There are many factors that go into successful training and racing programs, especially when it comes to kids. Paddlesports are fantastic, and sometimes difficult, sports that can become more exciting and rewarding with every stroke. Most athletes will not march directly to the head of the class without help and guidance from experienced athletes and coaches. This guidance is essential for their continued enjoyment and success in the sport as well as their continued development into well rounded human beings.
The following guidelines can help those "driving the bus" understand what is developmentally needed to keep their kids involved and excited in addition to becoming well rounded competitors and finely tuned athletes.

Developmental Guiding Principles
1st Guiding Principle: Children's canoeing means paddling, and paddling means fun.
For young athletes, canoeing means their first contact with organized competition. Do not forget that it has to involve fun and pleasure and not just hard work. It has to be an integral part of their young lives. The first impression is a signpost to the child's further development. So, let them have fun, let them paddle and pay less attention to the results. The best outcome you can get in children's canoeing is to have happy and delighted children who paddle together with their friends and can learn something.
2nd Guiding Principle: For children, being together with their friends is most important.
Children in the past used to meet their friends in parks or at fields in their neighborhood. They spent their free time there and often played sports. So, adults must not lose sight of the fact that an important aspect of canoeing is, for children, being together with friends. We must watch over that friendship as it helps promote human spirit. Therefore, try to have their friends and schoolmates paddling in their group as much as possible.
3rd Guiding Principle: Everyone should be included as much as possible.
Nobody can improve by sitting on the dock. And nobody can say which children will later qualify for top level competition. Today's "child star" seldom becomes "tomorrows Olympian". So let them all paddle equally long and give them all the chance to paddle in different and varied situations.
4th Guiding Principle: Teach children both to win and lose.
An old adage says, "only by knowing how to lose will you know how to win". So, adults should always set the example. If adults show good perspective in such situations, the children will learn to do likewise.
5th Guiding Principle: More Practice - less formal competition.
As a rule, you should seek to teach young athletes rather than put them under pressure by racing competitively. Too many rules can harm the child's physical and social development.
6th Guiding Principle: Children's canoeing should be varied and versatile.
A multi-sport upbringing will be helpful in teaching the fundamental capacities for canoeing and providing a well-balanced physical education. Attention must be given to forming the body as a whole with general training methods and providing basic standards of sports hygiene and nourishment.
7th Guiding Principle: Let us try together to offer children "pleasurable canoeing".
For all participants, children's canoeing must be a positive experience giving young athletes, above all, the joy of the sport.
8th Guiding Principle: The competition is for children, not adults.
Parents and relatives should show interest in their youngsters; canoeing life. They should go to their races and competitions. Adults can strengthen the young athletes' self-confidence and should support the club in its work. Adults should never forget that it is the child who is competing and not them.
9th Guiding Principle: Show respect for the opponents and the officials.
From the very beginning, a child must be taught a healthy respect for opponents and officials in the spirit of fair play. Adults must always provide the good example.
10th Guiding Principle: Get children appropriate equipment.
There is no point in buying expensive equipment for growing children, as they won't be able to use it after a few months. Cheaper models are often just as good. So, set up regular "equipment exchanges" where used equipment can be passed on to other children. Appropriately sized and quality equipment is a must for proper development.
(Guiding Principles adapted from Andy Roxbourogh U.E.F.A Technical Director)
_________________________________
From the theoretical basis of these principles will come athletes capable of representing the USA at the national and world level. Too often we see elite development as the final tip of the development continuum. If the basic principals of development are followed then elite athletes will simply flow from the program with a meaningful process for all that attend any aspect of the program.
By putting the emphasis on volume of training and skill acquisition through this volume, athletes will be produced who have the skills and base training needed to represent the United States of America at the international level.

Olympic Creed
The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. -Baron Pierre de Coubertin, Founder of the modern Olympic Games
Olympic Oath
In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams. -Symbolic gesture of sportsmanship originated in the 1920 Olympic Games.

Prepared by:
Connie Hagler, Tony Hall , Steve Gilliam, Richard Hagler, Jim Mathis, Jack Pyburn, Stephanie Reed