Tuesday, December 6, 2016

I consider the fundamental principles of coaching to be:

1.  Be yourself

2.  Define your coaching objectives

3.  Establish rules

4.  Build and nurture relationships with athletes

5.  Be organized

6.  Involve your Assistant Coaches

7.  Help athletes manage their stress

8.  Focus on the big picture

With respect to establishing rules, most of you know there aren't a lot of hard and fast rules other than attendance, and in fact, I have been quite liberal in that regard. Thus far most of you have been very diligent in informing me in advance of any anticipated absence.  Most, but not all, absences have been reasonably supported.  But absences have consequences. Track and Field is not unlike any other sport. Varsity athletes are not defined by grade or ability, necessarily.  Varsity athletes are those who earn a spot in the "starting lineup." They are the individuals who come to practice each day, prepared to work, and do so to the very best of their ability.  Their sole objective is to achieve the best results possible in a very demanding, and often painful, sport.  They work through that pain only to experience it at a new level.  They know that when it stops hurting, they can take it up a notch.

It is important that we, as coaches, focus on the "big picture."  Accordingly, we create the starting lineups based on merit.  Other factors are extraneous at best.  That said, lineups for Thursdays meet will be posted over the next day or so.    

Distance kids . . . while I had considered holding a workout for those unable to participate yesterday, I think we'll go with the plan for 35-50 minutes (we'll discuss the options at 2:30) with strides, abs, and stretch to follow.