Kent County Athletic Association Handbook - Section A

Last amended at 5 October 2002

Section A

Introduction
Constitution
County Events
Guide to Club Constitution
Area of Association
Development Plan 2001
Action Plan for the Future
League rules
Guide for Road Race Organisers
History
Guidance on Child Protection Policy for clubs

INTRODUCTION

PLEASE READ THIS PAGE WHATEVER ELSE YOU SKIP

Enclosed please find the latest amendments of the Kent County Athletic Association Handbook. We would be grateful if you would insert them as appropriate in your copy of the handbook. If for some reason you were missed when this was originally issued please telephone me on 01322 271553 and I will get a copy to you as soon as possible.

We asked, on first issuing the handbook, that it was placed in every secondary school library, every college and university library in the County of Kent and the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham. If you have come into existence since that time do please ask, on 01322 271553, for a copy of the full handbook.

The Executive Committee believe that this handbook will be a convenient source of information, particularly for Club secretaries, but also for many individuals and so it is also hopefully appearing in libraries and schools in Kent and the London Boroughs that we cover.

Once again I apologise in the late publication of amendments, and our main problem with this is keeping the data contained up to date. Most of Section B is replaced annually. The other sections include our 2001 Development Plan, but otherwise only have odd sheets have been replaced. Where only minor amendments necessary a list of "corrections" have been sent to add to the end of the relevant section. This means the holder of each handbook will need to replace some pages; please do it on receipt or confusions will arise! This will continue each year.

If you have any thoughts to make the handbook more informative please let someone in the KCAA know.

As we have previously informed you we do carry the complete handbook, along with much other information in our web site. The address of this has changed from the original one and is now on http://www.kcaa.org.uk

In future the web-site is to be kept more up to date than previously so that you may well find when pages are sent through the post you already have the information. I realise that may cause some problem to you but I am confident you will cope. Certainly your readers will get more up to date information.

If you are a school or college librarian please inform your Head of P.E., and any other staff, of the availability of this handbook, and indeed the web-site.

If you are a librarian in any library and your local athletic club asks that the club may insert pages at the back of the handbook please agree, we are very happy if they do advertise themselves in this way.

If you are a club secretary we hope you have read the last sentence and if you have not already done so will act on it now! We suggest you use white paper for anything you add.

Thank you for taking the time to read this page. We hope you do find this book helpful and that you can possibly make it available to others who are likely to find it useful.

JUNE 2002

				KENT COUNTY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

				     CONSTITUTION & RULES

				 November 1996 (as amended 1999)

1.	TITLE.
	The name of the Association shall be the "Kent County Athletic Association" and it
	is the successor of the Kent County Women's Amateur Athletic Association and the
	Kent County Amateur Athletic Association.

2.	DEFINITION.
(a)	The words "Kent County" (hereinafter referred to as the "County" shall be taken broadly
	speaking as the Ancient and Geographical County of Kent prior to the formation of the
	County of London. The precise definition of the boundary will be as accepted from time
	to time by the governing bodies of British athletics and will be included as an
	appendix to this Constitution.
(b)	The Kent County Athletic Association is referred to hereinafter as the "Association".
(c)	The words "Executive Committee" (hereinafter referred to as the) relate to the management
	committee of the Kent County Athletic Association as elected at the Annual General
	Meeting.

3.	OBJECTS.
	The objects of the Association shall be:-
(a)	The encouragement, development, promotion and control of Athletics throughout the county
	in accordance with the Laws of the Governing Bodies of British Athletics.
(b)	To organise County Championships annually and other competitions as may be decided.
(c)	To advocate, encourage and assist in the organisation and staging of Inter-County
	Athletic Competitions and to select representative teams.

4.	MEMBERSHIP. 
	The Association shall consist of :-
(a)	Any club or association, acceptable to the governing bodies of British Athletics and
	that conforms to object 3 (a) above, on payment of the annual affiliation fee. Normally
	it is anticipated such bodies shall have headquarters in the County, but others may be
	admitted as the Executive shall decide.
(b)	Honorary Members who may be invited by the Executive.
(c)	President and Past Presidents of the Association.
(d)	Life Vice Presidents; these are persons who have been elected at the Annual General
	Meeting, following proposal by the Executive.
(e)	Vice Presidents as elected or re-elected annually at the Annual Meeting, following
	proposal by the Executive.

5.	OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
(a)	The Officers of the Association are President, President Elect, Chairman, Vice-
	Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
(b)	The President shall be elected for one year and shall not be available for immediate
	re-election.
(c)	Subject to the approval of the Executive the President shall nominate a successor to the
	President Elect for consideration and approval of the Annual General Meeting.
(d)	The other Officers shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
 
6.	ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
(a)	The Financial Year will end on 30th September. An Annual General Meeting shall be held
	within two months. Written notice shall be given, by the Secretary, to all members at
	least 63 days before the meeting and shall include the proposals of Vice Presidents and
	any new Life Vice Presidents for election at the meeting and a request for nominees for
	elections to the Executive. Agendas, including details of properly proposed nominations,
	shall be circulated by the Secretary to all members not less than 14 days before the
	meeting.
(b)	The business of the meeting shall be:
  i)	To receive and approve the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and those of
	any Extraordinary General Meeting not already approved.
  ii)	To receive the Secretary's annual report.
  iii)	To receive and approve the Accounts, Balance Sheet and Auditors' Report.
  iv) 	To present the President and President Elect.
  v)	To elect Vice Presidents and when appropriate Life Vice Presidents as proposed by the
	Executive.
  vi)	To elect the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer as proposed by Members.
  vii)	To elect Minute Secretary as proposed by members.
  viii)	To elect Secretaries of Sub-Committees as proposed by the Executive.
  ix)	To elect Vice Presidents to serve on the Executive as proposed by members.
  x)	To elect others to serve on the Executive as proposed by members, as in Rule 9 vii) and
	viii).
  xi)	To appoint Auditors as proposed by the Executive.
  xii)	To consider and elect the Sub-Committees of the Executive as outlined at Rule 10 (f)
	and (g).
  xiii)	To consider properly placed motions as stated in the agenda.
(c)	Nominations for all elections and any motion to be proposed shall
	be received by the Secretary not less than 28 days before the meeting. When the 
	submission is by a club or association it shall be signed by the Secretary or Chairman
	of that body and a second, supporting, signature is not required.  Where the submission
	is by an individual member a second, supporting, signature is required.
(d)	In the event that not all posts have a nomination 28 days before the meeting, the
	Executive shall make every endeavour to remedy the situation.
	
7.	EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING.
(a)	An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association shall be either called by the
	Executive or within 49 days of receipt by the Secretary of a written requisition from
	three or more members of the Association, such request shall state the reason for
	calling the meeting. In the case of a club or association the secretary of that body
	must sign the request on behalf of that body.
(b)	No business other than that for which the meeting is called may be discussed.
(c)	The Secretary shall give written notice, including the motions proposed, to all members
	not less than 35 days before the meeting.
	
8.	PROCEDURE AT GENERAL MEETINGS.
(a)	Each affiliated club and association shall be entitled to be represented by two of their
	current members, each with ONE VOTE, at all General Meetings. Each representative may
	only vote on behalf of one Club or Association and only cast one vote on each motion or
	proposition.
(b)	The President, President Elect, Past Presidents, Life Vice-Presidents, Vice Presidents
	and Officers of the Association each shall be entitled to ONE VOTE provided such person
	is not a nominated representative of a club or association.
(c) 	At the discretion of the Chairman of the meeting any other person may attend and speak
	but shall not be entitled to vote.
(d)	No business shall be transacted unless a quorum is present at least one of whom shall be
	an Officer of the Association. The quorum for all purposes shall be TEN persons. Voting
	shall be by simple majority of those present and in the event of a tie the Chairman
	shall have the casting vote, the exercise of which shall be mandatory.

