OrganizationOrganizationand Inspiration in and Inspiration in

Cross CountryCross Country

Tips and Tales on Tips and Tales on Getting Your Getting Your

Program to the Next Program to the Next LevelLevel

Introduction Introduction

Can a Clinic Presentation Can a Clinic Presentation Really Make a Difference in Really Make a Difference in

Your Program?Your Program?(Yes, but a few disclaimers first!)(Yes, but a few disclaimers first!)

I. OrganizationI. Organization: : A few concrete, practical A few concrete, practical and specific tools that you can take home and and specific tools that you can take home and try with your kids. (handouts and samples try with your kids. (handouts and samples available on the web at:available on the web at: www2.sluh.org/sluhxc/2007season.html)

II. Inspiration:II. Inspiration: A few stories and ideas to A few stories and ideas to create enthusiasm on your team, recharge create enthusiasm on your team, recharge your batteries and help you remember the your batteries and help you remember the most important part of coaching.most important part of coaching.

I. I. OrganizationOrganization

Workouts and Training Workouts and Training PlansPlans Paul Enke’s presentation tomorrowPaul Enke’s presentation tomorrow

Handout: A loose recipe approach: Handout: A loose recipe approach: Key ingredientsKey ingredients

Draft the seasonDraft the season

Get feebackGet feeback

Adapt as you goAdapt as you go

Daily PracticeDaily Practice Automatic StartsAutomatic Starts

Team Bulletin BoardTeam Bulletin Board Announcements for day/weekAnnouncements for day/week AttendanceAttendance Excuse notes/mailboxExcuse notes/mailbox Athlete reports (samples in a moment)Athlete reports (samples in a moment) Today’s workout w/ specific instructionsToday’s workout w/ specific instructions Captains take overCaptains take over

Formal FinishesFormal Finishes Finish with structure, habit, accountabilityFinish with structure, habit, accountability Strides, cal, jog, stretch with leaders to the endStrides, cal, jog, stretch with leaders to the end Ice, food, showerIce, food, shower

Work GroupsWork Groups Handout: Workout data sheet samplesHandout: Workout data sheet samples Groups by volume (off season miles, age)Groups by volume (off season miles, age) Groups by pace (tied to race goal pace)Groups by pace (tied to race goal pace) Finally, groups by rankFinally, groups by rank Makes individually targeted workouts Makes individually targeted workouts

possiblepossible Kids must know their groups and what it Kids must know their groups and what it

meansmeans Complex practices can be managed and Complex practices can be managed and

reviewedreviewed

Injury and RecoveryInjury and Recovery Of course, PREVENTION must come first!Of course, PREVENTION must come first!

Shoes. grass loops, proper work group, warm-up, cool Shoes. grass loops, proper work group, warm-up, cool down, preventative icing, “life is not fair” speechesdown, preventative icing, “life is not fair” speeches

Accurate diagnosisAccurate diagnosis Kids and parents must take initiative!Kids and parents must take initiative! Recovering Runner Reports (handout Recovering Runner Reports (handout

sample)sample) Filled out every day before practiceFilled out every day before practice On my way out, I grab them from mailbox and reviewOn my way out, I grab them from mailbox and review Keep on fileKeep on file Most important function of form: teaching the athlete to Most important function of form: teaching the athlete to

take a positive, active role in his/her healthtake a positive, active role in his/her health

Cross Training Reports (handout sample)Cross Training Reports (handout sample) Initial consult w/ coachInitial consult w/ coach Athlete and parents run program when we can’tAthlete and parents run program when we can’t

Individual Training PlansIndividual Training Plans

Quick review of handoutQuick review of handout

Drills and RoutinesDrills and Routines Workouts and miles come first but…Workouts and miles come first but…

Steady, habitual drill can make a big Steady, habitual drill can make a big impact on young runnersimpact on young runners

Review: Drill and Routines handoutReview: Drill and Routines handout

Running FormRunning Form A few disclaimers:A few disclaimers:

Not magic; we’ll take talent and heart over form Not magic; we’ll take talent and heart over form anytime!anytime!

