Coaching Management 14.8 by Momentummedia

Coaching Management VOL. XIV NO. 8

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$5.00

TRACK & FIELD POSTSEASON EDITION 2006

GOING THE DISTANCE

How to secure your program’s future

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Setting Coaching Goals

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The Science Behind Endurance

Circle No. 100

Coaching Management Track & Field Edition Postseason 2006

CONTENTS

Vol. XIV, No. 8

LOCKER ROOM

COVER STORY

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Going the Distance

NCAA Regionals take criticism, try to improve ... N.J. athletes face mandatory steroid tests ... Missouri State cuts men’s track and field ... Wheelchair runner fights for her right to compete ... All-American thrower’s gender change raises issues ... Do youth sports need a culture make-over?

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Head Men’s Coach at North Dakota State University, Don Larson consistently coached his team to NCAA Division II national top-10 finishes. In 2005, the Bison moved to Division I, where they’ve won two consecutive Independent Outdoor Championship titles. ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Publisher Mark Goldberg Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer Marketing/Sales Assistant Danielle Catalano Art Director Pamela Crawford Photo Research Tobi Sznajderman

Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel Associate Editor Dennis Read Assistant Editors R.J. Anderson Kenny Berkowitz Nathan Dougherty Abigail Funk Greg Scholand Laura Smith

COVER PHOTO: STEPHEN NOWLAND/NCAA PHOTOS

Business Manager Pennie Small

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CONDITIONING

Ahead of the Pack

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Want to put some science behind your endurance training methods? This author dissects the research and provides insight into training for stamina, debunking some myths along the way.

CAREER BUILDING

Onward and Upward

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You help your athletes set goals because you know it motivates them and improves their performance. The surest way to stay passionate about coaching is also to set goals for yourself.

TEAM EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 TRACK FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

CONDITIONING AIDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 MORE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter

Prepress Manager Advertising Sales Associates Miles Worthington Diedra Harkenrider, (607) 257-6970, ext. 24 Asst. Production Director Rob Schoffel, (607) 257-6970, ext. 21 Jim Harper Ad Materials Coordinator

Circulation Director Dave Dubin

Production Assistant Jonni Campbell

Circulation Manager John Callaghan

Administrative Assistant Sharon Barbell

IT Manager Julian Cook

Today’s administrators are looking for programs that contribute more than winning records. Here’s how a handful of top coaches are working hard to make track and field an integral part of their universities.

Business and Editorial Offices 31 Dutch Mill Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 257-6970, Fax (607) 257-7328 info@MomentumMedia.com

The Coaching Management Track & Field edition is published in January and September by MAG, Inc. and is distributed free to college and high school coaches in the United States and Canada. Copyright © 2006 by MAG, Inc. All rights reserved. Text may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without the permission of the publisher. Unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Coaching Management is printed by Banta Publications Group, Kansas City, MO. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Coaching Management, P.O. Box 4806, Ithaca, N.Y. 14852.

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Mike Townsend

COACHING MANAGEMENT

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Tracking the Regionals Since the NCAA implemented regional qualifying for Division I track and field in 2003, many coaches have wondered whether it was the right move. Some have lauded the increased emphasis on head-to-head contests and the expanded opportunities for postseason competition. Others have unresolved questions: Are the benefits worth the costs, financially and otherwise? Are athletes burning out because of the extra meet, or are they peaking too soon? Basically, is the

new system meeting its original goals? While those questions linger, one thing appears settled— regionals are here to stay. In February, the Division I Championships Cabinet reviewed a survey that found a solid majority of schools favored regional qualifying. “It’s clear coaches need to accept that regionals are staying,” says Sam Seemes, CEO of the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. “It’s time for us as a collegiate coaching group to shift our focus from whether regionals are a good idea to ways we can make them the best they can be.”

For many coaches, making regionals better means making the system more equitable from one region to the next. Lack of balance between the four regions has been a constant concern. Rich Ceronie, Head Women’s Coach at Miami University of Ohio and a member of the Division I Track and Field Committee, says he’s heard of events where multiple heats were required at one regional while another didn’t have enough competitors to fill the lanes. “Whenever you break things down geographically, there’s going to be some inequality,” he says. “A few years ago, only six women showed up in the West region to run the 200 meters. Things like that happen repeatedly, because the pools of athletes differ from region to region.” Some coaches have suggested adjusting the regional boundaries, but Seemes says that is a flawed solution. “We’re dealing with a moving target,” he says. “Regions change in event strength based on coaches moving from one school to another, athletes graduating, injuries, and other factors. You could redraw the map and still have the same balance problem a year later.”

Imbalances between regions and extra expense are two challenges of the NCAA’s qualifying system, according to Rich Ceronie, Head Coach at Miami University of Ohio. Miami vaulter Sarah Landau, above, defended her title at the 2006 NCAA MidEast Regional, earning a spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Even using the current boundaries, travel costs have been a major concern since the regional format was adopted. A primary goal of regionals was to offer a qualifying environment

“Regionals have put a new burden on the budgets of most mid-major and small D-I schools,” Ceronie says. “Under the old system, schools were flying their top one or two athletes to the best competitive situations all over the country to chase marks. Now, since qualifying for regionals is somewhat easier, it’s an achievable goal for more athletes, and an even larger pool of people are flying all over the country chasing marks. In a way it’s almost backfired.” Earlier this year, the NCAA eased the burden on track and field programs that send athletes to national competition, as the Executive Committee voted in April to reimburse per diem and travel expenses for both the indoor and outdoor championships beginning in 2007. But with no similar plan to fund regionals on the horizon, programs are left to cope with the increased costs. Ultimately, Seemes believes the track and field community will find creative ways to make the best of regionals, including achieving a better balance between regions. His association will be helping the effort. “There will be a lot of brainstorming and discussion before our convention in December, and we’ll start to throw around some ideas on how the system can be improved,” Seemes says. “Pretty much everybody agrees regionals have some drawbacks, and there are no simple solutions. But we have a lot of smart people in track and field, and it’s time for us to start putting our heads together to figure out how we can make things better for everybody.”