9.	MANAGEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION.
(a)	The management of the Association shall be vested in the Executive Committee of the
	Association elected annually as detailed in Rule 6 and which shall consist of the
	following:
  i)	The Officers of the Association.
  ii)	The Past Presidents of the Association.
  iii)	The Secretary, or in his absence another representative, of each of the sub-committees
	specified in 10 (f), any other formal sub-committee and of the Trustees.
  iv)	The Secretary for each of categories outlined in Rule 10 (g) and others as the
	Executive may require.
  v)	A representative of any County Education Association, of the Police Association and
	Tug of War Association that is affiliated.
  vi)	A maximum of six persons from the list of Life Vice-Presidents and Vice Presidents, not
	already on the Executive.
  vii)	A maximum of six other members, not already on the Executive.
  viii)	The Minute Secretary.
(b)	Except for matters herein reserved specifically for members in a General Meeting all
	powers of the Association express or implied shall be exercised by the Executive.
(c)	The Executive shall meet a minimum of eight times each year with seven members to form a
	quorum.
(d)	At the first meeting after the Annual General Meeting each year the Executive shall
	appoint a Vice Chairman from its members.
(e)	The Executive shall ensure that proper minutes of the meetings are maintained and that
	one copy is forwarded to the South of England Athletic Association.
(f)	The Executive shall have the power to:
  i)	Fill any vacancy in its membership that may occur during the year.
  ii)	Co-opt additional members with or without voting rights.

10.	SUB-COMMITTEES.
(a)	The Officers of the Association shall be ex officio members of all sub-committees.
(b)	The Executive may delegate powers to the sub-committees sufficient to allow each to take
	such action as is felt appropriate for the efficient execution of the Association's
	business. Whenever possible the Executive shall receive notice of proposed actions, but
	when this is not feasible the Executive shall receive a report at the earliest
	opportunity. If action is required without prior Executive knowledge the Chairman, or if
	unavailable then the Vice-Chairman, of the Association shall be advised in advance.
(c)	The Secretary of each sub-committee shall ensure that a brief written report or minutes,
	or "no report", is presented at each Executive meeting. The written report should have
	been agreed by the relevant sub-committee (prior circulation is sufficient).
(d)	The Secretary of each sub-committee shall ensure properly constituted and minuted
	meetings (at least one each year) are held.
(e)	Membership of sub-committees shall be as widely distributed as possible with
	nominations sought annually from member clubs and associations. The executive shall
	ensure that each sub-committee has sufficient members to be effective. Any sub-committee
	may have members who are not members of the Executive.
(f)	The standing sub-committees shall be:
  i)	Cross Country.  Responsible for all matters relating to County organised Cross Country
	events including when appropriate hosting of Inter-County events. (e.g. date, venue,
	fees, rules, entries, results, officials, trophies & medals, publicity and accounting -
	responsible in ensuring all matters are covered.)
  ii)	Track and Field.  Responsible, as described in i) above, for Track and Field.
  iii)	Road Running.  Responsible, as described in i) above, for Road Running.
  iv)	Walking.  Responsible, as described in i) above, for Walks events.
  v)	Team Selection & Management.  Responsible for selection, notification, transporting,
	and managing County teams. To ensure Inter-County competition and consulting with other
	appropriate sub-committees as to the feasibility of "home" events.
  vi) 	Officials.  Responsible for maintaining a list of officials and ensuring training and
	promotion opportunities for County officials. To allocate officials for County events
	and when required Inter-County events.
  vii)	Development.  Responsible for the promotion of the objects of the Association.  To
	initiate communication with, and respond to, other bodies to pursue these objects.
(g)	Without the need for a Sub-Committee each of the following posts should ideally have a
	Secretary and an assistant (particularly as an attempt to ensure continuity) appointed
	as if a sub-committee.
  i)	Coaching.  To liaise with Southern Coaching body to ensure the full involvement of the
	County in the Southern coaching programme.
  ii) 	Medals & Trophies.  To endeavour to have medals and trophies available for appropriate
	presentation as advised by the relevant sub-committee. 
  iii)	Press & Publicity.  To endeavour to publicise the activities of the Association as
	advised by relevant sub-committees. To ensure that a County Fixture List is maintained
	and to publicise the dates.
(h)	The Executive may form further sub-committees for specific purposes.

11.	RULES OF COMPETITION.
(a)	All competitions shall be held within the laws and rules of the governing bodies of
	Athletics and such local rules as the Executive shall determine.
(b)	All individuals competing in County Championships and all selections to represent the
	County shall be "county qualified" as defined in the Rules of the British Governing Body.
(c)	All team County Championships shall consist of "county qualified" individuals. All teams
	affiliated to the Association or an affiliated association or a service unit are
	eligible to compete.
(d)	Fees for competitions and closing dates for entry shall be determined by the Executive.
(e)	All other local rules shall be included as Appendix A to this document. Appropriate
	extracts of this Appendix shall be included with entry forms and in programmes published
	on behalf of the Executive.
	
12.	ANNUAL AFFILIATION FEE.
(a)	The affiliation fees shall be an amount determined by a General Meeting of the
	Association.
(b)	No representative of a club or association whose fees are in arrears shall be entitled
	to vote at any General Meeting of the Association.
(c)	The Executive shall have the power to suspend the membership of or to expel from the
	Association any member whose affiliation fee is in arrears, or who is under any other
	liability to the Association provided ONE MONTH notice in writing of the intention to do
	so shall have been sent by the Secretary, using Recorded Delivery, to the last known
	address of that member or in the case of a club, association or other body the secretary
	of that body.
(d)	Affiliation fees shall become due with the proposal to affiliate to the Association and
	thereafter on Ist January each year at the rate accepted by the immediately preceding 
	General Meeting.
(e)	The Executive may reduce the fee required of a specific club when special circumstances
	pertain.
	
13.	AUDIT.
(a)	There shall be an Audit of the Association's Accounts at the end of each financial year,
	in time for presentation at the Annual General Meeting.
(b)	There shall be two Auditors appointed by the Annual General Meeting to carry out the
	next Audit.
	
14.	RESIGNATION.
	Resignation from membership of the Association shall be in writing to the Secretary. Any
	member not having sent such notice on or before the end of the financial year shall be
	liable for the ensuing annual subscription as applicable.

15.	PROPERTY OF THE ASSOCIATION.
(a)	All trophies of the Association are its absolute property. The awarding of them and the
	terms thereof shall be a matter for the discretion of the Executive. A register of
	trophies and holders shall be kept.
(b)	The Association may own such equipment as the Executive decides and this may be held by
	individuals on behalf of the Executive. A register of such items and the holder shall be
	kept.

16.	ALTERATION TO THE RULES.
	No rule of the Association shall be altered nor new rule passed except when TWO THIRDS
	of the persons attending and entitled to vote at an Annual General Meeting or
	Extraordinary General Meeting called for that purpose vote in favour of the action. 

17.	TRUSTEES.
(a)	The property and financial affairs of the Association shall be vested in four Trustees
	who shall hold the same for the Association under a Trust Deed.
(b)	The Executive shall have the power of appointing and removing the Trustees.
(c)	If at a General Meeting a resolution for the dissolution of the Association is passed
	that General meeting shall further resolve a direction to the Trustees as to the
	disposal of the property and money of the Association.

18.	INTERPRETATION.
(a)	The Executive shall be responsible for any matter not directly covered by this
	Constitution and Rules and have the power to take appropriate action.
(b)	The Secretary shall send a copy of these Rules to every new member and subsequently any
	amendment to the Rules. Every member shall be deemed to have received these Rules and
	shall be bound by them.

					APPENDIX A

				K.C.A.A.  COMPETITIONS

All competitions shall be held under the rules of the appropriate governing body and such
local rules or guidelines as the Executive Committee of the Kent County Athletic
Association determine.  Championships are open to Kent qualified persons as defined by the
governing bodies.

Veteran ages are taken as on day of competition but for all others ages are as at midnight
31st August/1st September following event and additionally an u13 shall be past their tenth
birthday. 

