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Although a formal constitution has been drawn up (Below), it is more of an aide memoire than a dictatorial structure, and it is important to realise that National Prep Schools Athletics is run by its participants rather than any external authoritative body. The management of the Championships is entirely in the hands of the teams who attend it, and representatives of each meet twice a year to discuss its progress and development. This is the Committee. The actual running of the Championships themselves consists of a number of tasks which are divided among a few specific people, elected by the Committee every year. The Meeting Organiser (currently David Aldred, Winterfold School) books the stadium, ensures First Aid coverage, notifies MCAA officials, invites VIPs, and acquires medals and certificates. The Clerk (Ian Ritchie, Skippers Hill) draws up the annual ‘Instructions for Team Managers,’ compiles the programme from the entry form submitted by team managers, and publishes the results after the meeting. The Secretary (Hugh Farey, St Richard’s) keeps records of all kinds, particularly the minutes of the Committee meetings, and answers queries. The Chairman (Richard Corden, Howsham Hall) chairs Committee meetings and acts in various capacities at the Championships. Representatives from other Areas are responsible for the management of particular events.
Finance
The costs of the National Championships are met in three ways - by subscription from the Areas (currently £300 for large and £150 for small), by programme sales, and by sponsorship. Our major sponsors are Bourne Sports, who also provide a range of souvenir clothing specially printed for the event. There are also a number of other businesses and public schools who take out advertisements in the programme.
Policy
The over-riding policy of the Committee is to enable as many athletes as possible from as many schools as possible to compete in as many events as possible. Eligibility is considered in this light: winning athletes from every Area qualify regardless of performance. To increase the field so that every event can feature 20 or so athletes a qualifying standard is imposed on the ‘second string’ entrants. The tougher the standard, the smaller the field. It would be possible to make the standard tougher still, and enable exceptional Areas to enter three athletes for an event without increasing fields, but inevitably this would restrict the number of schools who would qualify.
68 events are contested at the Championships, 26 in the Under 14 age-group, 20 Under 13 and 22 Under 12. Qualifying standards for the two older groups are the ESAA District standards, except in 13 cases, particularly in 1500m and high jump, when they are harder in order to restrict the size of the field for certain events. Under 12 standards have been extrapolated by the Committee from the older age-groups.
The thirteen Areas, and the schools they consist of, vary enormously in number and quality, so although individual medals and certificates are awarded, there is no formal recognition of the merits of any particular Area or school.
It is the policy of the Committee to adhere as closely as possible to the current Rules For Competition published by UKAthletics, deviations from which are made only after careful consideration for the smooth running of the Championships. No evidence of any kind ever having having been produced by any medical, sporting, scientific or other body regarding the unsuitability of one or another event for any particular sex or age-group, it is not the policy of the Committee to restrict any particular event to any particular group of children on those grounds alone.
The Constitution of the National Preparatory Schools Athletics Committee
1. The aims of the Committee are:
- to organise an annual National Preparatory Schools Athletics Championships
- to encourage the development of the highest possible standard of Athletics in preparatory schools
- to assist any prep school staff in the organisation of regional or local athletics competitions as required
2. The Committee shall consist of:
- up to two representatives of all regional qualifying meeting areas
- a representative from or representing the IAPS Sports and Recreation Committee
- anybody else the Committee shall see fit to include
3. The representatives of the regional qualifying meeting areas shall be truly representative. They have a responsibility to attend Committee meetings, to ensure that athletes from their areas are entered in due time, and that their judging or other organisational commitments are fulfilled. Failure to achieve this may result in alternative representatives being sought by the Committee. What constitutes a regional qualifying meeting area shall be determined from time to time by the Committee.
4. The officers of the Committee shall be:
- the Chairman
- the Secretary
- the Treasurer
- the Championships Organiser
- the Championships Clerk
Officers shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Committee.
A single individual may hold more than one office if the Committee so desires.
5. The Committee shall meet twice a year, once in the Spring (March/April) and once in the Autumn (October/November), which shall be the Annual General Meeting. The meeting shall be quorate if representatives of at least seven areas are present. Extraordinary meetings may be summoned at either of the regular meetings, or by the Chairman with the consent of at least two other officers.
6. All decisions made at a quorate meeting shall be considered decisions made by the whole Committee. Decisions shall normally be by consensus, but if any member requires, any proposal shall be put to a vote. If decisions are made by vote, each area is entitled to one vote, any officer who does not represent an area is entitled to one vote and the IAPS representative is entitled to one vote. Decisions are made by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the chairman shall have a casting vote.
7. The Committee shall raise funds by whatever means it decides. Expenditure shall be in the hands of the Championships Organiser, whose cheques shall be countersigned by the Chairman. Expenditure by any other members of the Committee and any expenditure above a sum from time to time determined by the Committee shall be submitted to the Committee for approval before being undertaken.
8. In the event of the Committee being disbanded, a decision as to the final disbursement of any funds shall be made at the final meeting.
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