BRETT HANSBAUER/MIAMI UNIVERSITY

Furthermore, for each region to have a near equal number of participants, the large size of the West region would make it much more expensive for some schools to send athletes to regionals. Even if the current West and Midwest regions were combined—creating a region that stretched from the Pacific coast to Minnesota and Iowa—it would contain 73 schools, still fewer than the Mideast’s 78 and far fewer than the East’s 115.

that put less wealthy programs on equal footing with the big spenders. But Ceronie says the extra level of competition has instead squeezed already tight budgets.

Y O U W O U L D N ’ T S E N D Y O U R P L AY E R S O U T I N C A N VA S S N E A K E R S . B U T Y O U S T I L L H Y D R AT E T H E M W I T H WAT E R ?

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Circle No. 101

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD N.J. Begins Mandatory Steroid Testing New Jersey isn’t the first state to consider it, but it is the first to take the plunge. This fall, the Garden State will begin random testing for performance-enhancing drugs in high school athletes in all championship sports, following an executive mandate by former Acting Governor Richard Codey. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) is carrying out the testing plan, testing about five percent of student-athletes whose teams qualify for postseason play. Roughly 10,000 athletes qualify for the postseason in the state’s 31 championship sports, so about 500 students will be tested this year.

Codey based his mandate on the report of a task force created in July 2005 to study steroid use in young athletes. The task force’s 18 members included high school administrators, professors of sports psychology and orthopedic surgery, and coaches. In December, the group recommended a series of steps, including random testing, to address what it perceived as a serious problem. “We looked at the statistics first,” says Bob Baly, Assistant Director of the NJSIAA and a member of the task force. “About three percent of high school seniors nationwide admit to having used steroids, and there’s evidence that the real number is closer to five or six percent. We have about 240,000 athletes in New Jersey, so it’s not hard to do the math.” The task force also noted that many student-athletes

say steroids are very easy to come by. “They told us all you have to do is type in the right words on the Internet or know the right people around school,” Baly says. The tests will look for about 80 banned substances in all, ranging from amphetamines to steroids. Any athlete who tests positive will immediately be declared ineligible for 365 days. The governor’s office gave the NJSIAA a $50,000 grant to pay for the first year of testing, but has yet to decide how tests will be paid for in subsequent years. A private agency will perform the tests. According to a study released this spring by the NCAA, focusing steroid prevention efforts on high school athletes makes good sense. The study surveyed 20,000 college

athletes and discovered that more than half of college steroid users began using in high school, compared with 35 percent who started in college and 14 percent who started prior to high school. Marty Holleran, Head Boys’ Coach at Metuchen High School and a member of the NJSIAA Track and Field Committee, says drug testing sends a strong message to athletes that steroids are not an acceptable way to enhance performance. He also points out that testing in high school helps to prepare athletes for the next level. “A lot of the kids who are eligible for testing will go on to compete in college, and the NCAA has a testing policy, so it’s important for them to make sure they’ve got nothing to hide,” Holleran says. “I don’t believe steroid use is a

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

along with men’s cross country and men’s and women’s tennis, for an annual savings of $350,000. What happened? “It tore my heart out, to be really honest,” says Rowe. “I’ve never had a more stressful year. We’d been fighting off the program’s elimination for at least a dozen years, using everything we had. We offer more sports and generate as much revenue as any of the 10 schools in our conference, if not more. It was a combination of factors. Our tuition Beginning this fall, a mandate by former Acting Governor Richard Codey keeps going up each requires random drug testing of New Jersey high school athletes. Track year, we don’t get as coaches who support the plan believe it sends a strong message and will help much support from prepare athletes to steer clear of banned substances in college. the state as some of our sister schools, and we couldn’t get had hoped we could get some enough alumni to step forbig problem in track and field kind of testing program going, ward with financial gifts.” in New Jersey, and I expect but the biggest problem is the the tests to back that up.” cost.” To increase revenue, the track program had been fostering While the mandatory testing relationships with local busiplan has drawn the most atten- While testing is not on the immediate horizon for Florida, nesses, adding advertising to tion, it isn’t the only way New Stewart remains convinced its arena, hosting an annual Jersey is addressing perforit’s an idea worth pursuing. “I auction with help from Head mance-enhancing substance think as long as [steroid use] Track Coach Ronald Boyce, use by high school athletes. is a major issue in professional and sending a monthly newsThe task force’s work will also athletics like it is today, it will letter to its track alumni. result in a steroid education be an issue,” he said. “The Despite these and similar plan for the state’s elemenonly way to stop it is through efforts for other sports, the tary and middle schoolers, as testing. Education is an impordepartment needed to find well as ramped up educational tant part, and we will do our $500,000 worth of cuts. efforts for coaches, athletic part in that regard, but if you trainers, and school nurses. really want to put a stop to it, In September 2005, the uniyou have to test for it.” versity appointed a nine-perThis spring, Florida almost son panel, including Rowe, to joined New Jersey in teststudy all 21 athletic programs. ing high school athletes, after Each program was evaluated the state legislature allocated on its ability to compete, the $200,000 for a testing proacademic record of its stugram to begin in 2007. But dent-athletes, its integration the plan was nixed when Gov- For more than a decade, Athinto the university culture, and letic Director Bill Rowe fought ernor Jeb Bush cut that fundits ability to live within its budto maintain men’s indoor and ing from the state budget. get and be as financially indeoutdoor track and field at Mis“Of course, the governor has pendent as possible. souri State University, formerfinal say, and we respect his ly called Southwest Missouri right to veto,” Florida High The panel met eight times State University. But before School Athletic Association during the fall semester and the start of last season, the Commissioner John Stewart created a system to rate each program was officially cut, told the Tampa Tribune. “We

AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

Programs Cut at Missouri State

sport’s facility, competitive strength, graduation rate, fan base, alumni support, and local/national recognition. Then, after crunching the numbers and weighing the impact of potential cuts on the university’s Title IX compliance, diversity goals, and budget, panelists presented three options to the president. All three options included cutting men’s track and field and cross country, which scored at the bottom of the panel’s rankings. In a seven-team conference, men’s indoor track and field finished no better than sixth in the last five years. Over the same period, men’s outdoor track and field had finished third (once), fifth (twice) and sixth (twice). The men’s cross country team fared better, but only placed fourth (four times) and sixth (once) out of 10 teams. Following the president’s recommendation, the Board of Governors unanimously approved the most drastic of the three options, also eliminating men’s and women’s

