress scheduled for July 2021.

NACAC Athletes Commission to discuss the Jordan Gray matter

The NACAC Athletes Commission is certainly not afraid to take on the challenges of the Area’s female athletes.

When the Commission convenes on Wednesday 24 February 2021, one of the matters down for discussion is the case of 24 year old USA’s decathlete and American record holder for the event, Jordan Gray.

Gray is seeking to have the global athletics fraternity change their mindset and be consistent in their promotion of gender equity.

The history of athletics and the Olympics reveal that when track and field was introduced at the Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden in 1912 – the same year of the founding of the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF), now World Athletics – it was an all men’s amateur sport and decathlon was on the programme. Women athletics competition only featured in the Olympics of 1928 in Amsterdam, Holland.

The Women’s Pentathlon was on the Olympics track and field programme at the Tokyo Olympics of 1964 and was changed to the Heptathlon 20 years later, at the Los Angeles edition of the Olympics in 1984. 

Jordan is arguing that the time has come for women to compete in the decathlon instead of the heptathlon. That time, for her, is the Summer Olympics of 2024.

Guyana’s organisational structure well defined

NACAC’s representatives at last Monday’s weekly meeting of the LOC of the 50^th anniversary Carifta Games of 2022, Keith Joseph and Michael Serralta, were extremely impressed with the approach being undertaken by the organisation in respect of the preparation for the mega event.

Guyana, which will be hosting the annual Carifta Games for the very first time, in 2022, has established a comprehensive structure of its LOC with very clear and detailed responsibilities for each area of work.

The LOC invited both Joseph and Serralta to observe and advise on matters relating to the LOC, its purpose, structure and operational guidelines.

According to Aubrey Hutson, President of the Guyana member federation and Chair of the LOC, “We want to make sure that we are prepared to host the 50^th anniversary of the Carifta Games in a manner consistent with the proud tradition and high standards that have come to be associated with the event”.

NACAC Director of Competitions, Michael Serralta, commended the LOC and the member federation for the early start to the planning and the readiness of the membership to seek advice in the planning for a very unique and exciting event.

NACAC remains confident that the annual Carifta Games continues to be the most exciting junior track and field competition in the world.

NACAC Competitions Commission

Garth Gayle, Chair of the NACAC Competitions Commission convened another important meeting of the organisation on Tuesday 16 February, via Zoom.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the presentation of three very important documents produced by the member federation of Jamaica, of which Gayle is the president. The documents are:

• JAAA Meet Operations COVI-19 Checklist
• A Guide for Meet Organisers During COVID-19 (Version 7)
• Manual for Track and Field Teams During Covid-19

The documents are of immense relevance to the current challenges faced by member federations and have already been passed on to the NACAC Medical and Anti-Doping Commission, led by Dr Adrian Lorde, for use in the preparation of our own document on training and competition protocols during COVID-19.

The meeting also received an update from NACAC’s Competitions Director, Michael Serralta, who informed on the changes that are taking place as a result of the changing dynamics of the responses of countries of the NACAC Area to the pandemic.

The Commission also approved a Sub Committee to engage in a more expansive analysis of the Carifta Games in light of the changes forced upon the organisers and member federations by the pandemic.

Additionally, the Competitions Commission agreed to examine the possibility of a vibrant NACAC Circuit, as recommended by the NACAC Athletes Commission and to which several of the Area’s athletes have already agreed to garner support amongst their fraternity, in an effort to render it a viable undertaking.

Finally, the Commission agreed to explore making the several Area Championships income generating for NACAC – a new perspective. They will engage in a review of the Championships with particular emphasis on:

• Reducing the cost of hosting
• Competition schedules
• Sponsorship and Partnerships
• Air travel
• TV Rights and coverage

NACAC – USATF Meet

On Wednesday 17 February, President Mike Sands and General Secretary, Keith Joseph, were engaged in a meeting with the USA member federation, USATF. The meeting followed an earlier meeting with Athletics Canada, and which was carried in a previous edition of This Week In NACAC.

