An article on this website dated 13 February 2020 on the Czech Youth Walking Championships, held in the Olympus Hall in Stromovka, Prague on Sunday, February 9, 2020, made me react to what I saw in the Olympus Hall with my own eyes. What was going on there and how much did it have to do with fair decision-making? Everything can be explained by a video recording to any interested judges acting there.

If we do not want in the Czech walking realities only young people who do not have a disposition for really top sports and who will gradually end up in our discipline for sports "unusability", then we must admit that they "non-talented" ev. recreational individuals, will be defeated by the more talented…

Those sports-talented, we really don't get much to walk. And if that happens sometimes, we will clearly put them ahead of the reality of that walking is a discipline for the less able sports and that we will uncompromisingly punish the attempt to deviate from the ranks. We will simply punish the effort to learn the technique (rarely seen among our youth), but which is used by all those who mean something in walking in Europe and the world, we will try to force them to conceive a technique that can be called veteran. Walking, seemingly elaborated style, in which we mostly tolerate regular or occasional non-tightening, limping ... Especially the movement must not have fluency and lightness. It is sad to watch veteran competitors in the role of referees, eventual referees, who perhaps have never seen how fast and smooth the world leaders forces young adepts of walking sports to WALK. They simply decide on the basis of their example and in their holy zeal (I do not want to suspect them of intent) pedestrians who try to follow the technique they learn from their role models - the top of our sport - simply warn, slow down and then make suggestions for disqualification. It is tragic when these judges think that the role model for the young ones should be them! They also do it in the event .. they do the role of coaches and demonstrate to young people how to walk. Guys, please be judicial. You shouldn't show anything anymore. With the help of videos from big competitions, comparisons and attempts to imitate, young people should learn effective and used techniques in the world.

Unfortunately, this technique needs to be prepared gymnastically (relaxation and large range of motion, almost hyparmobility), physically (strength), there must be a sense of movement and gentle technique - and that's the problem - right? That's it it is really not enough for a young adept TO WANT (better to FALL) !!!

You behave as if pole jump coaches were teaching young techniques from the time of bamboo or duralumin poles !!!

And I don't really understand what you follow in this way of decision-making and learning? Maybe just that that those able-bodied understand that walking in the Czech Republic is a sport of non-talented individuals and that we do not want them among themselves if they want to show us that you can walk fast in the Czech Republic as well… In that case, whether they go to do another sport or discipline…

And they will do it…

We get to the question in the title and try to answer for yourself… I am writing this because I do not want to be ashamed of Czech walking in Poděbrady 2021, 23, 25! And not only there…

Many things have changed in caring for the young pedestrian generation. Let us lend a helping hand so that the effort and the new leadership trend can begin to systematically generate European and globally competitive representatives.

Katka Čermáková was very able to take over the position of responsible youth coach (SCM + national team) and after a year the clear results of her work appear. She closely linked the training and training camps with the training of the rest of the adult national team. Most youth coaches under her leadership are willing to cooperate.

It is great that together with the second Katka - Maternová they joined forces during the last year and connected the training of pedestrians in Turnov, Jilemnice, Vrchlabí.
Together, they are directly involved in the training of pedestrians, who already form one group - Jarda Morávek, Eliška Martínková, Jana Zikmundová, Adéla Pittnerová, Matěj Piták, Filip Klazar and others. In the area, he is trying to expand walking to other student groups and involve other coaches in the cooperation.
National adult coach Ivo Piták helps Katka with the preparation only from a technical point of view and as a consultant ....
Therefore, for the competitors of this interdepartmental group, please mention the pair Kateřin - Čermáková, Maternová as a coach from next time.
Katky also has the respect of other young pedestrians and hopefully they will manage to put together a competitive youth team in the Poděbrady European Cups under their leadership.

Unfortunately the style of domestic decision-making can become a limiting factor their efforts. Please think seriously and I probably want a lot - I ask for a little justice and self-reflection!

Ivo Piták, national coach of walking in the Czech Republic