“Don’t take for granted that your sport is always going to be there. Don’t wait until the house is on fire to begin rescuing your program ... I hope this serves as a wakeup call to other schools.” tennis. The cuts will directly affect 39 student-athletes, who will continue to receive scholarship money as long as they stay at Missouri State. Once the scholarships are off the books, the combined

COACHING MANAGEMENT

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD cuts will save the university $550,000 a year. Response to the cuts included a protest by the local NAACP, a last-minute proposal by an economics professor to scale back the school’s I-AA football program, and a Title IX suit by the women’s tennis team, which failed to obtain an injunction to stop the cuts and will likely continue its fight in court. That leaves Missouri State with 16 teams, 10 women’s and six men’s, the lowest allowed by the NCAA, and leaves Rowe with a warning to other schools. “Don’t take for granted that your sport is always going to be there,” advises Rowe. “Don’t wait until the house is on fire to start rescuing your program. It’s been a tough year, and if nothing else, I hope this serves as a wakeup call to other schools.”

YOUR

Handling GLBT Issues

to use a separate section of the women’s locker room.

When Jennifer Hartshorn became Head Coach of the women’s track and field program at Bates College in August 2005, she expected to face some new challenges. One of them, however, would have been new for almost any coach: The most decorated athlete on the team wanted to become a man. At the end of the 2004-05 school year, thrower Kelly Godsey, a perennial NCAA Division III All-American, decided she wanted to identify as a male. Over the summer, she changed her name to Keelin and asked then-Athletics Director Suzanne Coffey that the school use the new name and the pronoun “he” in bios, press releases, and other references. The senior also asked

Following the request, Coffey, now Athletic Director at Amherst College, spent the summer consulting with the NCAA and the Center for Drug Free Sport to explore potential legal and competitive issues. Because Godsey would not begin taking male hormone treatments, he was deemed to have no competitive advantage. Though he preferred to be identified as a man, from a competitive standpoint, Godsey was still categorized as a woman. Hartshorn’s first step was to address the issue openly with her team. At a preseason meeting in August, she introduced herself, described her expectations for the season, and then told the athletes that one of their teammates want-

ed to say something. “Keelin got up and basically said, ‘This is what I’m doing, and this is what I’d like to be called,’” says Hartshorn. “He also told his teammates they could come to him at any time to talk, and that he didn’t mind questions.” Godsey extended the same offer to Hartshorn, and the coach immediately took her star athlete up on it. “We probably talked for an hour and a half,” says Godsey. “I asked him everything I thought someone might ask me about the situation. I wasn’t ever going to give up Keelin’s secrets, but I really wanted to understand why he made this choice so I could best help him down the road.” Next Hartshorn addressed the situation with the coaches she’d be competing against.

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talk about right now. I’m here to get ready for my race and support my teammates,’” she says. “That approach worked really well.”

level following his decision. “Keelin seemed very happy this year,” Hartshorn says. “This was something he really needed to do for his peace of mind.”

Even with these measures, it was impossible to completely control how the media handled the subject, and one article in particular proved painful. Though Godsey had declined to be interviewed, The Boston Globe published a story that included interviews with Godsey’s family about Keelin’s gender struggles growing up.

As for making it work at an institutional level, Hartshorn says the key for Bates was being proactive at the outset. “It’s important that coaches realize that this can happen,” she says, “and that with a little preparation, it doesn’t have to be a big deal.

“The Boston Globe article was really the hardest part of all this, because Keelin did not want it written, and he didn’t want anybody to talk to his parents and dig into his past,” says Hartshorn. “He gave the one interview to the local paper and really wanted that to be the end of it.”

Bates College’s Keelin Godsey broke the meet record in the hammer throw at the 2006 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. Born female, the 16-time All-American went public this season with a decision to identify as male. While attending the annual New England Small College Athletic Conference track and field coaches meeting in December, she told her peers about Godsey’s situation, and NESCAC coaches voiced unanimous support for Godsey. Dealing with the media was the next challenge. When the season began, the Bates Sports Information Department began publishing press releases and other department materials using Godsey’s new first name and referring to him using male pronouns. Slowly,

word of Godsey’s changes began to circulate among the local media. Having decided earlier to limit media attention, Bates made Godsey available for only one interview, with a long-time local newspaper reporter who covered the track and field team. Hartshorn also prepped the rest of her team for dealing with questions from reporters. “We told athletes they could say what they wanted, but that it was also fine to tell a reporter, ‘I’m at a track meet, and this isn’t what I want to

Despite that bump in the road, the season went very smoothly, and Hartshorn credits Godsey for much of the success. “It helped that he was already an established part of our team before his request, and that he went above and beyond to stay connected with his teammates—something that’s rare in this sport’s elite athletes, let alone someone going through the changes Keelin was,” says Hartshorn. “Keelin was really into helping his teammates and that made it easy.” Godsey ended his career at Bates as a 16-time All-American and was named to the Division III Silver Anniversary Team for the hammer throw by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. In May, Godsey won his second consecutive Division III national championship in the hammer throw, breaking his own meet record with a throw of 206 feet, 5 inches. Having graduated in May, Godsey has his sights set on competing at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials. But more important than any records was Godsey’s comfort

“Every day, athletes ask me to do things for them and compared to most of those requests, this really wasn’t that big of a request,” Hartshorn adds. “But at the same time, honoring it meant a lot to Keelin.”

Wheels on the Track Atholton High School in Columbia, Md., is one of the few schools in the country that can boast of having a world-class athlete in its halls. Junior Tatyana McFadden won silver and bronze medals in the 2004 Paralympic Summer Games. However, she had to get a court order before she could compete alongside her teammates on the Atholton girls’ track and field team. McFadden, who is paralyzed from the waist down, brought suit against Howard County Public Schools, which allowed wheelchair athletes to compete only in events with other wheelchair athletes. Her suit did not ask for her results to be scored, simply that she be allowed to race alongside her teammates. In April, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction allowing her to compete on the track at the same time as able-bodied runners. “I wanted to have the same high school experience as everyone else, and I wanted to get the feel for competition,” McFadden told The Associated

COACHING MANAGEMENT

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Press after her first race of the season. “This was really important to me, and I wanted everyone to see how I ran and how hard I worked to get here.”

to give this kid an incredible experience.” The OSAA has established specific protocols for its members to follow when integrating wheelchair track athletes. For example, in 100-meter races, OSAA guidelines place wheelchair competitors in the outermost lanes, typically lanes 1 and 8, and they must stay in their own lane, just like able-bodied runners. In races exceeding 400 meters, wheelchair athletes use a staggered start and must stay outside of lane 3 for the entire race.