K.C.A.A. OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS are held annually for:
		
		Men					Women
	Sen u20 u17 u15 u13 o40 o50		Sen u20 u17 u15 u13 o35 o45
100m	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 80  Y	 Y		 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 80  Y	 Y 
200m	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	150  Y	 Y		 Y   Y	 Y   Y	150  Y	 Y
400m	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	300  Y	 Y		 Y   Y	300	     Y	 Y
800m	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	600  Y	 Y		 Y   Y	 Y   Y	600  Y	 Y
1500m	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y		 Y   Y	 Y   Y	1KM  Y	 Y
5000m	 Y  3KM	3KM	     Y	 Y		 Y  3KM		     Y	 Y
10000m	 Y   Y		     Y	 Y		 Y		     Y	 Y

Hurdle	110 110	100  80	 75 110	100		100 100	 80  75	 70  80	 80
Hurdle	400 400	400  	    400	300		400	300	    400	300
S`Chase	3km 2km	1.5k	    2km			1.5k	1.5k	    1.5k
3kmWalk  Y   Y	 Y   Y	2.5k Y			 Y   Y	 Y  2.5k2.5k2km 2km
10kmWalk Y

High JumpY   Y	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y		 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y
Long JumpY   Y	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y		 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y
Triple J Y   Y	 Y   Y	     Y	 Y		 Y   Y	 Y   Y	     Y	 Y
Pole V`ltY   Y	 Y   Y	     Y	 Y		 Y   Y	 Y   Y	     Y	 Y
Shot PuttY   Y	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y		 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y
Discus	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y		 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y
Javelin	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y		 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y
Hammer	 Y   Y	 Y   Y	     Y	 Y		 Y   Y	 Y	     Y	 Y
Combined
Events	Dec Dec	Oct Pen	Min			Hep	Hep	Pen Min 

Relays
4 x 100m Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y			 Y       Y   Y	 Y
4 x 200m					 Y	 Y   Y
4 x 400m Y   Y	 Y   Y	 Y			 Y
3 x 800m						 Y   Y	 Y
Medley	 Y

In the above events competitors may only take part in the correct age group except Veterans
and u20 may compete in Senior competition, as may u17 men of high standard.


INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS are held annually for individuals:

Men and Women in categories Senior, u20, u17, u15 at:
		60m, 60mH, Long Jump, High Jump, Pole Vault, Shot Putt and Triple Jump.
In the above events competitors may only take part in age groups as for Outdoor
Championships.


ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS are held annually for individuals and teams (multiple teams allowed),
for Senior Men and Women, Veteran o40, o50, o60 Men and Veteran o35, o45, o55 Women at:
		10km, 10mile, Half Marathon, 20mile, Marathon, 10kmW, 20kmW;
and for relay teams of 	Senior Men and Senior Women at 4 or 6 X 3000-6000m, 
			o40, o50 Men, o35 Women at 4 X 3000-6000m,
			u17, u15, u13 each sex at 3 X 2500-4000m.

Teams will be scored on the positions of the first three persons to finish and eligible to
score for the particular team; the position to be used is that of the individual relative
to those in the same category, unless a veteran is declared for a younger age group when
individual place will be different to team scoring place.

The Championships may be held in conjunction with a properly registered open event which
may additionally be hosting other championships. Locations usually vary from year to year.

While these Championships are held under B.A.F. laws the county has prepared "Guidelines
for Road Race Organisers" and any organiser (including clubs) considering making
application to include a Kent Championship should obtain a copy of the Guidelines from the
Secretary of the Road Running Sub-committee. Ideally championships are committed at least
twelve months in advance but bids up to two years ahead are welcome.


CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS are held annually for individuals and teams with unlimited
entry:
Senior Men		about 12000m			Team:	6 to score and	12 to score
Senior Women		about  6000m				3 score and	 6 score
u20 Men			about 10000m				3 score
u20 Women		about  6000m				3 score
u17 Men			about  6000m				4 score
u17 Women		about  4500m				3 score
u15 Men			about  4500m				4 score
u15 Women		about  3500m				3 score
u13 Men			about  2500m				4 score
u13 Women		about  2500m				3 score
o40 Vet Men		about 10000m				4 score
o35 Vet Women		about  6000m				3 score
o50 Vet Men		about 10000m				3 score
o45 Vet Women		about  6000m				3 score
o60 Vet Men		about 10000m				no team race
Clubmans		about 10000m				4 score

In the above events competitors may only take part in the correct age group, except Veteran
competitors may score in Senior events and Veteran events.

Entry to the Clubmans Championship is restricted to senior and over 17 Kent qualified men
who have not ever placed in the first fifteen of any County Championship nor been the
winner of either the North Kent or the Clubmans Championship. Guest runners are not allowed
but individual Club runners may run.


Sportshall ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS are currently held annually for under 15 and under 13
groups of both sexes.  The actual ages and events are likely to vary slightly from year to
year depending on the venue and the equipment available.


OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD LEAGUE is held, in two divisions at the same venue, for teams of
Women at all age groups.  Precise details and rules are issued to participating clubs each
year.  Events are normally similar to those in which championships are competed.


CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUES are held, precise details and rules sent to participating clubs each
year, but generally are:-

Senior Men	4 races at 5-6 miles age o17.  6 to run 4 to score also 12 scoring match
		scored.  Guest runners may be allowed.  Second claim members allowed to run
		and score but with some restrictions. Clubs may run more than one team
		without restrictions.

And at one venue:
Senior Women	4 races at 4000m, age o17.  Any to run, 3 to score but if full team does
		not finish dummy points awarded to score team race.  Guest runners may be
		allowed.
u20 Men		4 races at 3 miles, 6 to run 4 to score, over 6 runners counted as B-team
		etc. and provided 2 finish in team dummy points awarded to score in team
		race.
u17 Men		4 races at 3 miles as u20 Men
u17 Women	4 races at 3000m as Senior Women
u15 Men		4 races at 3 miles as u20 Men
u15 Women	4 races at 2000m as Senior Women
u13 Men		4 races at 2.5 miles as u20 Men
u13 Women	4 races at 2000m as Senior Women

APPENDIX B

GUIDELINE CLUB CONSTITUTION

The rules of the British Governing Body for Athletics demand that clubs are affiliated, in the case of Kent clubs, to the South of England Athletic Association. Those rules require a club to be "properly constituted" with "democratic management by means of a management committee" and an "annual general meeting of all its members". There are also references to election to, and cessation of, membership of clubs as well as the more obvious rules of competition.

A club needs a formal constitution to protect the members and the officers and to give a structure to the administration of the Club. These guidelines assume a club concerned solely with Athletic matters and maybe the odd supporting social event. All clubs should be aware of government legislation that relates to clubs of all sorts in wider matters such as having one or more employees, selling food or alcohol, organising a lottery or certain forms of entertainment, and of the restrictions applicable to computer use under the Data Protection Act.

The constitution should include the name of the Club and the objects it has been formed to achieve. The name should distinguish it from any other and shorter names are more likely to be used in full than more cumbersome ones. The objects will presumably include: "to provide athletic competition" and/or "the promotion of athletics" and should be qualified with "in accordance with the Laws of the" British governing body.

Membership should be categorised "males, females, ordinary, honorary, Vice Presidents, over 11 years" as intended. Method of election and resignation procedure for striking off or expelling should be included as should the manner of setting subscription rates and other fees. Normally it would be expected that new members are elected by a management committee and that resignations are only accepted from currently fully paid-up members; only fully paid-up members may compete for a club and an appropriate rule should be included. A letter to the last known address of a member is usually recognised as an appropriate rule to cover striking off because subscriptions have not been renewed nor resignation received. The British Athletics Federation gave advice to clubs relating to other expulsions:

a) If it appears to the Club Committee that an irregularity or breach of the Constitution or other matter of concern may have occurred it may appoint an Individual (a Club member or not) or a Committee to investigate with such terms of reference as the Club Committee wish.

b) If it appears evidence of such matters exists then the Honorary Secretary shall write to the person concerned setting out the alleged details and inviting comment in writing by a specified date normally not less than 14 days after the letter is sent.

