About BVI Athletics Association
History
The British Virgin Islands Athletics Association (BVIAA)—formerly the BVI Amateur Athletics Association—is the governing body of the sport of athletics—track and field, cross country and road racing—in the territory. The association was formed on September 19, 1970. “Amateur” was dropped from the association’s name during an Executive Committee meeting on February 10, 2009.
Association Presidents
Hubert Payne was elected as the association’s first president, when the body was formed in 1970. Others who have served as president of the BVIAA were: John Lewis, 1973—74. Johnny Hassan, 1974—76. Robert Mathavious 1977—1978. Rey O’Neal 1970—73, 1978—2003. Ephraim Penn, 2003—2008. Dean Greenaway 2008—Present.
Affiliations
The BVIAA became a member of its governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) formerly the International Amateur Athletics Federation in March 1972. By extension, the BVIAA became a member of the Central American and Caribbean Athletics Congress in 1972. The BVIAA is a charter member of the BVI Olympic Committee, which was formed in 1980; the OECS Athletics Congress 1989; and the North American, Central American and Caribbean Confederation (NACAC) formed in 1999. As a BVIOC member, BVI athletes can compete in the Central American and Caribbean Games, Pan American Games, Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Olympic Youth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.
Executive
The BVIAA Executive Committee was elected on October 15, 2012 and the next election is on October 15, 2016. Members serve a four year term and the Executive is comprised of: President: Dean Greenaway; Vice President: Steve Augustine; Treasurer: Willis Todman; General Secretary: Delva Thomas: Assistant Secretary: Angeleta Bernard; Public Relations Officer: Paul Hewlett; Chief Coach: Dag Samuels; Athletes Liaison: Adriana Herbert. Contact: President (284) 541.3545; (284) 542.2763 | General Secretary: (284) 443.8262
Major Milestones:
- 1970-2010—BVIAA celebrates 40 years
- 1990-2010—20 years of participation in Commonwealth Games
- 1980-2010—30 years as BVI Olympic Committee charter member
- 1982-2012—30 years of participation in multi-sport Games
- 1982-2012—30 years of participation in CAC Games
- 1983-2013—30 Years of participation in Pan Am Games
- 1984-2014—30 years of participating in Olympic Games
- 1972-2012—40 years of affiliation to the IAAF and CACAC
- 1975-2015—40 years of participation in CAC Competitions
- 1976-2016—40 Years of participation in the Carifta Games
- 1978-2018—40 years of winning medals in regional/international competitions
Competitions Target Groups
Under 15 Athletes-Youth Competitions
· CAC Age Group Championships—8 athletes—2 boys 2 girls in 11-12; 2 boys 2 girls in 13-14
· Leeward Islands Youth Championships—35 athletes
· CUT Games—40 athletes
Jr. Competitions: U-17 & U-20 athletes (An U-15 athlete who meet the standards can also qualify)
· Leeward Islands Jr. Championships
· Carifta Games (13-16 & 17-19)
· Caribbean & Central American Jr. Championships
· Pan American Jr. Championships
· Olympic Youth Games (16-17 aged athletes in the year of competition only)
· Commonwealth Youth Games (16-17 aged athletes in the year of competition only)
· IAAF World Youth Championships (U-18 athletes, primarily 16-17. An athlete cannot be turning 18 in the year of competition)
· IAAF World Jr. Championships—U-20; An athlete cannot be turning 20 in the year of competition. A 16 year old is eligible to compete.
Sr. Competitions
· Central American & Caribbean Championships
· Central American & Caribbean Games
· IAAF World Championships
· NACAC U 23 Championships
· Leeward Islands Sr. Championships
· Commonwealth Games
· Pan American Games
· Olympic Games
The BVI Athletics Association is the only entity that can enter an athlete in a Championships competition—Leeward Islands Youth, Jr., or Sr.; CAC Age Group, CAC Jr. or CAC Sr. Championships, Carifta Games, NACAC Under 23, Pan Am Jr. Championships, IAAF World Youth; IAAF World Jr. or IAAF World Sr. Competition. On the recommendation of the BVI Athletics Association, the BVI Olympic Committee enters athletes in the CAC Games, Pan Am Games, Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Youth Games, Olympic Games and Olympic Youth Games.
Road Racing
BVI Runners, the Road Racing Arm of the BVI Athletics Association, organizes the following competitions:
- · Blenheim Trust 5K Series—February-June | Dive BVI 5K Series—Jan-Mar
- · Ceres Juices 10K Series—July-November |Dive BVI 10K Series—April
- · BVI Half Marathon—3rd Saturday in November | Virgin Gorda Half Marathon-2nd Saturday in May.
- · HLSCC Race Series—September-November—organized by HLSCC
- Runners also compete in the OECS Half Marathon, NACAC 10K and other races based on invitation
Qualifying Standards
For events such as the IAAF World Championships, qualifying begins the year before. For example, the 2012 World Jr. Championships, the qualifying period began on October 1, 2011. Beginning with the 2011 IAAF World Sr. Championships, the qualifying period was changed from Jan 1, 2010 to October 1, 2010 through August 5, 2011. Carifta Games qualifying runs from April 1 through early March of the following year. Standards are set locally for all other events.