For McFadden and her teammates, however, the season ended on a difficult note. McFadden was accused of pacing a teammate during the 1,600-meter race at the state finals. Her teammate’s winning finish was thrown out, and the loss of first-place points moved Atholton from first to third. Both McFadden’s court case and the controversy over her role at the state meet raise a question that many schools and state associations have struggled with: Should wheelchair athletes be allowed to compete alongside able-bodied athletes in high school track and field? There is no easy answer, and even supporters of competitive opportunities for wheelchair athletes often disagree about how to best accommodate their needs and desires. Louisiana and Oregon are two states that have taken different approaches. The Louisiana High School Athletic Association includes wheelchair events in its meets. Disabled athletes can earn points for their teams, but compete only in wheelchair events. The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), on the other hand, allows wheelchair track athletes to compete alongside able-bodied runners at all meets except the state championships, but does not count their scores.

Ian Jaquiss, Executive Director of Oregon Disability Sports, would like to see more states follow Louisiana’s lead. Faced

COACHING MANAGEMENT

A junior at Atholton High School in Maryland and a medalist at the Paralympic Games, Tatyana McFadden won a court order allowing her to compete alongside her non-wheelchair peers. with the argument that there are not enough wheelchair athletes to make this feasible, Jaquiss says that if you build it, they will come. “The problem is not that there are only a handful of kids out there capable of competing in wheelchair events—there are too many kids with disabilities not doing anything,” he says. “And if you let them score, it will be in the school’s best

interest to get every kid who’s capable out there competing.” While some competitive equity issues remain unresolved, safety concerns may be more easily answered. “If the athlete can follow instructions, is strong enough to push a wheelchair, and has adequate motor skills to stay in their lane, it’s not something to be afraid of,” Hansen says. “And you’re going to be able

Hansen says coaches need to consider transportation as well. “It’s very important to get the kids on the bus because it will broaden everyone’s understanding. Also, part of the experience is singing the goofy songs and talking about who’s taking who to the prom,” he says. “If there aren’t wheelchair-accessible buses, we have gotten two of the weight-throw guys to help lift the wheelchair athlete onto the bus.” For coaches wondering if the up-front work is worth the rewards, Jaquiss says, “It’s been my experience that once

To receive a handbook on working with wheelchair athletes, contact Kevin Hansen at: wwscoach@efn.org or (541) 485-1860. The USA Track & Field rule book includes a section on adaptations for athletes with disabilities, which can be downloaded from the USATF Web site at: www.usatf.org/about/rules/2006/.

AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

“There’s debate within the disabled sports community about the best approach, just as there is among athletic directors,” says Kevin Hansen, President of World Wheelchair Sports. “The important thing is that we keep the discussion going.”

There’s also the issue of equipment, since most wheelchair racers use specially designed racing chairs that can cost $1,000 or more. “We’ve corralled a whole bunch of used equipment and we run an equipment loan program for any kid in Oregon who wants to compete on their high school track team,” Hansen says. “There are also wheelchair sport organizations in almost every state and often times they can supply equipment. If worse comes to worst, call me, and I will help find equipment.”

someone takes steps to include a person with a disability, they see great benefits, both for the athlete who now competes and for able-bodied athletes who now have a new teammate with a different perspective on life.”

Rethinking Youth Sports Many high school track and field coaches look at the youth programs available for sports like basketball, baseball, and football, and wish they had a similar program for track. Rick Collins, on the other hand, looks at highly formalized and successful youth programs not with envy, but concern.

system that ends up serving no one well, except perhaps those who run elite teams and camps. “If an adult tells a seven-year-old, ‘Right now, you’re not good enough,’ it takes a special child with a tremendous amount of self-esteem and maturity to overcome that,” Collins says. “At the same time, I see a great amount of stress and a lack of enjoyment for kids who do compete at the

Head Coach of girls’ varsity track and field at Simsbury (Conn.) High School, Collins is also a fourth-grade teacher, and he has begun a crusade to change the culture of youth sports throughout his state and perhaps the nation. His main complaint is that youth sports, no matter how well intended, have come to focus on the early-blooming, talented elite. Collins believes this hurts not only those who get left behind, but also the youngsters who excel.

“[Parent problems] don’t suddenly pop up when kids get to high school. They are bred at the youth sports level, and unless we address them there, anything we do at the high school level is just a Band-Aid.” Collins contends that kids who don’t make travel or other elite teams in the preteen years—before many are physically and psychologically able to shine— mostly give up on sports. They miss out on the benefits of athletic competition and don’t bother trying out when they get to high school, just when their athletic ability may be coming into its own. At the same time, many youngsters who do make elite squads burn out by the time they reach the age where high-level competition is more appropriate. It’s a

elementary level. The whole point of youth sports is for kids to have a great time. But our kids are almost becoming miniature professional athletes, with all the pressures that accompany having to win and make travel teams.” To advocate for change, Collins has begun speaking throughout Connecticut to anyone who will listen and has formed the Connecticut Youth Sports Initiative,

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD targeted primarily at municipal youth boards. He asks the boards to de-emphasize or eliminate travel squads for children younger than 11 and institute leveled sports programs that emphasize learning skills along with teamwork, fair play, and fun. He also wants the programs to ensure that all participants see significant participation opportunities.

Collins believes it’s up to other high school coaches to initiate change in their own communities. “A high school coach who has courage and foresight can make a change,” he says. “If you want to take a stand, go to the youth board for your sport and demand that they keep developmental factors as major components of the youth program.”

Teamwork, confidence-building, and plain old fun—these should be the hallmarks of playing youth sports, not pressure to win, according to Rick Collins, Head Girls’ Coach at Simsbury (Conn.) High School. Collins is spearheading a campaign to eliminate travel and elite teams for kids under age 11.