c) The Club Committee shall consider any response at its next convenient meeting and if it believes the concern remains then shall refer the matter to a Disciplinary Committee appointed by it which shall consist of not less than three nor more than five people none of whom shall be interested in the matter otherwise than as members of the Club. The Disciplinary Committee shall make such further enquiries as it thinks fit and shall afford the person concerned a reasonable opportunity to appear before it to state his/her case and answer the allegations brought against him/her and the committee shall hear such witnesses as are reasonably produced and shall allow him/her the right to be accompanied and/or be represented by a friend. The committee shall make such just and efficient procedural provisions as are necessary for the just and efficient disposal of the case remitted to it.

d) If satisfied that the matter did occur the Disciplinary Committee may recommend to the Club Committee one or more of the following: 

i) resolve to note the offence but take no further action; 
ii) warn the person as to future conduct with no further action; 
iii) suspend or disqualify the person from Athletics competition, coaching and/or administration for any period whether fixed or indefinite; 
iv) recommend to the Regional Association that the person concerned shall be disqualified from any involvement in athletics for any period whether fixed or indefinite; 
v) such other penalty as the Disciplinary Committee consider appropriate.

e) The Disciplinary Committee shall report the recommendation to the Club Committee in writing within seven working days and the Club Committee shall determine its decision as soon as practicable thereafter.

f) A term of suspension starts from the time it is pronounced by the Club Committee unless otherwise stipulated and does not expire until the close of the day named in the decision. g) Every person suspended, expelled, disqualified or otherwise dealt with shall be notified in writing by hand or recorded delivery post within seven working days of the decision.

h) The Club Committee shall as it sees fit transfer any of its duties under the provision of its Constitution to such Disciplinary Committee as from time to time is appointed.

i) Any person so dealt with may appeal against such decision as defined in by the Rules of the Governing Body for Athletics.

The Committee to manage the affairs of the club should be described and responsibilities to the club indicated. The election arrangements for club officers and committee members should be given; normally it would be expected that such elections be by the members of the club at a general meeting, normally the Annual General Meeting. The Management Committee while being responsible for the proper running of the Club within the Constitution is normally authorised to act as it feels fit on matters not specifically included there; many clubs find it useful to formally allow the Management Committee to form sub-committees which may then be delegated such authority as is felt desirable from time to time. There is usually formal opportunity for the Management Committee to co-opt others. The Management Committee must be charged with the control of all Club matters either directly or by delegation. Conditions of General Meetings should be given with an indication of notice necessary, normally two to four weeks given to all members by the Club Secretary on behalf of the Management Committee. Details of how many members are necessary to request a General Meeting and the time for the Management Committee to announce a date, usually one or two weeks. There should be an Annual General Meeting normally held within a set period, six or eight weeks say, of the end of the financial year of the Club. In addition to the elections of all Club officers the audited accounts should be approved at the AGM.

Quorums for committees and general meetings should be stated.

Auditors, normally two, should be elected annually by members; normally members who have some financial background are considered appropriate.

A rule specifying Club colours and the use of the Club name and logo is a useful precaution.

All members must be required to abide by the Club rules. The method of changing rules should be specified, including the method of approval by the members in general.

APPENDIX C

AREA of ADMINISTRATION

The area of Athletic Administration shall be:

• the Local Government area administered by the Kent County Council, together with any Unitary Bodies originally within this Council area;
• the Local Government areas administered by the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley and broadly speaking Greenwich and Lewisham but there precisely defined to fit the ancient county of Kent, namely the London Postal areas of South East London numbered 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 18, 20, 23, 26 and 28.

Further to the above the part of SE19 that is the Crystal Palace Park shall be jointly administered with the Surrey County Athletic Association.

NOTE: Should there be any problem of detail relating to this the County Secretary has a list of streets etc. at the boundary, including (in ten cases) those house numbers in the area.

Kent County Athletic Association Development Plan 2001

This plan has been produced in order to clarify and publicise the development objectives of the Kent County Athletic Association (KCAA) and to determine means of progressing towards those objectives over a five-year period by utilising its resources to best effect. Also, it should be a starting point for demonstrating to external funding and sponsoring agencies that support will be used in furtherance of their aims.

UK:Athletics (UKA) and the Amateur Athletic Association of England (AAAE) have published important plans for the development of athletics which will have a considerable impact at all levels of the sport, including county and club. KCAA needs to be prepared to take full advantage.

CURRENT SITUATION The present structure and activities of the KCAA are outlined below, as a starting point for considering future developments,

Territory and membership: The area within the ambit of the KCAA includes the administrative county of Kent, the Medway Unitary authority and the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewishain. There are 48 affiliated clubs, of which just 17 are Kent-based open clubs which include track and field athletics in their activities, the remainder being road-running clubs, clubs based outside the county or closed organisations such as schools.

Administration: An executive committee comprises a president, president-elect, chairman, secretary, treasurer, minutes secretary, 8 past presidents, 6 of the 14 vice presidents, a Kent School AA representative, 6 other committee members and the secretaries of 11 subcommittees. There are subcommittees for cross country, track and field, road running, walking, team management and selection, officials, development, coaching, medals and trophies, press and publicity, and Sportshall athletics. There are also auditors and trustees. The county is represented at meetings of the AAAE, the South of England Athletic Association (SEAA) and the Kent Schools Athletic Association (KSAA).

The executive committee meets 10 times a year while the subcommittees meet as necessary but less frequently than the executive committee.

In 1997 a county handbook was published in a loose-leaf format, including information on all aspects of the association's constitution and operations. The handbook is in all public libraries, secondary school libraries, further education libraries and all local sports development offices as well as with the secretary of all affiliated clubs. Amendments are sent out annually.

A "Kent County Athletic News" is published three or four times a year in co-operation with the Kent Sports Development Unit (KSDU) and circulated to club secretaries, coaches, officials, committee members, secondary schools, local libraries, local authorities and Sport England. A web site is maintained (web.ukonline.co.uk/kcaa), providing more up-to-date information than is possible with a newsletter, including entry forms and details for KCAA promotions.

Lists of active officials and coaches are maintained (1 54 and 195 respectively).

From January 1996 until March 2000 a part-time Athletics Development Officer (ADO) was employed by the Association, supported by funding from the SEAA, Sports Council and KSDU. The post ceased through insufficient funds when only the KSDU still provided financial support. The KSDU has continued to provide funding for approved development work and the ex-ADO is still involved in KCAA activities as a volunteer and so, with strengthened development and coaching subcommittees and a newly created Sportshall athletics subcommittee, much of the development work initiated while the ADO was in post is being maintained. The AAAE has appointed Regional Development Coordinators (RDC's) who took up their posts in September 2000. They will be well placed to take development forward in the county, especially as they are part of a national team, working to a national development plan.

Competition: County championships are held for all age groups from under-13 to veteran age groups, male and female, in track and field, cross country, road running and walking. Sportshall athletics championships were held for the first time in 2001 for U11, U13 and U15 age groups. Teams represent the county in all these disciplines although occasionally an age group/discipline has had no inter-county competitive opportunity in a particular year.

Separate from the KCAA but involving many of the same young athletes, coaches and officials, the Kent Schools AA hold county championships and send teams to ESAA events in all disciplines for U15, U17 and U19 age groups.

Tug of war is also run under the Association name but is run entirely as a separate entity.

The Association promotes a track and field league for women (U13, U15, U17 and senior) and a similar league for boys (U13 and U15). Cross-country leagues are also promoted; senior men compete at one set of fixtures while all other boys/men age groups and all girls/women age groups compete at a separate set of fixtures.

An inter-school trophy competition in track and field is promoted alongside one of the county championships, in conjunction with the KSAA. A series of Sportshall athletics meetings is held during the winter.

Coaching: Following the transfer process to the new UKA scheme during the winter of 2000/2001, plus two new level 1 courses, there are an estimated 195 coaches registered in Kent. A series of winter clinics has been offered in most events, open to both athletes and coaches. The response so far has been patchy and the format of the programme is being reconsidered. The South East coaching day for invited county schools athletes has been better supported.

Kent has played a full part in the SE region coach education programme, providing some of the venues and also a number of the tutors. Kent will continue to be involved with the entirely new coach qualification and education system currently being introduced by UK Athletics.

Sports Science support has been available to a selected group of endurance athletes from the county at Christchurch University College Canterbury for a number of years. This programme is supported by KSDU and is evolving to provide further generic workshops to support coaches and performers.

