The culprit of the weak performance level, especially of walking youth, is not only the level of selection and preparation, but unfortunately also the way of decision-making in the vast majority of Czech walking competitions !!!!

walking bug kneeA coaching seminar was held in Nymburk after the World Championships, and while discussing how to improve the performance level of our youth walkers, we came across one huge problem that has not been solved by the system for years.

Moto: During the walking EP in Alytus, our best competitor, cat.

And we're at naming the problem. Walking technique - topic it's not just about coaches - hence competitors, it is above all question of qualified referees. If the judges are not practically trained enough, the competitors cannot be taught a technique that can be seen at the world level, because in many cases we will be disqualified by the competitor who is trying to practice this technique. The vast majority of Czech judges tolerate untapped knees during slow movement and punishes smooth fast movement with a slight (eye imperceptible) "lead" on the joined leg.

So in our country, decisions are made exactly the opposite of the trend of international decision-making. Czech judges (mostly of retirement age) force especially young competitors to the technique of the fifties to seventies of the last century.

And of course coaches from the divisions, who are then evaluated according to points in the competitions of teams ev. The obtained championship youth medals adapt to the trend of Czech decision-making and teach young walking enthusiasts a technique that simply cannot be walked on quickly. In fact, we usually "technically spoil" these young pedestrians forever, because later re-learning is a desperate and mostly unsuccessful endeavor.

There is no argument that, for example, Anežka Drahotová has no problems with us either. Because all judges know her and know that she goes through big competitions "clean", so even here they do not reprimand her. But this is a consequence of the "reputation and name of the competitor". E.g. Lukáš Gdula, who has all DQs and the vast majority of reprimands on the international scene for not kneeling, is constantly reprimanded for our contact, which in his case is rather funny.

If you slow down shots from the Olympics, World Championships, European Championships, etc., of course, a short flight phase is documented for all top pedestrians. The simply imperceptible loss of contact over time is at smooth necessary movement phenomenon.

pedestrian error contactRacing walking is NOT a march! And yet it is not in the interest of the development of walking in the Czech Republic that we do not let the talented competitors we are trying to prepare for an internationally decent performance start in domestic races, apart from Poděbrady.

This is not an attempt to lower the level of decision-making. But I would really like it not to be tolerated with untapped knees, not sticking one leg, bouncing and limping - especially that the racer is walking slowly! On the other hand, judges should stop trying to slow down and lose fluidity due to the minimal flight phase, imperceptible to the human eye!

Maybe it wouldn't hurt for all judges who decide to walk, they must see, for example, the beautifully filmed joint 20km walking race for men and women from the 2018 European Championships in Berlin. There are also slow-moving sequences, a clear analysis that NOBODY of the competitors will avoid the "flight" phase.

I hope that few experienced pedestrian judges (such as Petr Brandejský, Míla Lapka, Zdenek Simon, Franta Párys) will pass this consideration with foresight and understanding.

I ask that the judges who make and decide walking do not take this as an attack on their competencies and unsubstantiated criticism. I would only be grateful if you think about what you have read and help improve this area of ​​difficult work. Just because I know no one does this work with the intention of harming or harming them. And I know we can't do without your help and understanding!

And a sentence at the end. The real Czech problem is not a short loss of contact during the smooth transition of the walking step, but the loss of contact with the international walking technique and the amount and method of preparation common in the walking countries successful !!!!