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According to Collins, the approach could also help reduce many of the problems high school coaches encounter with parents, such as anger over playing time. “Those problems don’t just suddenly pop up when the kids get to high school,” he says. “They are bred at the youth sports level, and unless we address some of these issues there, anything we do at the high school level is just a Band-Aid.”

To set an example, Collins runs a youth track program that meets only an hour a week. Kids learn the basics of each event and compete on relay teams. The approach has helped him garner much greater turnout for his high school program, he believes, by simply introducing sports to young children without asking them to compete in a way that’s not appropriate for their age.

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Q&A

DON LARSON North Dakota State University

In his first 25 years as the Head Men’s Track and Field Coach at North Dakota State University, Don Larson built the Bison into one of NCAA Division II’s most respected programs. Between indoor and outdoor track and cross country, Larson guided NDSU to 36 North Central Conference team championships, including a string of 13 consecutive outdoor titles from 1987 to 1999. Nationally, his teams finished in the top 10 at the Division II outdoor championship meet seven times, including a third-place finish in 2004. The Bison also finished seventh or higher at the Division II indoor championships six times. During this period, Larson coached his athletes to 193 All-America

performances and 11 individual national championships. But in 2005 Larson’s challenges moved beyond improving times, heights, and distances, as NDSU began its transition to Division I. The Bison burst onto the scene by blowing away the competition at the Division I Independent Outdoor Championships (a championship meet for schools without conference affiliation), winning the team title by more than 70 points. That success carried over to 2006, when NDSU took home its second consecutive Independent Championships outdoor team title. After completing the second year of a five-year transition period, Larson spoke with Coaching Management about the challenges he’s encountered since joining Division I. In this interview, he shares his philosophy on promoting the team concept, utilizing assistant coaches, and coaching alongside his wife.

CM: What has been the biggest change in making the jump to Division I? Larson: Travel—we’ve been making longer trips to some really good meets, thanks to a larger travel budget. We’re able to branch out and attend meets in places like Florida, where the springtime weather is a little nicer than it is here in North Dakota. We’re not on the road any longer than before, but instead of an extremely long bus trip, we take a flight. What was it like going from a dominating D-II program to a fledgling D-I program? Fortunately, the year we made the jump, our team was loaded with talented seniors, so we were able to make some noise at the bigger meets right away. Plus, the enhanced travel budget meant we could go to more big meets and take more kids. For the first Independent Championships meet we flew 27 kids to California to compete for four days—that’s quite a price tag. For the administration to provide those resources displayed a strong commitment, and the kids really appreciated that. For our elite kids, the new indoor meet schedule included Nebraska, the University of Washington, and Notre Dame, and the outdoor schedule took us to the University of Miami, University of Texas, Drake, and the Mt. SAC Relays. It’s as good a schedule as most Division I programs have. Moving up a division was about having opportunities to succeed, and our athletes really took advantage of it.

Junior Jake Januszewski contributed 10 points to NDSU’s 2006 NCAA Division I Independent Championship win with a victory in the steeplechase. The title is the Bison’s second since joining Division I.

How does recruiting in Division I differ from Division II? We’re still recruiting in the same geographic areas as we always have—Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. But now, we are able to go after more of the blue-chip kids.

Do you ask athletes to compete in events that may not be their strongest in order to score points? We don’t ask kids to do events they’re not comfortable in without letting them be part of the discussion. But the type of kids we recruit want to be successful

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Q&A and are willing to sacrifice. In last year’s Independent Championships, we had an athlete we weren’t going to ask to run the 10K because we didn’t think he had a chance to win, and we wanted him to be fresh for the 5K. But we ended up asking him to run the 10K because we thought he might be able to get us a couple of points. Well, he won the 5K

and a full-time women’s head coach, but our assistants coach based on event, not gender. So our men’s and women’s teams work out at the same time, and that’s been a really good system for us. Our assistant coaches have phenomenal relationships with our athletes. I can’t imagine working with any other coaches during this process.

“It’s tough to get the 100m and 200m sprinter to run a quarter mile—especially if the only time they ran the 400 was in high school, and they spent most of the time afterward throwing up in a garbage can. But if you show those sprinters how much easier the 200m will seem after running the quarter mile, it’s a lot easier to convince them to give longer races a try.”

and placed in the 10K, which helped us win the meet. How do you convince athletes to train outside of their comfort zone? We’re always talking about what direction they should take in their events. We’ve had kids win events they had rarely run before. It’s tough to get the 100m and 200m sprinter to run a quarter mile—especially if the only time they ran the 400 was in high school, and they spent most of the time afterward throwing up in a garbage can. But if you show those sprinters how much easier the 200m will seem after running the quarter mile, it’s a lot easier to convince them to give longer races a try. How do you keep academics in perspective? We were lucky enough to have 30 NCAA post-grad scholars last spring. A local reporter asked me, “Of all the things you’ve accomplished in moving to Division I, what are you most proud of?” I told him the 30 post-grad scholars. He said, “No, I mean on the track.” I told him that academics are a huge part of our program. To me it’s all about trying to be successful academically and athletically, and the third part is growing and maturing into wellrounded adults. We tell our athletes the main reason they’re here is to get an education and while they’re doing so, they can have an unbelievable athletic experience, especially now that we’re in Division I. What is your system for working with your assistant coaches? We have a full-time men’s head coach

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In March, I tore my hamstring while demonstrating at a youth clinic. I had a lot of complications after my surgery and was only able to travel to one outdoor meet. But we were okay because we have a staff that’s always willing to go the extra mile. What’s it like having your wife on staff as an assistant coach? Desire’e and I have been married for 20 years. We were introduced by the former head coach at St. Cloud State, who was the chair of the Division II subcommittee in the mid-80s. He put the two of us on a committee to study the feasibility of

No whining! I’m better at not talking about track when we’re home than my wife is. She came from a track family and understands what is required to do this job well. She never complains about me being on the road too much or having home visits on Sundays, because she knows that is what it takes. Both of us understand that if you’re going to have any level of success, it requires a tremendous time commitment—schedules have to be flexible, and you’re not always going to be home for supper. What do you want to be remembered for as a coach? I gauge my success by how the studentathletes I’ve been involved with view their experience. I want them to look back on their careers and be able to say they’ve had opportunities to be successful. I tell athletes during the recruiting process, “You can be a student, you can be an athlete, and you can still have time for other things.” I want to be remembered for being fair and giving everybody the opportunity to be the best they could be. What’s next for you and your program? I’m looking forward to completing the transition. We’re in the developmental stage of possibly joining a conference, and that would be a big step forward. And of course there are the challenges we face year after year: training a new bunch of kids and welcoming a new recruiting class. It’s an exciting phase, and right now I’m having way too much fun to consider doing something different. I still enjoy going to work every day.