Teacher Education: One or two courses in athletics teaching are offered each year for both primary and secondary teachers through the Coaching for Teachers programme. Assistance with the athletics content of teachers' courses at Christchurch University College Canterbury has been provided in recent years.

Facilities: There are synthetic tracks at:

• Crystal Palace: 8 lanes, National Sports Centre. A major international stadium that has been allowed to become dilapidated. Underused at club and county level because of the excessive hire charges. There is a limited indoor facility suitable for training and competition.
• Norman Park (Bromley): 6 lanes; very limited cover. Long throws from one end only.
• Sutcliffe Park (Greenwich): 6 lanes; virtually no spectator cover.
• Dartford: 6 lanes; club house but no spectator cover. Long jump, triple jump and pole vault are located inside home and back straights, resulting in timetabling restrictions.
• Deangate ridge (Rochester): 6 lanes; limited spectator cover.
• Tonbridge School: 6 lanes; very limited spectator cover; pole vault inside back straight (timetabling restrictions). Owned by school and limited access to others.
• Ladywell (Lewisham): 6 lanes; very limited spectator cover; very limited space for spectators and officials outside home straight. No 13m triple jump board.
• Erith (Bexley): 6 lanes; stand but no spectator cover.
• Julie Rose Stadium (Ashford): 8 lanes; major stadium with good spectator cover. Limited indoor area suitable for training but not competition.
• Sevenoaks School: 6 lanes; not suitable for most competitions as track does not meet specifications and does not cater for most field events. Also, it is privately owned with no public access.
•  

There are also cinder tracks at Chatham Garrison, Shornecliffe (army), Grove Park (school), Biggin Hill (school), Dover (school) and Canterbury (University). Apart from Canterbury, these tracks are no longer used or are not accessible. The Canterbury track is used as a training base by a club but is unsuitable for most events.

• Canterbury High School: Construction has started (autumn 2000) for a 6 lane synthetic track, expected to be available for use late summer 2001.
• Strood: At Chapter School there is a Sportshall adapted for limited training in pole vault, shot, discus, sprints and hurdles, with a synthetic track surface.

KEY ISSUES

Development Officer: Having had a development officer in post for four years up to March 2000, it is important that the development momentum is not lost. See UKA and AAAE initiatives below.

Active Sports: This national scheme applies to 9 sports, including athletics, and offers the prospect of a properly funded scheme for developing sport at a local level. It is aimed at young people who already enjoy sport and want to improve through better coaching, competition and clubs. This is an opportunity that the county should take full advantage of, as part of its development strategy. The scheme runs for five years, during which time the county will need to have taken full ownership if the benefits are to be sustained thereafter.

Funding for development work: A sound development programme is likely to continue to be supported by the KSDU, so long as their own budget is maintained at present levels. The other main source of continuing funding in the future should be Active Sports. Specific projects can attract funding or sponsorship. For example, Kent Week has supported our Schools' Trophy competitions and Pfizer have supported club development in Thanet with the purchase of equipment. "Awards for All" should be targeted for other projects at both club and county level.

Coaching and coach education: UKA is introducing a radically new education and training programme and qualification structure for coaches, as well as for other groups such as officials. All coaches will be affected. After transferring to or starting on the new scheme, renewal of coaching licenses will require continued education and training throughout coaching life. With renewal will also come UKA insurance cover.

Facility development: There are fewer tracks in Kent, especially in East Kent, than there were before synthetic tracks first appeared and this probably contributes to the decline in participation. Nowadays, because only synthetic tracks are used for competition, cinder tracks are not viable to maintain or make available for use. At present (year 2001), there is only one synthetic track in East Kent (at Ashford), with another due to be opened in Canterbury in mid-2001. As a result, there are considerable populations in the East Kent coastal districts with no reasonable access to a track. The minimum provision to allow athletics to develop in these areas would be full tracks in Thanet and Dover. However, the county's top priority after Canterbury, is for a track in Maidstone, which is at the centre of a large population in mid-Kent.

The KSDU's "Single Sport Deficiency" document contains fuller details, including indoor and training facilities. The national facility strategy for athletics (to which the lottery sports fund refers for guidance) understates the need for new tracks in Kent by a considerable amount compared with the assessment of this Association.

Most existing facilities have deficiencies. The KCAA needs to maintain its policy of continuous facility improvement through monitoring and advice.

Attracting and retaining young people in the sport: Participation in athletics, as with other sports, is declining. Fewer young people are joining and a high proportion of them leave at what should have been an early stage in their careers. It is believed that factors include the reduction of school PE and sport, the increase in homework loads, the wider variety of alternative attractions, including other sports as well as TV and computers, the shortage of volunteers in athletics (which also leads to a shortage of school/club links) and the inaccessibility of facilities for many.

Attracting and retaining volunteers: The numbers of coaches, officials and club workers is declining. While changes in work patterns for those in mid-career have made it harder for people with both experience and energy to give time to voluntary activity, other factors such as the disastrous era of BAF and the apparent inequities of the part professional, part amateur nature of modem sport seem to have contributed to the shortage of volunteers. Concerns over child protection and insurance for volunteers have also had a negative impact.

Volunteers can take advantage of a number of support mechanisms, such as coach education, officials' courses, NCF courses and Running Sport programmes.

UKA and AAAE initiatives: The county will be affected by and should aim to benefit from developments initiated at national level. These include:

• The appointment of Regional Development Co-ordinators (Paul Eales is the RDC for the south east counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex, and is based at Horsham; Dave Reader is the RDC for London and is based at Picketts Lock) and Regional Performance Managers (Mark Rowland for the south east)
• Active Sports Athletics
• UKA Club Development Framework
• UKA Education and Training structure
• UK Competition
• UKA's Development Plan "from fun to fulfilment"
• UKA's Child Protection policy and guidance.

Communication: The Association has to communicate with 48 clubs, 195 coaches, 154 officials, about 500 schools and with many individual athletes, as well as broadcasting to the media and the public. The vast majority of communication to clubs, coaches, officials and athletes is via the public postal service. The Association has a web-site as well as the Kent Athletics News. Communication to schools can take advantage of Kent County Council's internal postal service. Communication between officers and committee members is predominantly by post, telephone and meetings. Cost and time delays are significant factors in the Association's communications. There is scope for achieving improvements and economics in communications, both internally and externally.

Links with schools: The initial experience of athletics for most children is at school. For satisfactory recruitment into the sport, this experience needs to be a positive one that is followed by an easy pathway into club athletics for those who so wish. This has implications for teacher education, school-club links, coaching and clubs in particular.

Athlete Support: Above county level, the new World Class Performance and World Class Potential programmes should provide a back-up service for good class athletes and their coaches, giving access to high level coaching advice, sports science services, sports medicine and life-style support. Just below this level, the county's sports science support programme remains important. It would be of undoubted benefit if it could be extended to offer assistance to the power events in addition to endurance. Sports medicine support would be at least as beneficial.

Equity: Athletics has a good record in making the sport accessible and welcoming to all sections of the community, with the possible exception of some disability groups for whom the availability of suitable facilities, knowledge and expertise are not widespread. The Active Sports programme will address these issues for young entrants to the sport. Rises in charges for the use of training facilities, both indoor and outdoor, are bound to reduce effective access to the sport for some sections of the community.

THE FUTURE - WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN 5 YEARS TIME

Competition Championships: ·

• Remain up-to-date with provision of championships in all disciplines and age groups. Reduced time from closing date for entries to date of event by greater use of IT.
• Inter-county events: All age groups have the opportunity to compete at this level every year.
• Sportshall athletics: A well-supported (200+ children) series of events, including county championships and some inter-county competition, open to clubs and schools, to be held every winter. Local events for schools and community to be held in most Districts every year.
• Indoor events: An indoor season to be held, with venue(s) reasonably accessible to Kent athletes.
• Leagues: County leagues and other competitions to complement national provision, in particular by providing appropriate competition for the younger age groups.
• Schools competitions: KCAA co-operating with KSAA to provide attractive inter-school competitions in a governing body setting.
• Kent Youth Games: Community-based competition targeting the younger age groups (10 to 12 years) not yet in club athletics.

