INTRODUCTION

1.1. DEFINITION OF ATHLETICS

Athletics is among sporting events that involves competitive running, jumping, throwing,
and walking. According to IAAF definition, athletics competitions are track and field, road
running, cross country running, mountain running and race-walking.

The results of racing events are decided by finishing position (or time, where measured),
while the jumps and throws are won by the athlete that achieves the highest or furthest
measurement from a series of attempts. The simplicity of the competitions, and the lack of a
need for expensive equipment, makes athletics one of the most common types of sports in the
world. Athletics is mostly an individual sport, with the exception of relay races and
competitions which combine athletes' performances for a team score, such as cross country.

Organized athletics are traced back to the Ancient Olympic Games from 776 BC. The rules
and format of the modern events in athletics were defined in Western Europe and North
America in the 19th and early 20th century, and were then spread to other parts of the world.
Most modern top level meetings are held under the auspices of World Athletics, the global
governing body for the sport of athletics, or its member continental and national federations.

The athletics meeting forms the backbone of the Summer Olympics. The foremost
international athletics meeting is the World Athletics Championships, which incorporates
track and field, marathon running and race walking. Other top level competitions in athletics
include the World Athletics Cross Country Championships and the World Half Marathon
Championships. Athletes with a physical disability compete at the Summer Paralympics and
the World Para Athletics Championships.

1.2. DEFINITION OF SPRINTING OR SHORT DISTANCE RUNNING

Sprinting is running over a short distance at the top-most speed of the body in a limited

period of time. It is used in many sports that incorporate running, typically as a way of
quickly reaching a target or goal, or avoiding or catching an opponent. Human
physiology dictates that a runner's near-top speed cannot be maintained for more than 30–35
seconds due to the depletion of phosphocreatine stores in muscles, and perhaps secondarily to
excessive metabolic acidosis as a result of anaerobic glycolysis
In athletics and track and field, sprints (or dashes) are races over short distances. They are
among the oldest running competitions, being recorded at the Ancient Olympic Games. Three
sprints are currently held at the modern Summer Olympics and outdoor World
Championships: the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres.
At the professional level, sprinters begin the race by assuming a crouching position in
the starting blocks before driving forward and gradually moving into an upright position as
the race progresses and momentum is gained. The set position differs depending on the start.
The use of starting blocks allows the sprinter to perform an enhanced isometric preload; this
generates muscular pre-tension which is channelled into the subsequent forward drive,
making it more powerful. Body alignment is of key importance in producing the optimal
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amount of force. Ideally the athlete should begin in a 4-point stance and drive forwards,
pushing off using both legs for maximum force production. Athletes remain in the same lane
on the running track throughout all sprinting events, with the sole exception of the 400 m
indoors. Races up to 100 m are largely focused upon acceleration to an athlete's maximum
speed. All sprints beyond this distance increasingly incorporate an element of endurance.
Common contemporary distances include 60m, 100m, 200m and 400m flat races; and
4x100m & 4x400m relays; and 100m, 110m and 400m hurdling events for women, men and
both sexes respectively.
1.3. ETHIOPIAN HISTORY AND SUCCESS IN ATHLETICS ARENA
Our country Ethiopia had tremendous results in long distance running since Rome 1960
Olympic Games. Since then, the country had won a lot of medals in different Olympic
Games, IAAF Championships, cross country and other competitions in long distance running.
Due to this success sometimes the country was also called land of long distance runners. In
recent years some results have been recorded in international level in middle distance
running.

Even though, yet this country even has no participation in short distance running in
international competitions. Most probably, lack of success in short distance running is
related with talent identification process i.e. focusing on achievement rather than screening
by performance indicator tests. And another reason for lack of international achievement
might be the problem of identifying talent area.

When I refer the records of short distance running and field events in Ethiopian athletics
championships, most of the records are in the hand of the athletes who came from SNNPR.
This indicates that SNNPR might be area of talent to develop athletes who will be competent
in international arenas. But if we want to be successful in international level, it is necessary to
work in talent area from the beginning. So I decided to develop a four years under 15 project
plan.

2. PROJECT PURPOSE
The purpose of this project plan is to give training for 120 under 15 year sprinters or short
distance runners at three selected zones of SNNPR and prepare them for different
regional and national competitions

3. PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1. Goals
 To grow or develop sprinters or short distance runners in their talent line and make
reach peak performance.
3.2. Objectives
 To give different scientific training and tests that will facilitate the athletes’
development.