“I gauge my success by how the student-athletes I’ve been involved with view their experience. I want them to look back on their careers and be able to say they’ve had opportunities to be successful ... I want to be remembered for being fair and giving everybody the opportunity to be the best they could be.” indoor track as a national championship sport. That summer, we both had athletes qualify for the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials, and during that time we got together as a couple, and she eventually joined the staff here. It’s good and bad because we never really get away from track and field. What are the keys to making your relationship work? Flexibility and understanding. It goes along with our number-one team rule:

NDSU is a great place, and the biggest reason we’ve stayed is the community. Yeah, winters are a little tough, but we have a lot of friends, and our athletic administration is a great group to work with. Our coaches hang out—softball, football, basketball, wrestling, and track—and so we all do things together. At some schools, coaches never talk to each other, but here we all get along great. When faced with challenges, we all work together to solve them, and that’s important to me.

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and the powers that be have instructed the athletic director to make deep spending cuts. Selective trimming won’t be enough, and it looks like programs will be eliminated. If this were your institution, would track and field be on the chopping block? It’s a tough and uncomfortable question, but in an era of tightening belts, it’s one that coaches need to consider. Along with it comes another question: What steps can a coach take to ensure that administrators see the track and field program as a valuable asset they don’t want to lose? A glance at track and field programs eliminated in recent years proves that turning out successful athletes is not the whole answer—many of the now-defunct teams consistently posted winning performances. To ensure the safety of their programs, coaches are learning that their programs must add value to athletic departments and schools in ways that go beyond the scoreboard. “As coaches, we have to keep asking ourselves whether we’re providing enough for our university,” says Dennis Mitchell, Head Coach at the University of Akron. “Are we really promoting the university through what we do? Could we do more? To be safe, you’ve got to fight for your program and constantly sell your administration on what you’re trying to do. You have to push your pro-

gram to the forefront until everybody sees it as a major program on campus.” But how? Below, we share the strategies four successful coaches are using to earn their programs a position of prominence on campus and in their communities. At Akron, Mitchell is making track and field a major campus attraction by hosting meets that draw enthusiastic crowds. At Emporia State University, Head Coach Dave Harris is hosting the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships and becoming an expert in media relations to raise his program’s profile. At the University of Oregon, Vin Lananna, Director of Track and Field, is showing his program’s strength by building a large network of supportive alumni. And at Trinity College, Head Coach George Suitor is drawing attention and support by persuading elite athletes to put their celebrity status to work shoring up the sport at the high school and college levels. Making Meets Matter Mitchell believes there is one key to ensuring his program’s prominence on campus: hosting great meets. Mitchell hosts a minimum of two outdoor and four indoor meets every year, and in a busy year, he may host one or two more. “You can’t develop support for your program if you don’t have home competitions,” says Mitchell. “Home competitions

Today’s administrators are looking for programs that contribute more than winning records. That’s why top coaches are working hard to make track and field an integral part of their universities.

BY KENNY BERKOWITZ

COACHING MANAGEMENT

are the base of your program’s success.” To draw crowds and create a buzz, however, meets must be organized around the fans’ experience. “Whenever we put on a meet, we make sure it’s very fan-friendly,” says Mitchell. “Everything we do is directed towards making sure the spectator has an enjoyable experience. “Sometimes track meets get too sterile, because organizers are worried there’s going to be too much chaos,” he continues. “I believe a little chaos can lead to more excitement for fans and athletes. Things don’t need to be as tame as some people think.” Put into practice, that means condensing the entire meet into less than three hours, scheduling events as close together as possible, and keeping downtime to a minimum. It means posting easily viewable indicator boards around the field, locating field event areas for optimal sight lines, and having announcers continually direct the crowd’s attention to upcoming field events, while also providing information to keep them engaged in the competition. “Everyone knows what’s going on in the running events, so the key to getting fans involved is announcing a lot of field events,” says Mitchell. “Make sure the Kenny Berkowitz is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: kb@MomentumMedia.com.

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announcements are detailed so that everyone will be caught up in the action.” To hold fans’ attention, Mitchell borrows promotional ideas from other sports, including major and minor league baseball. Music plays from loudspeakers

State,” says Mitchell. A multi-school meet at Akron can draw as many as 1,000 fans, and between meets, Mitchell keeps them up to date with regular postings on the department Web site. By building a fan base, he expects to raise the team’s profile both on and off campus, working within the university’s mission to create the best possible experience for fans and student-athletes. “Hosting competitions that people can relate to creates public awareness about what we’re doing,” Mitchell says, “and that sense of excitement and vitality makes us an integral part of life at Akron.”

“Our high school athletes look to elite athletes for inspiration, but most of them have never seen their heroes in person. The race affected high school athletes in a profoundly positive way.” during field events, winning athletes throw free T-shirts into the crowd, and a running tally of results is used to keep spectators focused on the rivalries between schools. “We have a meet with our rival Kent State, and even if fans aren’t familiar with each event, everyone understands when Akron finishes ahead of Kent

Working with the Media When asked about the significance of the track and field program on campus, administrators at Emporia State University don’t have to think very long before they answer. In the last 11 years,

the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships have come three times to the school, located in Emporia, Kan., population 26,000. For Head Coach Dave Harris, hosting the championship meet is “a lot like running a marathon.” But it’s a boon to the local economy, bringing half a million dollars into the community each time, and is a great boost for Emporia State’s track program, which feels the impact locally, regionally, and nationally. “Our administration loves it, because hosting an event like this gives prominence to Emporia State and our track and field program,” says Harris, who is also President of the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. “There’s a certain prestige in telling recruits we’ve hosted three national championships. That shows our facility is top-notch, and that we’ve earned a tremendous amount of respect in our division.” Harris knows the benefit of hosting nationals depends largely on the level of media coverage he can garner for the meet. In the decade since first host-