Coaching ·

• Appropriate coaching in all events for all age groups and levels in all clubs or
• clusters of clubs.
• Coaching clinics/squads in all events well supported by athletes, coaches, would-be aches and teachers.
• Regular and widespread coaching in the community and in after-school clubs.
• Adequate number of coaches at all events and levels.

Coach Education

• All coaches have adequate encouragement, support (including mentoring and some funding), information and opportunity for their continual education and training.
• Permanent recruiting drive for more coaches from all sectors of the community.

Teacher Education

• Opportunities for all primary and secondary teachers and teachers in pre-service training in Kent to receive training in teaching athletics.
• Opportunities for all teachers to receive coach education and to attend coaching clinics.

Officials

• Adequate numbers of officials for club and county promotions.
• Recruitment and upgrading of officials more than compensating for retirements.
• Wide age spectrum of officials, from teenage upwards.

Facilities

• Full synthetic tracks in Canterbury, Maidstone and an east Kent coastal town (e.g. Thanet or Dover) in addition to present stock, with plans for others.
• Outdoor track and field training facilities in all other population centres.
• Indoor training facilities near each track and club.
• Indoor competition facilities in east and west Kent.

Clubs

• Junior or feeder clubs catering for track and field and cross country in all population centres not supporting all-discipline athletic clubs
• All-discipline athletic clubs in all major population centres without one, preferably by existing clubs extending their repertoires to include all disciplines.
• Opportunities for volunteers, including administrators, event organisers and other helpers, to access appropriate information, education, training and experience.
• Numerous school/club links.

Communication

• Good communication network between KCAA committee and subcommittee members and clubs.
• Attractive, informative and up-to-date website.
• Efficient communication to and from coaches, officials, schools, athletes, clubs, UKA/AAA and Kent local authorities.
• Good media exposure.

Athletes - who are the whole point of athletics and its development

• Information, coaching and other advice, competition, indoor and outdoor training facilities, social envirownent and other resources are readily accessible to match the athletes commitment and ability, from beginner to elite level.

ACTION PLAN FOR THE FUTURE - HOW DO WE GET THERE?

The detailed plan of action for achieving the aspirations listed in the previous section, for the period 2001 to 2006, is set out in tabular form in the following pages. It is divided into the following sections:

• Competition
• Coaching
• Schools and teachers
• Officials
• Facilities
• Clubs
• Communications

Annual review: The KCAA Development subcommittee will:

• Identify and progress action for each year.
• Co-ordinate a review of progress and revision of the plan at yearly intervals from the date of commencement of the plan.

Back to Action Plan

Back to Action Plan

Back to Action Plan

Back to Action Plan

Back to Action Plan

Back to Action Plan

Back to Action Plan

				KENT CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE

			      For The Kent Messenger Trophy

					  RULES
						
1.	There will be four races in a season.

2.	Competitors shall be at least seventeen on 1st September prior to season.

3.	Six may run per team, with four to score.

4.	All finishers included except as in 8 below.

5.	The last placed team to score 6 league points, each subsequent place gaining three
	further points.

6.	The first three individuals earn bonus points for team (3-2-1)

7.	In the event of a tie in the final league table the individual bonus points will be
	removed and then the tying teams placed. If the tie remains the team placing higher
	most often will take precedence.

8.	Clubs may enter several teams without restricting members to particular teams in
	later matches. Teams other than the A which do not close in shall have members 
	deleted from results before the team race is calculated. Any guest runners will
	similarly be deleted.

9.	Second claim members may run for one club in the league in a season and only one
	such member may be in any team, except the lowest team may include two. A person
	serving a qualifying period on transfer between two Kent clubs is not eligible for
	any team.

10. 	A club competing in two, or more, races in a season shall pay a fee of £10.

11. 	The DUODEC league place list will be derived by taking the first twelve of any club
	finishing at least that number, all of whom shall score. The winning team to be
	awarded 20 league points, the second 19 and so on, the aggregate of these points to
	determine the league placing, except tying teams will be placed on aggregate match
	points.

12. 	An individual league position will also be calculated for those competing in all
	four races; the scoring will be 20 for first place, 19 for second down to 1 for
	twentieth place.
	
	
	
		THE KENT YOUNG ATHLETES & SENIOR/VETS LADIES CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUES
		
						Competition Rules
						
1.	All Competitors must be Under 13, Under 15, Under 17, Under 20, Over 20 & Under 35,
	and Over 35, as stated in the BAF Rules of Competition for the event in which the
	athlete competes.

2.	The Leagues will be open to Clubs and Schools affiliated to the Kent County A.A.
	Each age group will compete in separate Leagues.

3.	There will be four meetings with each age group having separate competitions. At the
	referee's discretion, in order to allow the smooth running of the programme age
	groups but not sexes, may be merged and/or times of races brought forward. It is up
	to the team managers to keep their athletes aware of any changes.

4.	The meeting dates and venues as agreed by the Kent County AA Cross Country sub-
	Committee.

5.	The meeting times and maximum distances will be as agreed by the Kent AA Cross
	Country sub-Committee.

6.	Two sets of numbers will be provided at the first match only, these should be
	retained for the season. A list of potential competitors should be entered on the
	enclosed forms and returned to the League Secretary, together with fees, at least
	one week before the first meeting, in order that numbers can be allocated. Additional
	runners can be entered during the season.

7.	Scoring - Any number may enter, with the first 3 runners to finish scoring. Senior
	& veteran Women will combine for team results. There will be no "B" teams.

8.	Awards			      Women
	Kent Women's CC League Trophy for the Under 13 League Champions.
	Kent Women's CC League Trophy for the Under 15 League Champions.
	Kent Women's CC League Trophy for the Under 17 League Champions.
	Kent Women's CC League Trophy for the Under 20 League Champions.
	Kent Women's CC League Trophy for the Senior Ladies League Champions.
	A Shield for the Most Improved Club.
	Royal Bank of Scotland Silver Salver for the Overall Winning Club.
	The Cliff Temple Memorial Trophy for the Best Overall Senior Individual.
	1st, 2nd & 3rd in each age group (and including Veterans) based on performances
	over all League meetings, will receive a commemorative plaque.
					Men
	The Cove Memorial Cup for the Under 13 League Champions.
	The Medway Cup for the Under 15 League Champions.
	The Youth Cup for the Under 17 League Champions.
	The Neil Smith Trophy for the most improved Club.
	The Doris Lucas Trophy for the Club with the highest total of match points of the
	three age groups.
	1st, 2nd & 3rd in each age group based on performances over all League meetings,
	will receive a commemorative plaque.

9.	Entry fee of £1 per individual per season. There is no team fee.

10.	The host Club will be responsible for course marking, measurements, changing
	accommodation, first aid, toilet and refreshment facilities. A qualified first
	aider must be present.

11.	Four stamped addressed envelopes must be sent with the Club's entry in order that
	results can be forwarded. Likewise, stamped addressed envelopes must also be
	supplied for any other person wishing to receive results.

12.	Clubs will be responsible for all trophies awarded to their teams/individuals, and
	for ensuring that they are returned, cleaned and engraved, ready for re-presenting,
	at the final fixture.

13.	Clubs competing in the Leagues are deemed to have agreed to the above Rules.

14.	There will be a meeting of team managers following the final fixture to discuss any
	aspect of the Leagues structure for the following season.
	
	

				KENT WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD LEAGUE

					   LEAGUE RULES
							
1	The League is open to first claim members of affiliated Clubs only. Guest
	competitors from nonaffiliated Clubs will not be allowed in any events.

2.	BAF Rules apply at all times and Club colours are to be worn at all times.

3.	Seniors may compete in a maximum of FOUR individual events. Under 17's may compete
	in a maximum of FOUR events one of which must be a relay. Under 15's and Under 13's
	may compete in a maximum of THREE individual events. If an athlete competes in a
	non-scoring event, this event is to be included in that athlete's individual event
	total. BAF Rule 107 is applicable at all times.

