the benefits of coaching track and field as a team sport
TRANSCRIPT
The Benefits of Coaching Track and Field as a Team
Sport
I. My Background
II. A Team approach addresses and/or eliminates common frustrations
A.Lack of commitment by coaches and athletes
1. Attendance2. Effort3. Lack of preparation
II. A Team approach addresses and/or eliminates common frustrations
B. Exposure/coverage ( this is a process)
1. Mindset of athletes2. Mindset of parents3. Mindset of
newspaper/community
II. A Team approach addresses and/or eliminates common frustrations
C. Should the spring season have a different set of rules than other sports seasons?
III. A Team approach reinforces the strengths
unique to Track & Field
What strengths does track and field have compared to other
sports?
The biggest strength of track and field is that there are several ways
to feel success:
1. Individual time and time improvement2. Individual place3. Improved fitness level4. No bench – morale5. Team place6. Team improvement7. Relationship building8. It’s a “checkbook” sport
IV. A Team approach helps your individuals
A. It forces you to evaluate all your individuals
1. Pentathlon2. Time trials3. Must develop 3rd/4th hurdler , vaulter, jumper4. Depth chartsa. by eventb. by grade
IV. A Team approach helps your individuals
B. It forces you to coach all events and “find” people…specifically the “technique” events
1. 2002 – pole vault ( 11’ , 10’ 6)2. 2005, 2011 – long jump ( 19’)3. 2007 – shot put (42’ )4. 2009–tj (35’
7)100hurdles(15.10,15.35,16.48)5. 2011 –100 hurdles(15.10)triple
jump(36’ 10)
IV. A Team approach helps your individuals
C. Your outstanding individuals perform better1. It reduces the pressure on “outstanding” individuals in big meets by taking the focus off them.2. They are a part of something larger than themselves. 3. Their priorities are altered.
V. A Team approach helps you
in your other “big” meetsA.Over the last several years
approximately 75% of all teams in Minnesota participate in true team track and field…
~88% of the individuals in the MSHSL State individual meet that year were in True Team programs
V. A Team approach helps you in your other “big” meets
B. Our situation a couple of years ago:• all-state distance runner … out 6 weeks
• MVP from previous year…..didn’t come out
• Our “other” 1600 runner (5: 10) sick the day of the conference meet
VI. A Team approach gets more kids out for track and
field and keeps more kids out
A. You and your staff become more aware of potential tracksters because you “need” more people.
VI. A Team approach gets more kids out for track and
field and keeps more kids out
B. Almost all of your track Kids recruit for you
VI. A Team approach gets more kids out for track and
field and keeps more kids out
C. There truly is no “bench” in the traditional sense.
VII. A Team approach forces you to have a more cohesive
coaching staff
A. It forces you to communicate with each other consistently and continuously.
VII. A Team approach forces you to have a more cohesive
coaching staff
B. Depth Charts and Discussion• by grade• by event
VII. A Team approach forces you to have a more cohesive
coaching staff
C. Coaching as teaching1. you spend more time with students who need more time2. what determines a great teacher? Coach?3. Students are more understanding about “sharing” you.. It’s not just about them and their needs.
VIII. A Team approach makes you more relevant to your school district
A. You become the “big” deal in the springGirls 1999 – 35 Girls 2011 – 112Boys 2004 – 51 Boys 2013 –116
VIII. A Team approach makes you more relevant to your school district
B. Revenue
VIII. A Team approach makes you more relevant to your school district
C. Track and Field means more to more parents
IX. A Team approach will impact participation on a
larger scale
A. Minnesota is the only state that has “True Team” state championships.
IX. A Team approach will impact will affect
participation on a larger scale
B. Minnesota is 21st overall in the U.S. in population. However in 2013, we had the 9th most student/athletes out for track and field in the U. S.
2013 U.S. Population vs. Track Participation
(stats from U.S. Census and NFHS)
State Participant
Total Pop.
% pop < 18
14-17 Adjustme
nt
Approx. pop 14 -
17
Participants
% of 14-17
participating
Texas 135, 41326, 448,
193 0.260.235294
11,618,00
7 135,413 8.4%California 99, 421
38, 332, 521 0.25
0.2352941
2,245,835 99,421 4.4%
Pennsylvania 48, 360
12, 773, 801 0.21
0.2352941 640,193 48,360 7.6%
Ohio 45, 34011, 570,
808 0.230.235294
1 623,462 45,340 7.2%
New York 45, 00319, 651,
127 0.220.235294
1 998,740 45,003 4.5%
Illinois 44, 73012, 882,
135 0.240.235294
1 712,306 44,730 6.3%
Michigan 40, 1719, 895,
622 0.230.235294
1 528,543 40,171 7.6%New Jersey 35, 302
8, 899, 339 0.23
0.2352941 475,329 35,302 7.4%
Minnesota 31, 577
5, 420, 380 0.24
0.2352941 300,991 31,577 10.5%
Florida 27, 80619, 552,
860 0.210.235294
1 947,739 27,806 2.9%
X. Philosophy
A. Do you have a coaching philosophy? B. If so, is winning your main objective?C. How will a Team philosophy affect your
team and community long-term?D. In your coaching philosophy which is more
important… the journey or the destination?E. Our sport is at a crossroads…. Drug
scandals, lacrosse, club sports, society..
Why is this so important to me personally?
1. My background2. Teaching3. A crisis in our culture
a. glorification of ability, not work ethic
b. Many people in our society do not understand how to be good
“teammates”c. Many people in our society do not understand how to put the needs of
others ahead of their own self-interest