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ing the championship, he has become more media-savvy. This, combined with increased support from the NCAA, allowed him to generate a much bigger buzz for the 2006 event. For Harris, the key is getting the media on his side, treating them well, and doing everything he can to help them do their job. “The first step is to make yourself accessible,” he says. “As track coaches, it feels like we’re constantly busy, always working toward the next weekend or dealing with one more thing. But when the reporters come around, you’ve got to take time out of your schedule to talk with them, answer their questions, and show them they can depend on you.” Harris gladly accepts invitations to speak on the radio, seizing the opportunity to communicate his message directly to listeners. In a series of radio interviews this spring, he continually emphasized the uniqueness of hosting the championships and the high-caliber action that fans could expect. “Whenever I was on the radio, I made it a point to call the NCAA champion-

ships ‘the greatest track and field meet Emporia will ever see,’” says Harris. “I talked about the individual athletes coming here, and true to form, they performed very well. We had a 7’6” high jump, which is world class. We had a 55’ triple jump and a 26’8” long jump. I had publicized those athletes ahead of time and specified exactly when they would be competing, and I think that helped a lot. People kept telling me, ‘I want to see that long jumper’ or ‘I want to see the high jump competition.’” The second step in working with the media, says Harris, is to provide reporters with the kind of information they need to make your sport appeal to the broadest possible audience. “They’re not just looking for the distance someone jumped in their last meet,” he says. “They’re looking for an angle, and that’s what we need to give them. “For example, I talked to one reporter about a young man on our team who’d served in Iraq, and that grabbed his interest, because it was more than just how fast someone runs the 10,000 meters,” Harris

continues. “It was about conditions in Iraq, how he’d trained, what he’d been through. After the interview, the reporter said to me, ‘That was a great story. It wasn’t just about athletics, it was about life.’” The third step is to maintain those relationships and always keep the media aware of developments in your program. At Emporia State, Harris makes time for regular conversations with the media, invites reporters to attend end-of-season banquets, and even asks them to emcee part of the evening. It’s all part of making the media feel involved in the track program, and even though it can be time-consuming, Harris feels it’s worth it for the long-term future of his program. “In my 14 years here, I’ve worked with six different newspaper sports reporters, and none of them knew much about track and field coming in,” he says. “But they learned a lot through talking with our athletes and talking with me, and they’ve helped us tremendously by covering the sport well. “The media can help you create a buzz about your program,” continues Harris.

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“And it certainly helps to have them on your side.” Friends in High Places In 2003, George Suitor, Head Coach at Trinity College (Conn.), came up with a way to raise the profile, not just of his program, but of scholastic track and field as a whole. He decided to enlist a group of elite athletes to give back to the sport. “Many of us have coached and known athletes who make a living competing in track and field,” says Suitor. “They can make a huge difference at the grassroots level, and it’s time for us to encourage them to give their energy to support the growth of the sport.” To achieve this, Suitor began putting together the 2003 Connecticut Invitational Mile with two main goals. He wanted to raise the profile of his program, broadening his fan base and building support around the state. At the same time, he wanted to honor one of his team’s most successful members, Ryan Bak, with the opportunity to run a four-minute mile—a feat that had

been accomplished only once in NCAA Division III. To assemble a field of runners strong enough to push Bak to the vaunted time, Suitor began networking. His first call went to Erik Nedeau, Head Coach at Amherst College, who agreed to run. The second call went to Suitor’s former graduate assistant Gary Gardner, the Head Coach at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, who added his strongest miler to the field. Two other coaches volunteered their best runners, and with the promise of a strong field, Suitor created a partnership with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, which agreed to host the invitational during its state high school championships. From there, the professionals quickly followed, as Zap Fitness offered Dan Wilson and Karl Savage, who ultimately finished the race in first and second place. Nike’s Alan Webb also asked to join in, gladly waiving any appearance fee. As the field grew, Suitor enlisted the help of friends in the media, signed an announcer to call the race, and began

his own personal campaign on running blogs and Web sites. He arranged to have the event sanctioned by USA Track and Field (the $40 fee was the only money he spent on the event), and scheduled the race at an optimal time for evening news coverage. In the end, Bak didn’t reach the 4:00 mark, but his 4:11.49, clocking ninth out of 12 runners, did little to dampen the excitement of the event. “Although we didn’t achieve our original goal for Ryan, it turned out to be a truly exciting and memorable race,” says Suitor. “It was an event that every high school kid in the stadium will remember for the rest of their life.” Five thousand people came to the sold-out event, the largest crowd ever to attend Connecticut’s high school track championships, and cheered until the last runner crossed the finish line. The elite runners, including Webb, stayed until the end of the event, signing autographs, talking with high school athletes, and inspiring the people around them. “Season after season, our high school athletes look up to these people for inspi-

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ration to achieve their goals,” says Suitor. “But most of them have never seen their heroes in person. There’s no doubt in my mind that the race affected high school athletes in a profoundly positive way.” Looking back, Suitor is surprised at how easy it was to organize the event and how well it turned out. Along with building their own fan base, the elite athletes had the satisfaction of giving back to the sport. College runners were able to race on a first-class track, facing some of the toughest competition of their careers. And Trinity College was able to demonstrate its commitment to the sport and raise awareness of its track and field program among the best high school athletes in the state. “As track coaches, if we could stage 15 or 20 of these events each year, I’m confident we would build our fan base,” says Suitor. “We need to encourage elite athletes to give their time, talent, and

commitment to inspire the growth of the sport that has given so much to them.” Reconnecting Alumni One sure-fire way to show your institution the strength of your program is to have the solid backing of a large group of people who once wore your uniform. That’s why in one of his first acts as Associate Athletic Director and Director of Track & Field at the University of Oregon, Vin Lananna began reaching out to track alumni. “Establishing relationships with alumni is critical for any successful program,” he says. “Developing close relationships with athletes who’ve had an experience in your program is enormously important for creating a positive feeling for your program.” Arriving at the start of the 2005-06 school year, Lananna immediately sent out letters of introduction to Oregon’s

igh school track and field programs rarely face the same chopping block scenario that worries college coaches. But that doesn’t mean cultivating support on campus and in the community shouldn’t be a priority—in fact, it can pay huge dividends. At Colonel Crawford High School, Head Coach Judy Grove knows this, and she has a new all-weather track to prove it.