4.	All athletes in the under 13, 15, 17 age groups are only permitted to compete both
	in competition and non-scoring events within their own age groups i.e.: Under 13
	cannot compete as Under 15, Under 15 cannot compete against Under 17 and Under 17
	against Seniors.
	
5.	Field Events: Four trials will be allowed in all events except High Jump, Pole Vault
	and non-scoring Long Jump when three trials will be allowed. The starting height for
	High Jump will be 1m 10cm, then rising by 5cm. Fixed Hangers for the Pole Vault must
	be 	provided by the Host Club and the starting height will be the minimum height
	provided by standard equipment and fixed hangers. The height will then rise in 10cm.
	
6.	Officials: Each Club will be required to supply a team of field officials for their
	allocated field events and are requested to provide a timekeeper and track judge to
	assist in the smooth running of the meeting, with every effort must be made to
	obtain qualified officials. Any team that cannot meet it's responsibilities MUST
	INFORM the Host Club at least seven days prior to the date of the fixture. Action
	will be taken where Clubs do not comply with this rule. Starters and Marksmen will
	be appointed by the League.
	
7.	Host Clubs are to provide Track Referee, Chief Timekeeper and Field Referee,
	together with Clerk of the Course Field and Track, all the equipment (other than
	the 	provision of a vaulting pole) required by the programme as notified by the
	Secretary and make sure that there are enough officials to run the meeting. The
	Host Club is also responsible for writing out all Field Cards, providing Track
	Pads and ensuring that FIRST AID FACILITIES are available at the meeting.
	
8.	Health and Safety: Officials judging events and competing athletes will be the only
	persons allowed in the centre of the arena other than Referees and Clerks of Course.
	
9.	Scoring: 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
	Points scored throughout the Season will be totalled up after each meeting.
	
10.	Declaration Sheets: These cannot be amended once submitted without reference to the
	recorders. The names of Club's Officials, qualified or non-qualified, must be
	included on the team declaration sheet.
	
11.	Non-Scoring: These events will be included in the programme if time allows and will
	be opened to athletes who are not competing in a scoring capacity at the same event.
	Only events as specified in the Timetable are permitted for Non-Scoring.
	
12.	Final Results:
	The winners of Division One will hold the A W Luckett Trophy for one year.
	The winners of Division Two will hold the A W Luckett Trophy for one year.
	The bottom two clubs in Division One will be relegated to Division Two in the
	following year and the top two Clubs in Division Two will be promoted to Division
	One in the following year.
	
13.	Abandoned Meetings: If one third of the meeting has taken place when the meeting
	has to be abandoned, the points gained stand. Cancelled meetings will not be re-
	arranged.
	
14.	Numbers and Letters: Clubs must supply their own numbers or letters other than the
	walking race for which the League will supply the numbers. Competitors are
	requested to supply their own pins.

	KENT COUNTY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION - ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS

					GUIDELINES
					
1.	General
Kent County Championships are held over five distances each year, namely 10km, 10 miles,
Half Marathon, 20 miles and Marathon, for Individuals and Teams. They are held in
conjunction with an Open event organised by a Club or Association affiliated to the KCAA.,
or exceptionally outside Kent.  Other Championships may also be incorporated in the event.
Road Relay championships are also held every year as is a Grand Prix Club Championship
covering the individual events.

The KCAA seek to space dates throughout the year and also try to ensure as many established
races as possible have the opportunity to stage a championship. Ideally dates are set by
the AGM of the Association (November) for the following year.

The Race Organisers shall be responsible for all aspects of the organisation and shall 
retain entry fees with the exception of the unattached levy fees (which are to be forwarded
to the SEAA per permit requirement).

2.	Choice of Races
Bids are accepted up to two years in advance of the Championship date.  Events will be
selected by giving consideration to the following factors:

a)	Number of years race has been staged, and possible clashes with other major races.
b)	The time lapse since this race last included the Kent Championship.
c)	The start/finish facilities offered to competitors (BARR Grade 1 should be the aim).
d)	Provision of medical cover, water stations, intermediate time stations.
e)	Design of course (quality of marshalling, traffic safety and severity).
f)	The ability of the organisation to produce rapid classified results, on the day.

3.	Organisation
Event organisers remain responsible for all aspects of the organisation but the County Road
Race Secretary should be kept informed, in writing, of the arrangements and notes of
meetings held by the event committee. The method of issuing race numbers should ensure that
the Championship entrants are easily identifiable from other entrants.

4.	Permits
All events to include a Championship must be organised in accordance with laws of the
British governing body and in particular the event must have a SEAA permit. The course must
be officially measured by an approved Measurer from the SEAA list.

5.	Sponsorship
The KCAA must be advised of all sponsorship arrangements prior to awarding a Championship.

6.	Officials
The Referee and Chief Timekeeper are to be Grade 'A' and be approved by the KCAA. All other
officials, stewards, etc., are the responsibility of, and be appointed by, the event
Organiser. Any reasonable expenses incurred by officials required by the KCAA will be
reimbursed by that Association.

7.	Eligibility.
Athletes eligible to compete in KCAA Championships are from at least one of the following:
	a)	have been born in Kent (defined as the historic County of Kent and certain parts of
		London as set out in the KCAA constitution);
or	b)	has resided in Kent (as above) for nine continuous months prior to event;
or	c)	stationed, in HM Forces, in Kent (as above) for nine months prior to event;
or	d)	competitor previously in a KCAA Championship who has not competed since in any
		other county championship.
		
8.	Individual Awards
The KCAA only award medals and sufficient will be available at each event. Individual
medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) will be awarded to Senior Men, Veteran Men at over 40,
over 50, over 60, Senior Women, Veteran Women at over 35, over 45 and over 55 categories.

Any veteran who also finishes in the top three of the Senior competitors category shall
receive two medals.

9.	Team Awards
The team scores will be worked on the positions in either the Kent Men's or Kent Women's
Championships, in other words all other runners positions will be ignored. For the team
competition there shall only be a Men's and a Women's category.  

Team Championship medals, supplied by the KCAA, will be awarded to the scoring members of
each of the first three Kent affiliated clubs in each of the age categories. All scorers
must be first claim members, within the County, of the Club in accordance with the British
rules. Evidence of such status may be required if there is any dispute.

10.	Presentation of Medals
The essence of the Championship is the presentation of all awards on the day of the race as
soon as possible after the last runner has finished. Presentations are normally held in
conjunction with, or immediately following, the presentation for the Open Race. The County
medals are normally presented by an official of the KCAA.

11.	Entries
Entries for each Championship shall be made on the official entry form, approved by KCAA,
and will be processed by the Race Organiser.  Championship entrants are required to give
the following information:

Full names,		First claim club,		Sex,		Date of Birth,
Positive indication it is a championship entry and category entered,
Qualification claimed --- Birthplace, residence, stationed, previous unbroken qualification.

KCAA Championship entries will close when postal entries in the main race close (ideally
7 days prior to race). The entry form should indicate that no later entry will be accepted
for the Kent Championship.  Any doubts relating to an individuals status must be referred
to the Kent Road Race Secretary immediately.

12.	Entry Lists
It is expected that entries and results will be processed by a computer that enables sorted,
categorised, lists to be produced and the instant retrieval of information supplied by each
competitor. A list of competitors, containing their name, clubs, sex and age categories, is
to be produced and sent to the KCAA Road Running Secretary at least three days before the
event. A further two copies should be available on the race day for the Kent approved
officials. Ideally the list will only show KCAA Championship entrants, but otherwise all
Kent Championship contenders must be clearly identified.  Any ineligible athlete is to be
so informed by the event organiser before the race and preferably several days earlier.

The completed entry forms must be immediately available at the race and should be held by
the race organiser for one year after.

13.	Results
A computerised result list should be available to the Event Organiser as soon as possible
after the finish.  The list of KCAA Championship should be indicated in this list and must
be given to the Referee before presentations are made.  A complete set of all results,
including all team positions, must be forwarded to KCAA Road Running Secretary within two
weeks of the event. Results should also be available to all entrants at a reasonable cost
and a copy sent for the KCAA Publicity Officer. Where results are sent to the press for
publication the KCAA Championship results for both individuals and teams are to be made
clear.