Many good coaches and great runners will tell you Many good coaches and great runners will tell you it is a waste of time… and they have a point! But…it is a waste of time… and they have a point! But…

You can improve a kid’s form if you support it You can improve a kid’s form if you support it and structure itand structure it

Good form Good form can can make kids faster and help make kids faster and help prevent injuryprevent injury

And, there are some HUGE “hidden” benefits And, there are some HUGE “hidden” benefits to focusing on form. The mental “spiral”effectto focusing on form. The mental “spiral”effect

Two tools you might want to adapt (handouts)Two tools you might want to adapt (handouts)

Websites and Web Websites and Web ResourcesResources

The tremendous potential (and The tremendous potential (and tremendous demands) of a team web tremendous demands) of a team web sitesite

One site that may help you to One site that may help you to encourage off-season training, encourage off-season training, communication, team building and communication, team building and making runners students and fans of making runners students and fans of the sport the sport

The Study GroupThe Study Group

Brief review of a handout you may Brief review of a handout you may want to adapt for your young peoplewant to adapt for your young people

Can be a great “conversation starter” Can be a great “conversation starter” for troubled kidsfor troubled kids

Winter and Summer Winter and Summer TrainingTraining

In terms of training, this is the single most In terms of training, this is the single most that helped our program get to the next that helped our program get to the next level.level.

THEY have to do it, but THEY have to do it, but wewe can provide the can provide the structurestructure

Quick review of some of the material we Quick review of some of the material we useuse

II. InspirationII. Inspiration

A Team PhilosophyA Team Philosophy Put your heart on your sleeve right there Put your heart on your sleeve right there

next to the rulesnext to the rules Spend time trying to capture it, post it Spend time trying to capture it, post it

everywhereeverywhere Even if they still don’t read it, Even if they still don’t read it, your your

attention to it will come through and they attention to it will come through and they willwill get it get it

A few excerpts from SLUH documentA few excerpts from SLUH document

A compliment to a Hall of Fame CoachA compliment to a Hall of Fame Coach

““3 to 1” Discipline3 to 1” Discipline

A very simple concept…A very simple concept…

…….very powerful results with young .very powerful results with young people,people,

……but sometimes very tough to do but sometimes very tough to do when you when you mostmost need to do it! need to do it!

Telling StoriesTelling Stories The season is a story…tell it!The season is a story…tell it! The program is a story (history, tradition), The program is a story (history, tradition),

tell it!tell it! Every athlete’s journey is a story. Let him Every athlete’s journey is a story. Let him

know you are following it. You may have to know you are following it. You may have to tell tell himhim the story! the story!

Behind every drill, face, course, workout, Behind every drill, face, course, workout, you’ll find you’ve got stories. TELL THEM! you’ll find you’ve got stories. TELL THEM! Stories WORK like nothing else.Stories WORK like nothing else.

Two State stories we tell, one good, one Two State stories we tell, one good, one not so good, both instructive.not so good, both instructive.

The Power of “Stuff”The Power of “Stuff”

Fanfares for the Common Fanfares for the Common Man or WomanMan or Woman

Everyone a ChampionEveryone a Champion

Get EVERYBODY on board with some Get EVERYBODY on board with some version of EVERYTHING you’ve got version of EVERYTHING you’ve got to offerto offer

When Things Fall ApartWhen Things Fall Apart

Seven-week entropySeven-week entropy ““Summer in the fall” practice daysSummer in the fall” practice days Only when you really have to, make “the Only when you really have to, make “the

speech.”speech.” Constantly reinforce the importance of Constantly reinforce the importance of

“the details,” even the tiny ones.“the details,” even the tiny ones. Actively go after the “behind the Actively go after the “behind the

scenes”conflicts and get groups and scenes”conflicts and get groups and individuals to reconcileindividuals to reconcile

Lessons I Learned the Lessons I Learned the Hard WayHard Way

The importance of recovery!The importance of recovery! Acne medicationsAcne medications Low ironLow iron Giving bloodGiving blood Getting kids too keyed-up for big Getting kids too keyed-up for big

racesraces To much worrying about “peaking”To much worrying about “peaking”

““Another Day At the Another Day At the Office”Office”

Our REAL Work as Our REAL Work as CoachesCoaches

A DEDICATIONA DEDICATION….….

A DedicationA Dedication

Automatic StartsAutomatic Starts Formal FinishesFormal Finishes