Watch as Coach explains, and a jumper demonstrates this penultimate box drill. The athlete will run over a series of boxes where the take off foot is on top of the box and the penultimate […]
Self-Talk: A Critical Tool with Tim Berger – Muskingum Univ.
Work with your athletes on self-talk as this is a critical tool in their growth and success. They need to understand that both good and bad things happen and being ready and able to deal […]
Fouling in the Long Jump with Erik Vance – South Plains College
Watch as Coach explains that the long and triple jump are different in that if the jumper is a little off it is very difficult to recover. Many jumpers are so concerned about fouling that […]
Split & Rip Sprint Drill with Tony Holler – Plainfield North High School (IL)
Watch as Coach explains, and sprinters demonstrate this split and rip drill. This is a start drill from a 2-, 3- or 4-point stance. In the offseason they use a 2-point stance with the left […]
No Excuses
Originally Published in: Game Ready – 52 Takeaways for Winning Guess what is the easiest thing in the world to make? Well, it’s an excuse. Anybody can make one, and most people do. It’s easy […]
Updating the Team and Parents with Aaron Berndt – Wayzata HS (MN)
Coach has a lot of ways to communicate with his team including web sites and social media. He also has created a newsletter that he sends to the team, assistant coaches and parents every Sunday […]
Long Jump: Take-Off Step with Brooke Rasnick – Univ. of Louisville
Coach explains that the body should be in a straight line, slightly angled back from the board which will help with the vertical lift. The last two steps should be flat footed and the knees […]
Discus Release with Don Babbitt – Univ. of Georgia
Watch as Coach explains, and a thrower demonstrates the proper release when throwing the discus. The discus should come out front and not the back of the hand. Holding the discus at your side and […]
Building an Environment for Parents and Athletes to Communicate with Dr. Lee Dorpfeld – Univ. of South Florida
Watch as Dr. Dorpfeld explains that you want to build an environment based on communication in which the athletes are comfortable talking to you. Many times, parents or even coaches can hinder this process and […]
Coaching the 800 Meters – A Tale of Two Athletes
By: Dennis Newell Originally Published in: Techniques Magazine Provided by: USTFCCCA Two different student-athletes, two different personalities, two different training programs, one almost exact 800 meter result. This sentence is the reason I decided to […]
100m Drive Phase with Dave Pavlansky – Boardman HS (OH)
In the drive phase, a sprinter will be overcoming inertia and getting their bodies moving. It is important to be patient and not hurry but build momentum for later in the race.
Understanding Cause and Effect with Steve Rainbolt – Wichita State Univ.
As a head coach, try to establish a cause and effect relationship between everything you are doing in your program for athletic success. It is important to identify factors that translate to a winning performance. […]
Accountability with Kebba Tolbert – Harvard Univ.
Watch as Coach explains his philosophy on accountability for coaches and athletes. Coaches should be honest and not overpromise. Let the athletes know that you will assist them academically, socially, and performance-wise. You must hold […]
How the “Why?” Generation Is Making Coaches Better with Stephen Mackey
Stephen Mackey gives an interesting take on how today’s generation always asking ‘why?’ can make your coaches better. When coaches communicate, they should always start with ‘yes’ and not ‘no’. If you start with ‘no’, […]
The 5 P’s to Preventing Burnout
By: Kevin Leichtman Did you know? Burnout happens most often to the hardest working, most committed and dedicated individuals? If you are striving to hit big goals and working as hard as you can, you […]
Teaching Ownership and Credibility with Dan Pfaff – ALTIS
Eliminate the blame game. Coach explains that coaches need to teach ownership to the athletes on their sport/life journey. Coaches need to prove themselves and establish their credibility every day to their athletes and set […]
Mental Preparation and Motivation for the 200m with Adrian Durant – Cornell Univ.
Watch as Coach discusses the role coaches must play in an athlete’s mental preparation and motivation. Get to know your athletes and what it is that drives them as that can be a coach’s toll […]
Shot Put Critical Observations: Are We Helping or Hurting with Al Fereshetian – Bates College
Watch as Coach discusses, in detail, mistakes frequently made in coaching the shot put. 1.) When correcting mistakes, do not ignore the root cause. 2.) Focus on fundamentals and avoid getting caught up in the […]
3 Word Changes to Change Your Life
By: Jeff Zannetti The words that we use are the first link in the chain to success and can have a massive impact on our lives. Our words impact our thoughts, our thoughts then impact […]
Lifting for Cross Country with Michael Petro
Work full range of motion exercises in the weight room for cross country. Michael Petro explains exercises and lifts that address full range of motion and the neural drive of heavy slow lifting that works […]
Teaching the Start Using Foam Hurdles with Alex Armenteros
Coach explains his teaching progression for young hurdlers. Start using one soft foam hurdle from a standing position. The kids have fun with it, and they can’t get hurt. The second progression involves starting from […]
Establishing an Approach with Brooke Rasnick – Univ. of Louisville
Watch as Coach explains that at the high school level the steps will be 12 to 18 steps total, with faster athletes using more. The athletes will run on the track multiple times without trying […]
Helping Athletes Overcome Perfectionism with Stephen Mackey
Watch as Stephen Mackey explains that athletes are dealing with pressure and expectations that come from the community and from themselves. Most athletes do not expect growth or personal best but instead, perfection. Athletes should […]
Self-Awareness Test
Provided by: Raise Your Game Self-Test Despite the “self” in self-awareness, to ensure accuracy it is important to solicit intentional and purposeful feedback from those who know you best (your inner circle). As comedians know, […]
Penultimate Leg Strengthening High Jump Drill with Cliff Rovelto – Kansas St. Univ.
Work this drill in front of the pit with the bar so the athlete will keep the head up and eyes on the bar. Coach explains and a jumper demonstrates starting in a low position […]
Scheduling Meets with Aaron Berndt – Wayzata HS (MN)
Long meets are going to kill track and field. Coach explains that meets that end late in the evening are hard on kids and can have a negative impact their participation. They schedule single gender […]
Coaching Philosophy with Adrian Durant – Cornell Univ.
Never panic. Coach explains how his coaching philosophy is based on three simple rules: 1. never panic, 2. do what you did in practice and, 3. refer to the first rule. Sometimes things happen and […]
One Step Plant Pole Vault Drill with Tom Hays – Univ. of KS
Watch as Coach explains, and vaulters demonstrate this one step plant pole vault drill. The objective is to get the hands up before you step to the takeoff position. A common error is to step […]
Anxiety, Expectations, and Pressure with Dr. Lee Dorpfeld – Univ. of South Florida
Watch as Dr. Lee Dorpfeld explains how he teaches athletes that you cannot control what is going to happen in the future. All the time wasted on worrying about the future keeps you from the […]
The 1 BIG Lie & 3 BIGGER Truths
Don’t fall for the same lie we always hear… My hot take of the week: One of the biggest lies you hear over and over again in athletics is “Sports develop leadership.” I can tell […]