· Only two (2) athletes can represent the BVI in an event in any competition.
National Teams
With the exception of Senior competitions and IAAF World Championships events, all athletes being selected for a Youth or Jr. National Team, must be selected by competing in a trial meet. Selection for an IAAF Competition is based on the qualifying standard established by the IAAF. Every athlete representing the territory MUST be registered with the BVI Athletics Association. Athletes in Primary and High School, must maintain a minimum “C” average to be eligible to represent the territory in regional and international competitions.
Registration
Every athlete on a track club must be registered with the BVI Athletics Association and be in good standing. The annual registration fee is $5 which is paid during competition in a National Championships event—Youth Championships, Jr. Championships or selected on one of the National Sr. Teams. The club fee is $50 per club. Any athlete selected for a National Team, must pay the $5 registration fee to the association as per IAAF Guidelines.
All athletes competing in Development Meets, Trials, Youth and Jr. Championships, will pay $1.
IAAF Rule 4 (2)
Any club or athlete wishing to compete in another country, must be registered and granted permission by the BVI Athletics Association to do so. The association will not recognize any National Records established an athlete in competition for which it has not sanctioned the athletes’ participation.
Disciplinary Matters
The BVI Athletics Association has established an Athletes Code of Conduct. Any athlete making a National Team, if they are under 18, must have a parent or legal guardian sign the document. An athlete’s infringement of the rules will bring them before the association’s Disciplinary Committee, whose decision is final. Athletes in Primary and High School, must maintain a minimum “C” average to be eligible to represent the territory in regional and international competitions.
Athlete Services Program
In an effort to improve the athlete, the BVIAA has put some important programs in place;
Medical Services:
The BVIAA has partnered with the VI Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, to provide services to athletes who are injured while training. This program is supported by a $1000 quarterly grant from Colonial Insurance. An athlete MUST be registered with a club to benefit from the service. The association pays 60% of the coat and the athlete 40%, per visit. In other words, the BVIAA pays $30 and the athlete $20 or their insurance can be used.
Public Speaking
Our athletes are also our ambassadors and must be able to represent themselves in the media. While there are general sessions planned, particularly athletes making Jr. National Teams are required to go through training sessions in public speaking.
Psychological Counseling
While our athletes are physically prepared for competition, psychologically, they are not. Athletes on Jr. & Sr. National teams in particular, will have access to counseling services to help them deal with the pressures of competition and expectation.
Scholarships
The BVI Athletics Association does not grant athletic scholarships. Athletic scholarships are granted by Colleges and Universities and are performance based, i.e. the athletes’ performance determines the types of scholarships an athlete can obtain from the institution. These scholarships are also based on the need of the institution. A female athlete running 11.90, 24.40, 55.00 or a male athlete running 10.75, 21.60 or 47.60, has a greater opportunity of obtaining an athletics scholarship. Athletes must maintain a 2.0 GPA to continue receiving the scholarship.
The BVI Olympic Committee provides assistance to athletes who have met certain performance criteria and are on the verge of obtaining a scholarship at an institution.
Athletes Awards Ceremony
Since the 2009 season, the association has been holding an end of the year Athletes Awards Recognition Gala. This event targets athletes who have one of the National Teams during the season;
- · an athlete establishing a National Record regardless if they have made a team
- · Overall Men & Women’s College Classic Series winners
- · Top three Road Racing Men & Women
Awards are doled out in the following 10 categories:
- · Sol National Record Breakers
- · Sol Athletes of the Year in Youth, Jr. & Sr. Male & Female divisions
- · Premier Dental Most Outstanding Youth Division athletes (Under 15s) in track events and field events
- · Colonial Insurance Most Outstanding Jr. & Sr. Male & Female Athletes—U-17 through open in track events, field events, combined events
- · Most Improved Male & Female Athlete of the Year
- · Colonial Insurance Comeback Male & Female Athlete of the Year
- · Road Racing Male & Female Athletes of the Year
- · Coach of the Year
- · Lifetime Achievement Awards
- · College Classic Series Overall Male & Female
Criteria used included: Athletes must make a BVI National Team during the season | Ranking in head to head competition | Performances in Primary/High School/College/University/regional and international competitions | Titles/awards/honors won | Records Broken
For Under 15 athletes, competitions such as the CAC Age Group Championships or the CUT Games, has a higher ranking than the Leeward Islands Youth Championships—which caters to only eight countries.
Coach of the Year Award
In 2011, the association introduced this award recognizing the performance of our coaches’ contributions to the development of our athletes. This award is performance based.
