NEWS: New BC Youth Policy threatens U10 and U13 nationals

This week, British Cycling announced news via their website of a new Youth Policy implemented by the BC board and it could spell the end for national competitions for the under 10s and under 13s categories.

The policy is built on these three key principles:

• Youth cycling should be fun. For young riders, building a lifelong passion for cycling through the development of core skills should be the focus and primary outcome.

• Youth cycling should be accessible. From club coaching activities to competition opportunities to equipment, young people should have the opportunity to access the sport and cost should not be a barrier.

• Youth cycling should be simple and easy to understand. The rules, regulations and other information should be clear and easy to follow for all involved.

The logic is to focus more on enjoyment for youngsters, as opposed to competition and offer a more local programme of racing to cut out the long journeys for young riders and their parents. The policies implemented across all disciplines are as follows:

• New board policy decision to only allow National Records, Championships and Series categories (including associated series standings and national rankings) for riders aged 13 and older.

• New board policy decision to only allow international representation for riders aged 13 and older.

• Prizes for children aged 12 or under to be in the form of trophies, medals or similar.

• Equality of prizes for boys and girls.

• Improved calendar coordination to reduce the impact during exam periods.

• Further development of education for riders and parents to

• Demystify the pathway through the sport and the various disciplines.

The news has been largely met with opposition from the other cycling disciplines. Many feel that it should be a decision for the rider and parents to take, whether they wish to pursue national competition and by removing that opportunity, it could see cycle sport lose riders to other sports.

Champion BMX rider, Shanaze Reade, who has now moved to track cycling, agreed with the sentiments with a post on Facebook yesterday night which read, “I have to say after reading many peoples post regards British cycling not allowing under 13 to race nationals, I feel it’s not a great decision! I started the sport at the age of 10, by 11 I was European champion.. This gave me the huge appetite for success! I would always think back to that race and how supportive the British BMX community were! I had done so many other sports around the age from when I walk to about 11/12 but BMX gripped me! Maybe I wouldn’t have taken to it so strongly, had I not been able to race at national level so young!

“BMX is a grass roots sport the way I see it, it’s gave me incredible opportunities! The one being able to transfer to track cycling. It’s one of the best cycling platforms into all avenues of the cycling world! But if it’s not drip-fed in from a young age, we may lose talent to other sports…”

The newly structured Cycle Speedway Commission were made aware of the changes at a Commission meeting on Saturday. The Commission released the follow statement, “The BC Cycle Speedway Commission is aware of the British Cycling Youth Policy and is working to ensure that Cycle Speedway as a sport is run in a way which gives the appropriate opportunities to it’s younger riders through an event structure which provides the appropriate pathways to meet their participation needs.”

This could mean the Commission may still run an event for the younger age categories to cater for aspiring riders, however, they would not necessarily be recognised as national titles like they currently are.

What are your thoughts on the new Youth Policy implemented by the British Cycling board? Do you think it’s a good move to nurture our younger riders, allowing them to focus on enjoyment or is it robbing the riders who want to race of the opportunity to do so?

Email us your thoughts at: newsroom@3318news.co.uk

Cover photo of Kieran Swanson winning the British U13 title at Edinburgh last year, taken by George Swanson.