Youngsters in Scotland would struggle to participate in athletics without the involvement of dedicated volunteers.
The sport is reliant on the commitment of volunteers at grassroots level and there aren’t many like Don McLeod.
He stumbled into athletics coaching almost 20 years ago through his daughter at the now defunct Lanark and Lesmahagow club but he’s never looked back since.
McLeod said: “My daughter went to the local club and they trained locally in Lesmahagow.
“That was 19 years ago now but due to a lack of funds, coaches and qualified coaches, it closed a year later.
“So we moved to Law and District and they trained out of Wishaw. My daughter was a sprinter and joined the sprint group.
“I was just hanging out with nothing to do and one of the coaches, Pat Kelly, shouted up to me and he asked me to help out.
“I looked about and nobody was throwing anything but there was a lovely hammer cage, javelin runway and a shot put circle.
“So I pointed that out and he told me that I was the new throwing coach.”
McLeod is now a highly respected and qualified coach at Law and District ACC.
His dedication to helping future generations is now a passion but his interest in the sport stems from his daughter’s love of athletics.
He said: “I had no interest in athletics whatsoever before then.
“From a young age, my daughter always wanted to participate in athletics.
“My daughter has always been sporty, she works in Shanghai now as a P.E teacher at the national school.
“It’s definitely grown over the years. I coach hammer, discus, javelin and shot put so I coach all four events but I haven’t got a favourite – people always ask me that.”
Volunteers are the life-blood of athletics at grassroots level and their enthusiasm is crucial to the development of young athletes.
McLeod’s commitment has been recognised over the years, winning various prestigious awards and he admits it’s rewarding that the efforts of volunteers are appreciated.
He said: “Without volunteers there would be nothing but a lot of sports are the exact same. There are very few paid coaches in Scotland, the majority are volunteers so they are absolutely vital.
“The place would collapse without volunteers but the club really appreciates what we do.
“It was lovely to get that recognition.
“In 2011, I won the Clydesdale coach of the year award and then I won the South Lanarkshire coach of the year just after that.”
Like many sports, it’s been an extremely difficult time for athletics with athletes the length and breadth of the country unable to train due to lockdown.
McLeod said: “It’s been an absolute nightmare. When we knew that he couldn’t meet, we utilised Zoom and I was giving coaching lessons on a Monday and Wednesday night.
“It was in 15 minute slots but people were having to train in their gardens so that proved to be pretty difficult!”
There are deep concerns amongst coaches that youngsters might be lost to various sports due to the pandemic.
McLeod admits this is a concern but hopes that some prestigious events can cause a surge in participation.
He said: “Our club has been lucky that the numbers have been pretty steady over the years but we do fear if people will come back.
“When the Commonwealth games were in Glasgow there was a huge upturn in participation in Athletics.
“When big events are on the TV or if Scottish athletes are performing well then people look up to them and numbers rise.”
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