So... I'm a now a track coach. Help.

[the_Journeyman]

Ok, so at the end of our soccer season, the head soccer coach retired, so I was asked to step up as head soccer coach.  No problem, I'd worked with a good coach for 4 years and we've got some good 8th graders coming back for the fall season so I'll manage that ok.

A few months ago, I was asked if I would help out with track.  I agreed, figuring I'd just be an assistant coach.  Turns out, they put me in the head coach position for whatever reason. 

About all I know about track is beat the other guy around the track and if there's things standing up in the lane, jump 'em.  We've got a coach for discus & shot-put and high jump.  We have triple jump and long jump, and  that's all we do at middle school.  We don't throw long pointy things or see how high we gone if we're running with a stick and jam it into the ground.

What do you folks know about conditioning for

1.  Sprints
2.  Distance
3.  Long jumps

Also how the hell do triple jumps work?

Thanks

JM

[mitt]

run































sorry I got nuthin

mitt

[Monster Dave]

Back in the day I used to be a hurdler; are you doing anything in that area?

[the_Journeyman]

Possibly, I'm the head boys coach so if someone doesn't know much about it, it'll be my job to figure it out ~

JM

[KnightofNi]

i always see people running with weights, parachutes, or a rope tied to someone else to build the muscle.

when i was at the gym we did "toe taps."
we used boxes stacked up to about knee height and would jump sideways across them. you landed on the box and jumped off right away so that your weight never actually came down onto the box. it helped with jumping and quick movements so i figure it might help with starts for sprinters.

for endurance runners, do hills. while wearing weights. have them do squats if you have access to a weight room, not while running though. that could end badly.

for long jumps...idk, have them jump off each leg as far as they can with no steps in between (think gazelle's running)

[Grampa]

hit them with a stick


sticks are great motivational tools

[DesmoDiva]

These are middle schoolers, right?

Your largest task will be to keep them motivated and focused. 

IMHO, at this age, competitions should be fun, not overly competitive.  Their bodies are still growing and changing, and the stress of serious competition may do more harm than good.

Here are a few site I found:

http://www.kidsrunning.com/krask.html
http://www.justrun.org/site5.aspx

Amazon also has a lot of books on coaching youth track and field.  Check out your local library too.

Channel your inner child and you will do fine.   

[Buckethead]

You are soooo boned.

Actually, DD's references look like a good place to start, and Knight's advice is sound, too.

For sprinters, I'd say talk to the school football coach and see what he does for his offensive/defensive backs.

Oh, and lunges for everybody. Walking lunges suck and will make them hate you. And will make their legs very, very strong.

[the_Journeyman]

Thanks for the input all!  DD I'll check out those links too!

JM

[XiaoNio]

A few more links to check out?

For running specifically, there seems to be a lot of training methodologies out there.
http://www.oztrack.com/training.htm
http://www.everythingtrackandfield.com/catalog/matriarch/OnePiecePage.asp_Q_PageID_E_280_A_PageName_E_SprintsArticles

As for the best strength/conditioning template for young athletes. Joe Defranco's "Westside for Skinny Bastards" cannot be beat. It worked for me. Though I never ran track, I still have a tested 36" vertical that I got from getting my strength up.


What it boils down to in any strength sport (sprints, throwing, lifting), there's a combination of power and technique. Although, I will say that in most cases the balance is towards strength. Strong people with bad technique still tend to outperform weak people with good technique.

With that said, squats, deadlifts, power cleans and power snatches will make your kids stronger and more powerful. Box jumps, sled drags, etc. can make them faster and improve conditioning. If you can get your kids on a program with this stuff, they can be monsters.

[Popeye the Sailor]

+1 on the motivational stick.

[DaniD]

"Re: So...  I'm a now a track coach.  Help."

Good thing you're not now an english teacher!   

[Buckethead]

"Re: So...  I'm a now a track coach.  Help."

Good thing you're not now an english teacher!   

In the words of my college girlfriend's roommate: "I could be an English major. I write good."

Wish I were kidding.

[r_ciao]

Also how the hell do triple jumps work?

if i recall correctly,      hop     skip         jump!!!

Good luck.

[He Man]

run them till they cry. the ones who break their ankles/knees in the first 2 weeks should be whipped. those who succeed should be whipped still. and then forced to run until they cry.
Be careful you might mistaken sweat drops for tears. some of these kids are tough as nails, and youll need to hear them sob before you let them submit.


P.S. I am not kidding.