Post by Eric Roussin on Nov 5, 2014 10:52:29 GMT -5
One of the topics we’ll be discussing at the AGM on Saturday is possibly moving Provincials back to early May starting in 2016. Here’s why I and the rest of the OAA Executive think this is a good idea:
The reason Provincials were moved to the fall was because the National Championships started to be held over Victoria Day weekend in May. It seemed like a poor idea to force fit the Provincials in between the Mike Gould Classic in late March and the Nationals in mid-May. Many consider these to be the top three tournaments in Canada, and it would be hard on athletes, both physically and financially, to attend all three and perform at peak level. So, a vote was held at the 2013 Provincials and it was decided the Provincials would be held in the fall going forward.
Earlier this year, at the CAWF AGM, a motion was put forward to move Nationals to Canada Day Weekend starting in 2016. The motion passed. This opens up the calendar a bit, and returning Provincials to early May is feasible. In doing so, athletes would have 7-8 weeks following Provincials to prepare for Nationals, which has historically been the case in Ontario. If the Provincials are not moved back to May, there would be an 8-month gap between Provincials and Nationals – quite a long period considering the Provincial Championship is the Nationals qualifier.
As this Saturday’s Provincial Championship is the qualifying event for the 2015 Nationals in BC, the question arises regarding what to do for the 2015 Provincial Championship. The current idea is to hold a Provincial Championship sometime in October. This would NOT be a Nationals-qualifying event. However, Ontario titles would be up for grabs, and all of the standard annual awards will be presented. An OAA membership would still need to be purchased, but it would be at a reduced rate.
What do you think of this idea? Any questions or concerns?
The reason Provincials were moved to the fall was because the National Championships started to be held over Victoria Day weekend in May. It seemed like a poor idea to force fit the Provincials in between the Mike Gould Classic in late March and the Nationals in mid-May. Many consider these to be the top three tournaments in Canada, and it would be hard on athletes, both physically and financially, to attend all three and perform at peak level. So, a vote was held at the 2013 Provincials and it was decided the Provincials would be held in the fall going forward.
Earlier this year, at the CAWF AGM, a motion was put forward to move Nationals to Canada Day Weekend starting in 2016. The motion passed. This opens up the calendar a bit, and returning Provincials to early May is feasible. In doing so, athletes would have 7-8 weeks following Provincials to prepare for Nationals, which has historically been the case in Ontario. If the Provincials are not moved back to May, there would be an 8-month gap between Provincials and Nationals – quite a long period considering the Provincial Championship is the Nationals qualifier.
As this Saturday’s Provincial Championship is the qualifying event for the 2015 Nationals in BC, the question arises regarding what to do for the 2015 Provincial Championship. The current idea is to hold a Provincial Championship sometime in October. This would NOT be a Nationals-qualifying event. However, Ontario titles would be up for grabs, and all of the standard annual awards will be presented. An OAA membership would still need to be purchased, but it would be at a reduced rate.
What do you think of this idea? Any questions or concerns?
