What is Future Stars?
In 1996 the Men's Junior National Team and Age Group Competition Programs were reorganized and the Future Stars Program was introduced. The goal of the Future Stars Program is to identify talented athletes, their coaches and clubs and to provide them with educational and training support. The first year the Future Stars program targeted the 10-11 year old age group, in 1997 a twelve-year-old age group was added, and in 1998 an 8-9 year old division was included.
The Future Stars program uses a special competitive routine format to evaluate the skill, strength and flexibility development of the athlete. These routines are progressive, developmental and educational in nature. The intent is to identify talented athletes and to get them started on the right developmental path to national and international success. The Future Stars program and routines are also designed to enhance and be complimentary to the age group competition program.
The Future Stars program was primarily designed to be educational for athletes, coaches and parents. Participant athletes go to a Regional Evaluation which is also designed to be a learning experience. Qualified athletes progress to the Future Stars National Championships held in the fall. The National Championships are held in conjunction with a clinic for athletes and parents and include a national workshop for coaches. In 1997 the Future Stars Nationals featured over 100 qualified athletes. All of the athletes, well over 100 coaches and a similar number of parents, attended the competition, clinic and workshop.
More information about the specifics of the Future Stars program at the State and Regional level is available to coaches from their State Chairman [Robert Lundy].