We are happy to announce the plans and initial meeting for the New Jersey Race Walk Initiative. A series of 4
meetings/discussion groups will be held throughout the State over the next 6 to 9 months. Each one being held
in a different part of the State beginning with the Central Jersey area at Rutgers University. Subsequent
meetings to be held in Bergen County, the Shore area (Charlie Brown's Restaurant, Rte 70 West, Lakewood)
and the South Jersey area.
The purpose of the discussion groups is to gather input/ideas as to programs we could implement to raise and
restore the discipline of race walking to its former heights both here in New Jersey and beyond. We welcome
the thoughts and ideas of all involved - athletes, parents, coaches, judges, officials, event organizers and any
others interested or concerned about our discipline. We further invite our neighboring Associations and
colleagues to join us in these discussions.
At the end of the series of meetings, we would hope to come up with a "white paper" or game plan outlining
short, medium and long range goals and programs to implement in order to achieve them. We have many
issues to be discussed and although some ideal scenarios and goals may be pipe dreams, there are many that
are attainable.
Just a small sampling of discussion topics:
- The retention of youth athletes
- Unused NAIA scholarship opportunities
- NJSIAA inclusion (ala Long Island, Maine)
- Youth division in our open and masters events
- Youth clinics involving our nearby National Team members
- Grammar school programs (ala A.C. Jaime in Texas)
- The retention of elite athletes post graduate
- Increasing the numbers of participants
- Power or fitness walkers (ala Senior Olympics and Huntsman Games)
- Numbers and quality of race walk events
- course certification
- event sanctioning
- event insurance
- quality of courses
- quality of event management
- Increasing the numbers of qualified race walk judges
- Availability of coaching
- Etc., etc., etc.
The first meeting will be held at Rutgers University, Livingston Campus, Beck Hall, Room 101 on Wednesday,
October 14, 2015 at.7:30pm.
A meeting of the USATF-NJ Race Walk Committee will be conducted prior to the discussion group if desired by
anyone.
Please feel free to forward all of your thoughts for inclusion in our discussions even if you can not make the
meeting(s). All comments and or ideas are solicited and will be discussed. Send to Ron Salvio
at ron@salvio.com or 4 Bowie Ct., Whiting , NJ 08759 or call 609-758-5454.