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  To facilitate different regional and zonal competitions to test athletes performance
or achievement.
 To coach different skills, knowledge and moral values.
4. PROJECT SCOPE AND EXPECTATIONS
Project Scope
 The scope of this project is limited in SNNPR because it is expected to be
talent area for short distance running.
 In addition to that the project will have three sites or camps at three selected
towns of the region.

Project expectation

 It is expected that athletes will be developed from this project and join
different athletics clubs at national level.
 It also expected that some to represent national team and be competent at
continental and international athletics competitions.
 In addition to physical performance improvements it is expected that the
athletes will develop knowledge and different skills that will help for their life.
5. CLEAR ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES
The stakeholders of this project have their own role and responsibilities.
Stakeholders of the project are:
 Regional and Zonal athletics federations
 Allocating budget
 Fulfilling facilities and equipment
 Assigning supervisors
 Preparing competitions
 Supervisors
 Over seeing as the project is properly on going.
 Coaches
 The coaches give scientific training
 Follow up the progress
 Follow up provision of every facilities
 Parents
 Parents also have contribution by motivating and preparing some
facilities
 School directors and teachers
 Directors facilitate learning conditions for the students
 Teachers support the athletes by giving different trainings
 Volunteer professionals
 Give different trainings
 Organizing competitions
 Giving medical supports

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  Sponsors
 Contribute for the project by providing financial and material support
during training and competitions.
 Media
 Media also has a great contribution by advertising and bringing
sponsors to the project
6. ASSUMPTIONS AND CONSTRAINTS
Assumptions
 There will be talented youths in different zones of the region.
 There will be support from regional athletics federation
Constraints
 There will be lack of equipment
 There will be lack of standardized track
 There will be inadequate number of competitions.
 There will be lack of volunteer work force.
 There will be lack of sponsor
 There will be less interest from parents to push their son or daughter to sport
 There will be less support from school community
7. PROJECT MANAGEMENT APPROACHES
 To execute or implement this project proposal a phased approach will be
used. It is also called a traditional or waterfall approach
 A phased approach is based on the principle that any project can be broken
down into a series of stages.

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8. GROUND RULES OF THE PROJECT
 Punctuality
Coaches and athletes are expected to be punctual during training and
competitions
 Confidentiality
The project managers and coaches must be confidential in every situations or
cases related with the project
 Honesty and openness
Ensuring clear procedures for resource allocation, reporting and decision-
making
 Being good listener
The coaches must be good in receivers or listeners in relation to the athletes
the will coach.
 Creativity of constraints
The project manager and coaches must create to fill the gaps or constraints
 Problems are opportunity
The project managers and coaches do not give up when they face problems or
challenges.
They have to strive to get solutions for the problems
 Look to the future
The project managers and coaches has to be visionary
 Respect for the views of others
There has to be respect among project managers, coaches and athletes
 Avoid discrimination
The coaches must not discriminate the athletes depending on their differences
such as race, religion, gender, etc.

9. GENERAL ACTIVITIES OF THE PROJECT

The following activities will be done to execute this project:
 Initiation meetings with different stakeholders
 Preparing conducive environment for the athletes
 Screening out athletes from different zones, using performance indicator
tests like short speed and acceleration tests, Wingate tests, etc.
 Giving training for the athletes.
The training will focus on running for speed, running for quick start, running
for relays, running for obstacles, and running for speed endurance
 Giving life skill trainings for the athletes
 Counselling work
 Supervision work from regional and zonal athletics federations
 Organizing competition by the regional federation
 Preparing recreational activities or trips.

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10. IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Implementation

 This project will be implemented starting from 2014 E.C up to 2017 E.C for
consecutive four years in in three selected three towns in SNNPR, after the project is
being ratified by the regional and zonal federations, and other stakeholders.

Monitoring

 It is a mechanism of ensuring as the project work is properly being done.

 There will be two times supervision from regional federation and every month’s
supervision from zonal federations every year.
 Monitoring activities may include measuring of physical performance, budget and
facilities.

Evaluation

a. Is a process of gathering information to assess the effects and impact of the project
b. There will be process of evaluation to check quality service delivery for the athletes.
c. Also there will be competition to evaluate athletes’ progress or improvement.

11. PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND TIME LINES

 The following specific activities are going to be done in this project from in the
four years.

No. Project activities Time lines Remark

1 General fitness training activities Oct- Dec every year
2 Stride length training Jan every year
3 Stride frequency training Jan every year
4 Reaction time training Feb every year
5 Acceleration training Feb every year
6 Maximum speed training Mar every year
7 Speed endurance training April every year
8 Relay training May every year
9 Hurdle training Jun every year
10 Regional competitions
year Events/competitions
100m flat and 100m relay July 2014 E.C
Up to 200m and 100m relay July 2015 E.C
All events except 400m hurdle July 2016 E.C
All short distance events July 2017

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12. PROJECT BUDGET
No of human resource per each site or camp
 1 team manager for each site or camp
 2 coaches
 1 physiotherapist
 2 guards of the camp
 There will be three camps and each camp will have 20 female and 20male athletes.
 So the budget break down below includes salary, sport wears fee, equipment fee,
food allowance, competition fee and recreational activities fee

BUDGET BREAK DOWN FOR SALARY OF THE FOUR YEAR

No Position Quantity Salary No. of No Total

. per month of
centre s year
s
1 Project 3 8000 12 4 3*8000*12*4= 1,152,000
managers
2 Coaches 6 7000 12 4 6*7000*12*4= 2,016,000
3 Physiotherapis 3 5000 12 4 6*5000*12*4= 720,000
t
Total 3,888,000.00

SPORT WEARS AND EQUIPMENT PURCHASING BUDGET

No. Item Unit No. of athletes no. of

price and team years
members
1 Tuta 2000 132 4 2000*44*4*3= 1,056,000
2 Shoes 2000 132 4 2000*44*4*3= 1,056,000
3 t- shirt 500 132 4 500*44*4*3 =264,000
4 Shorts 500 132 4 500*44*4*3 =264,000
5 Hurdle 3000 50 - 3000*50*3= 450,000
6 Starting 7000 5 - 7000*5*3= 105,000
block
7 Relay 500 10 - 500*10*3= 15,000
Total 3,210,000.00

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 FOOD ALLOWANCE FEE FOR THE ATHLETES

No. Item No. of Payment No. of No. of Total

athletes per month months year
1 Food 120 600 12 4 600*40*12*4*3=
allowance 3,456,000
Total 3,456,000.00

COMPETITION BUDGET

No Participants No. of Per No. No. Total

. athlete/coaches/coordinator die of of
s m day year
s s
1 Athletes 120 200 5 4 480000
2 coaches 6 500 5 4 60000
3 Team leader 3 500 5 4 30000
4 physiotherapist 3 500 5 4 30000
s
5 coordinators 10 500 5 4 100,000
Total 700,000.00

SUMMARY OF TOTAL BUDGET

No Item Sub total
.
1 Salary of HRM 3,888,000
2 Sport wears and equipment 3,210,000
purchasing fee
3 Food allowance fee for the 3,456,000
athletes
4 Competition fee 700,000
5 Contingency (15%) 1,688,100
Total 12,942,100.00

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13. CONCLUSION
Even though our country Ethiopia had a great achievement in long distance running in
international athletics competitions since 1960 Rome Olympic Games, but yet couldn’t
participate in Olympic Games and IAAF championships in short distance running.
So I prepared this project proposal to be implemented in SNNPR, which is expected as
the talent region for sprinting, from 2014 E.C up to 2017 E.C.
The goal of this project proposal is to develop short distance running athletes who will
be competent international competitions representing the country.
The project will be implemented in the three selected towns in the region.
And it needs cooperative work of different stake holders.
Finally after four years the project will be either closed or continued depending on the
evaluation.

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REFERENCE
1. ASSUMPTIONS AND CONSTRAINTS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT, JULY 26,
2020 FAHAD USMANI
2. TOP PROJECT MANAGEMENT APPROACHES EXPLAINED [A VISUAL
GUIDE], ONLINE POSTED BY GUTHRIE-JENSEN CONSULTANTS
3. WILLIAMS, A.M. & HODGES, N.J. (2005). PRACTICE, INSTRUCTION AND
SKILL ACQUISITION: CHALLENGING TRADITION. JOURNAL OF SPORT
SCIENCES, 23(6), 637-650.

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