14.	Race Report
A report on the conduct of the race organisation will be prepared by a representative of
the KCAA immediately following the race and be sent to the SEAA Permit Officer.

15.	Relay Championships
These championships are open to any Kent affiliated club and any number of teams may be
entered.  Roads which are either private or fairly quiet are sought, which is fairly
limiting.

The normal events are 4 or 6 X 3000 to 6000m for senior men, senior women, o40 & o50 men
and o35 women. Also young athlete championships are held for both sexes at u17, u15 and u13
as 3 X 2500 to 4000m.

16.	Grand Prix Competition
This competition is based on all five individual races set out in paragraph 1, with a
separate contest for men and women. It is a Club competition for Kent affiliated clubs.
Each male runner finishing in a top 100 position and each female in a top 50 position may
score towards the club total, in the male case 100 for first, 99 for second down to 1 for
one hundredth, and in the female case 50 for first down to 1 for fiftieth. The club with
the highest male aggregate of the top five in each of the five races is the Men's winner,
the Club with the highest female aggregate of the top five is the Women's winner.

The champion club will receive a trophy at the KCAA Annual General Meeting.

HISTORY

The Association was formed in September 1990 by the amalgamation of the Kent County Women's Athletic Association and the Kent County Amateur Athletic Association (which was the Men's Association).

The history of the Women's Association started with its formation in 1946 with Bill Hitchen the first Secretary. The first Championships were held at Aylesford Paper Mills, backed by Col. Sheldon. The 1948 Championships were held at Ravensbourne, Lee, and were a financial disaster but Col. Sheldon paid off all the debts "in recognition of the Lady athletes performance at the 1948 Olympic Games held at Wembley". After organisational problems in 1963 a Championship Committee was formed, consisting of Percy Davies, Faraday Coomber and Alan Luckett. Alan Luckett was to become Association Chairman in 1968 and President in 1973, both posts which he held to the 1990 amalgamation.

The Men's Association was formed in 1920 by a nucleus of clubs who had existed in the County from Victorian times. The oldest of these were Blackheath Harriers founded in 1869 and Cambridge Harriers in 1890 both still members. Following the First World war the Amateur Athletic Association recommended that County associations be formed and on 6th May 1920 a meeting was held at the Town Hall, Maidstone, at the invitation of the Mayor and under the chairmanship of the Marquis Camden, Lord Lieutenant of Kent, with a view to forming such a Kent Association. Unfortunately the meeting was poorly attended and considered not to be fully representative so a further meeting was held in the London offices of the Amateur Athletic Association on 26th May 1920. As a consequence the Kent County A.A.A. was formed with T. Crafter of Blackheath Harriers and C. Otway of Herne Hill Harriers as the first Chairman and Secretary respectively. The first Championships were held on 7th August 1920 at the Woolwich Polytechnic Ground, Eltham, and the first Cross Country Championships on the 5th March 1921 from the Ravensbourne Club Ground in Lee from where it was possible to run in Mottingham, Eltham Green, Well Hall and Kidbrooke. From then, with the exception of the period of the Second World War, these Championships have been held annually around the County, though since 1967 the Track and Field Championships were nearly all held at Crystal Palace and from 1976 as a single event with the Ladies Championships.

The County has been fortunate to be helped from the beginning by many long-serving men and women who have given freely of their time and effort so that Kent is one of the leading Athletic Counties. From the earliest days when C. Otway was Secretary of the A. A. A. from 1914 to 1929 and C. W. Pearce of Herne Hill, who had been President of the English Cross Country Union 1914 to 1919, took over as Treasurer of that organisation from J.A. Cottrell of Cambridge Harriers through to A.J. Brent of Blackheath Harriers recently President of the English Cross Country Union and E.C. Nash of Cambridge Harriers until 1998 Secretary of the South of England Athletic Association where he followed L. Smith of Medway Athletic Club.

Athletically, too, the County has had a continuing succession of high performers with regular representation for Great Britain at Olympic Games and European Championships and for England at the Commonwealth Games and the International Cross Country Championships.

Individually the greatest performances must be the World Records obtained by Sydney Wooderson and Steve Backley while the consistency and fine performance of Frank Sando in the International Cross Country Championships, competing every year from 1952 until 1960 and the winner in 1955 and 1957 is unlikely to be surpassed. During most of her long and active career Judy Oakes threw for Kent and most recently Kelly Holmes has become a leading British competitor.

KCAA ADVICE TO CLUBS re: CHILD PROTECTION OFFICERS in Clubs.

The initial document sent to all clubs by the A.A.A. of England while being a correct interpretation of the law was, in our opinion, hardly appropriate for amateurs operating voluntarily in a basically amateur sport. We try here to be more helpful to clubs.

To not have a child protection policy in a club could lead to major legal problems for the club, or more likely it's senior officers, in the admittedly unlikely case of a problem becoming really serious before any steps to prevent it have been taken. However we are confident that if a sound policy is in place, and can so be shown, then clubs, or their officers, are unlikely to be penalised.

Firstly we believe it is necessary to do all in our power to prevent children being abused in any fashion, and also we must ensure to the best of our ability that no innocent actions by adults are mis-interpreted.

We suggest what is vital for clubs to achieve is a recognised, and well publicised, route for objections to be raised and recorded by the club. When necessary the issue should be raised with the local police force or social service department. We suggest every Club executive committee appoint a Child Protection Officer. Some clubs may feel more than one person should be appointed but we feel one person only should act as the co-ordinator, even if they have one or several immediate assistants. We also suggest the first requirement of the CPO when appointed is to draft the club policy for this and put it to the Club Committee for them to adopt or modify as they see fit. It is important that all matters reported to the CPO are noted, together with the date and informant(s), even when no action immediately follows, so that if there is another later issue the details of the first are quickly available.

In this field it is rare that one incident alone will give sufficiently clear cause for action, even if the person reported is spoken to at the time by the CPO. It is also not anticipated that a "case" will be able to be made to police or others in very many incidents across the County. However when the CPO has some concerns over the actions of an individual he should contact the local police or social services so that they are aware a potential problem exists and allow them to offer further advice.

Clubs should have a contact phone number at all times a child is with them, unless a parent is also present. This can be done once until there is a need to change, and of course it may be necessary from time to time for there to be occasional changes. It must be stressed to parents that a current number must be with the club on every occasion their child is with it, without the parents, in case of a medical emergency.

Other types of problem may be specified by the CPO to parents, and club members, as is felt fit. These could include:

• The need for the club, or at least an appropriate member of the club, to know, where appropriate, how children are to arrive for training and matches, and how to be collected afterwards.
• The fact that coaches on occasion need to touch children (and adults) to get some particular action correct and it is necessary to distinguish between proper and improper actions in this respect.
• The action coaches need to take after training if an expected parent does not appear.
• The adults in charge of children returning from away matches may have other responsibilities as well as those to the children, which may cause problems.
• Children requiring hospital treatment at away venues, and the need for the team managers to be able to contact parents.
• The duty team managers and coaches have to contact parents in all cases of injury, and to inform them of all actions taken.

Clubs may well feel the need to obtain parents signatures when under 16's apply to join the club that they, the parents, agree with the arrangements the club has for the protection of their children. The detail a club goes into will be their decision but might include various matters raised in the above list. Indeed a carefully thought out letter could give a sharp indication of the need for active participation of parents. It should of course take into account the other pressures existing on any particular parent(s).

Once a CPO is appointed by a club that club will have to decide whether or not the CPO should subsequently be elected at Annual General Meetings, or not. Once appointed and the policy of the club is produced the CPO should decide, with consultation, what steps are needed to convey to club members and, where appropriate, parents what is, and maybe what is not, required of them. Certainly everyone, members and appropriate parents, should be involved, and know how to proceed in any difficulty.

The CPO should attend club executive meetings whenever possible. A report of any actions taking place should be given but the CPO must be responsible for any actions taken. As soon as a course is offered to describe in any way this role clubs should endeavour to send their CPO to it.