Criteria used includes: Athletes ranking in head to head competition | Performances in Primary/High School /regional and international competitions | Titles/awards/honors won | Records Broken
Regional & International Competitions Guide
The BVI Athletics Association is member of the International Association of Athletics Federations and is the governing body for Track and Field and Road Racing events in the territory. The BVIAA enters athletes in different regional and international championship events, while for multisport Games—CAC, Pan Am Commonwealth and Olympics—the BVI Olympic Committee is the responsible authority.
Carifta Games
The CARIFTA Games are held every year over the Easter Holiday and caters to two age groups – Under 17 years and Under 20 years. This competition, which is normally held in a different Caribbean country on a rotational basis each year, gives young athletes an opportunity to compete against top competitors in the region. It also affords them exposure to University and College Athletic Coaches who scout for talent to recruit for their institutions and the opportunity to network and share experiences with athletes from other countries. This competition is the first major step in competing at an international level and the experience gained is immeasurable.
CAC Age Group Championships
The Caribbean and Central American Age Group Championships are held every two years and is used as an identification tool for emerging talent. This competition caters to male and female athletes 11-12 and 13-14 in the year of competition. Each team can be comprised of no more than eight athletes—2 boys 2 girls in each age group. Athletes in the 11-12 age group compete in five events while athletes in the 13-14 age group compete in seven events. The performance in each event is given a score with the athlete accumulating the highest points total in each age group being declared the winner.
CAC Jr. Championships
The Central American and Caribbean Jr. Championships is a competition held every two years. Like the Carifta Games, it caters to Under 17 and Under 20 athletes
CAC Championships
The Central American and Caribbean Sr. Championships are held on alternate years.
This event rotates among countries within the Central American and Caribbean region every two years and gives competitors from the BVI exposure to top athletes in the Central American region in addition to the Caribbean. The qualifying standards are set in accordance with the level of competition at the CAC Sr. Championships. Qualifying standards for the CAC Jr. and Sr. Championships as well as the CARIFTA Games, are set by the BVI Athletics Association.
CAC Games
The Central American and Caribbean Games are held within the region during the summer every four years. It is the first exposure for the territory’s athletes to a multisport competition. This competition is held 2-years after the Olympic Games and falls in the same year of as the Commonwealth Games. Athletes 17 years and older who meet the qualifying standards are eligible to represent the territory in this competition.
IAAF World Championships
The IAAF World Outdoor Championships are held every two (2) years at different locations around the world, under the auspices of the IAAF. The IAAF sets the qualifying standard for this Championship.
IAAF World Jr. Championships
The IAAF World Jr. Championships in Athletics takes place every two years in the same year as the IAAF World Championships. This competition caters to athletes who are age 18 years and 19 years in the year of competition, but athletes 16 years and older who meet the IAAF qualifying standards can compete. Athletes wishing to participate should, in addition to meeting the qualifying standard, have competed in either the CARIFTA Games or the CAC Junior Championships.
IAAF World Youth Championships
The IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics takes place every two years. This competition caters to athletes who are age 16 years and 17 years in the year of competition. Athletes under 16 are not eligible to compete. Athletes wishing to participate should, in addition to meeting the IAAF qualifying standard, have competed in either the CARIFTA Games or the CAC Junior Championships.
Pan An Jr. Championships
The Pan Am Jr. Championships is a Bi-Annual track and field competition for all nations in the Americas. The competition targets athletes Under 20 athletes
Pan Am Games
The Pan American Games is a multi-sport event between competitors from all nations in the Americas, held every four years in the year before the summer Olympic Games. The games were last held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2007. The next will be in Guadalajara, Mexico in October 2011, followed by the 2015 Games in Toronto, Canada
NACAC U23 Championships
The NACAC U23 Championships is a Bi-Annual event held for the NACAC region athletes. The competition gives the selected athletes who are not yet at the World Championships or Olympic level and for the BVI, who are too old for Carifta, an opportunity to compete internationally and gain much needed experience to prepare for the next level of international competition. The age criteria is 20, 21 and 22 years old.
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games are held every four years under the umbrella of the BVI Olympic Committee. The competition is open to athletes from all eligible Commonwealth countries who compete for honors in their respective sports.
Commonwealth Youth Games
The Commonwealth Youth Games are held every four years in odd number years. This competition targets Under 18 athletes. There is quota system in place and this is under the umbrella of the BVI Olympic Committee.
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games—the highest competition level in sports—is a multi-sport event between competitors from all 204 nations in the world that have National Olympic Committees and is held every four years. Athletes 16 years old upwards who make qualifying standard, can compete in the games. This event falls under the umbrella of the BVI Olympic Committee.
Youth Olympic Games
The Youth Olympic Games were introduced in 2010 and is a multi-sport event between competitors from all 204 nations in the world the have National Olympic Committees. The competition format is different, with athletes being grouped into an A, B & C final. Besides competition, the focus is on education and culture. They Youth Olympic Games targets athletes 16 and 17 years in the year of competition. There’s a quota of athletes participating. This event falls under the umbrella of the BVI Olympic Committee.