The new Livingston Athletic Club Coaching Structure (available below) will be launched tonight following extensive consultation with athletes, parents and coaches over the summer.

It has taken into account coaches beliefs in terms of moving athletes based on age or stage; their opinion on athlete pathways, and coach development; current coach availability, and availability of the facilities.

The athletes were consulted by survey and were asked for their preferred events, and took into account their age and stage, and other sports or activities experience on average at that age. They were asked how many different coaches they experienced each week, and if they had a lead coach. Some felt that their training was not joined up across the week, with them having different coaches and different training groups each night.

We took into account parent opinion from surveys and talking to parents on the trackside. Many parents felt there was not enough opportunity for athletes across the week as spaces and coach availability was limited, and that the athletes would benefit from having a lead coach or more collaboration if their child was being coached by different event coaches.

This has led to us teaming coaches up (based on their availability) to provide consistency across the week for each group. This will allow coaches to work on a periodisation programme together, and will allow athletes, where possible, to have consistency within a group.

We have put in place a Coaching Pathway Plan, and have recruited several new coaches from senior athletes and parents. Over the next year (course availability allowing) we hope to have a fully qualified Athletics Coach, a qualified Coaching Assistant, and a parent helper with each group at all times.

This will provide a mentoring system, and alongside a personal development plan, will create a coaching pathway that will expand coach experience and expertise. This is our vision to develop athletes to meet their full potential and keep them longer in the sport, and at Livingston Athletic Club.

An increase in number of coaches and coaching assistants will also allow growth to meet demand in the Run Jump & Throw Club, which will provide a feed in to the Club membership.

As the Coaching Pathway Plan takes shape, the Coaching Structure will evolve and other group training sessions and event specialisation sessions may become available to athletes as they develop.

The new structure will be implemented from the start of "winter" training on Monday 26 September.

For athletes with a different start time for training, details will be emailed to you.

Parents and athletes are welcome to speak to Jill, the club's Coaching, Pathways & Development Officer, at training if they have any questions about the changes.