Max Siegel, Renee Washington and Willie Banks, all of USATF, were in attendance.

Discussions focused on USATF’s commitment to be a leading member of our organisation given is position in global athletics and its capacity to be of assistance in having the Area retain its leadership in our sport.

The meeting agreed on the several important areas of collaboration that could positively impact the relationship between the two organisations, going forward, but also open up avenues that could prove mutually beneficial.

One of the major areas being considered for collaboration is in respect of marketing NACAC, its activities and products.

On the cards for collaboration are also education and training as well as the hosting of NACAC Championships.

According to Mike Sands, NACAC President, ‘the responses we have received from both Canada and the USA in terms of their eagerness to ensure that they are active members of our organization, ready to assist the entire Area in developing the sport and sustaining our global leadership in it, augurs well for our collective future”.

Sands also stated that “despite the pandemic, there is much we can do to strengthen NACAC and that remains part of my commitment.”

Weekly Meetings

The weekly meeting involving Mike Sands, Keith Joseph and NACAC Competitions Director, Michael Serralta, took place on Wednesday 17 February.

The meeting discussed the report from the LOC of Carifta Games 2021 on the latest meeting with government officials.
The situation in Bermuda regarding the pandemic continues to change almost daily with the number of cases being significantly reduced.

While some major international sporting activities are planned for Bermuda, the government continues to revise its COVID-19 protocols appropriately without compromising the gains already achieved in the fight against the dreaded virus.

One approach being recommended is the planning of different scenarios similar to what the International Olympic Committee has been doing in respect of the Tokyo Olympics.

The meeting was concerned about the two major NACAC events that are still without hosts – the NACAC U-18/U23 and the NACAC New Life Invitational. Efforts continue to seek hosts from among the membership even as the leadership is well aware of the challenging times confronting the fraternity as a result of the impact of COVID-19.

The meeting also received an update regarding the preparations taking place in Guyana where the LOC is well advanced with plans for the hosting of the 50^th anniversary edition of the annual Carifta Games, scheduled for 2022.

NACAC Gender Leadership Working Group

The NACAC Gender Leadership Working Group, fresh from the successful training Course for Moderators in World Athletics’ Gender Leadership courses, will convene on Tuesday 23 February.

Thursday’s meeting will discuss activities to observe International Women’s Day, 8 March 2021 and also map out the organisation’s schedule of activities for the remainder of the year.

South American Gender Leadership Conference

NACAC has received an invitation to encourage its member federations to participate in the South American Gender Leadership Conference which will take place on Monday 8 March 2021, virtually.

The invitation comes as part of the ongoing collaboration between NACAC and its South American counterpart, CONSUDATLE, headed by Helio Gesta de Melo of Brazil.

The Conference is being held under the theme, “To exchange inspiring experiences among the leading women in the Area” and forms part of the celebration of International Women’s Day, 8 March.

ESA Track Festival begins

The Salvadoran Athletics Federation, on Saturday, 20 February, organised the first part of the Non-Olympic Track Festival. This competition took place at the Jorge “Mágico” González National Stadium.

119 athletes from 20 different clubs and national teams participated in the event. This included a team of athletes from Guatemala.

The competition featured 17 track events including sprints, hurdles and middle distance races for athletes in the U18, U20 and Senior categories.

The ESA will host the second part of the Olympic Track and Field Festival on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March, respectively.

Monday 22 February

11.30am ECT – President Mike Sands and General Secretary, Keith Joseph, will meet with Craig Masback, to discuss a number of matters relating to the more systematic development of NACAC’s Marketing strategies and attendant programmes

6.30pm ECT – President Mike Sands and General Secretary, Keith Joseph, will attend a meeting of the LOC of the Carifta Games 2021

7.00pm – Weekly meeting of the LOC, Carifta Games 2022

Tuesday 23 February.

6.00pm Miami Time – Meeting of NACAC Gender Leadership Working Group.

Wednesday 24  February

10.00am ECT – Weekly Meeting – Mike Sands, Michael Serralta and Keith Joseph

6.00pm – Meeting of the NACAC Athletes’ Commission.