In the school’s small town of North Robinson, Ohio, where the typical graduating class has less than 100 students, athletic boosters are almost finished raising $338,000 for the new track, which opened this fall. How? The answer, according to Grove, was single-mindedness and a lot of legwork. “For six years, this is what the booster club has focused on,” Grove says. “We dedicated ourselves fully to making this happen, and until we finished this project, everything else was put on the back burner.” In the first part of a two-stage plan, boosters raised $199,000 for a new fieldhouse, which was largely built with volunteer labor and includes coaches’ offices, lockers, and a state-of-theart weightroom. In the second phase, all monies raised were dedicated to constructing the track. Three years from now, Grove expects the bank loan to be completely paid, thanks to gifts, donations, craft sales, raffles, and an annual classic Corvette raffle—conducted with the help of a car dealership in nearby Napoleon, Ohio—which draws ticket buyers from around the world. Grove credits athletic boosters and volunteers with making this dream a reality by contributing enormous amounts of time

track alumni, which were followed with personal telephone calls to the track program’s most prominent supporters. His goal was to begin building excitement for the upcoming outdoor season, which began with the Oregon Preview and ended with the Pacific-10 Conference Championships at the university’s home field. All track alumni were invited to return to Hayward Field to celebrate the conference meet. Out of 1800 invitees, well over 500 alumni attended the event, where they met the new coach, mingled with current student-athletes, and reconnected to the program. “The key is to get alumni back at your institution, because once they see the campus and the dorms, it’ll rekindle the excitement they felt when they were athletes,” says Lananna. “That’s what really gets to people. And to do that, you need some kind of defining event.” When Lananna worked at Dartmouth

and energy to support their high school athletes. Their fans are among the most visible members of the community, and the track they’ve helped build will be open to the entire town year-round. As the wife of the booster club treasurer, Grove has learned how much work goes into a successful fundraising campaign, and as a coach, she’s seen the importance of having a vision, a gameplan, and a positive attitude. Her advice to others looking to raise what seems like an impossible sum is to be persistent and optimistic. “I learned that a small-town community is big enough to support an endeavor like this,” she says, “and I learned to never give up. We have a lot of resources and a lot of talented people in this community. We have business leaders who are graduates of our school, and they were ready to give back as soon as we asked. “A lot of people think, ‘I’m not going to ask so-and-so, because they’ll say no,’” Grove continues. “But you don’t know that. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The worst you can get is a no, and 95 percent of the time we got a yes. Tap into your community members as much as possible, show them what their hard work can do, and give them something that everyone can be proud of.”

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College, that defining event was the Dartmouth Relays. At Oberlin College, it was a Hall of Fame dinner during Commencement Weekend, and at Stanford University, it was the largest home meet of the year. He believes it’s important to create an occasion that will provide excitement for the entire family. “To make it easy for people to come back, there have to be places for them to stay, intriguing activities, and ways to keep spouses and children engaged,” says Lananna. “You can’t just invite alumni for one two-hour event. There have to be ways for them to meet the current athletes and feel involved in the day-to-day experience of the team. And your focus can’t be raising money—if you organize a worthwhile event, the fundraising will take care of itself.” Lananna worked closely with the department’s development office to help identify key track and field alumni who could motivate their former teammates. A committee of alumni athletes was chosen to help organize the reunion, with representatives from each decade and a balance

of male and female alumni. He took the time to personalize each invitation with a short note, and after letters were mailed to everyone in the database, the committee members led follow-up efforts to bring former athletes back to Hayward Field. “First of all, make sure your contact information is accurate,” advises Lananna. “Having e-mail addresses is very important, but for the older alums, make sure you have reliable mailing addresses as well. Second, get your information out early, so alums can network with other people from their era. Attach a personal note to each letter, even if it’s just a sentence or two, and include a business card with your telephone number and e-mail address, so people can contact you. “It all comes down to being sincere,” he continues. “Your letter has to be really special, or it will be just another piece of mail. You have to be positive, but at the same time, you have to be able to address the concerns that people have—especially those athletes whose collegiate experience wasn’t always favorable. Once people arrive on campus, make sure you attend

all functions, even when you’re involved in coaching the meet. It may be difficult to connect with every single alum, but it’s critical to put the time in and let people know that you’re accessible.” Lananna plans to make the reunion an annual event. Between events, the department will keep in touch with alumni through a thank-a-thon staffed by current student-athletes, quarterly newsletters from the track program, and regular follow-up e-mails by members of the alumni committee. Ultimately, says Lananna, the more positive contact you have with alumni, the better your relationships will be, and your program will benefit. “If you’re going to preserve your program, alumni are crucial,” he says. “And you need to find ways to keep them feeling connected to the current program because people are far more inclined to support something when they feel a connection. “To really be strong, there has to be value associated with our programs,” he continues, “and that goes far beyond the scoreboard.” ■

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231 Venture Circle Nashville, TN 37228

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AHEAD OF THE PACK BY DR. GUY THIBAULT

JAMIE SCHWABEROW/NCAA PHOTOS

any myths and misconceptions surround endurance training. Popular magazines provide advice that is not always backed by science. And coaches who have “always done it” a certain way may not keep up with the latest research. Anyone who trains athletes needing endurance does them a disservice by not knowing the latest research. In this

Want to put some science behind your endurance training methods? This author dissects the research and provides insight into training for stamina, debunking some myths along the way.

article, I’ll explore three important topics in endurance training that are often misunderstood. Lactic Acid When an athlete fatigues, lactic acid is often blamed. For years, we have told athletes the reason they can’t push anymore is that lactic acid has built up in their muscles. But this is false, and there is much evidence disproving it. Let’s start with a fact: At high inten-

sity, muscles produce lactic acid, which enters the blood in the form of a salt called lactate. From this truth, many have reasoned that the more lactic acid accumulates, the more the muscle fatigues. However, if we examine the way energy is produced in the muscle during efforts of varying intensities, we find that lactate is not as detrimental as once thought. The most convincing evidence for this conclusion is that it’s possible to observe muscle fatigue while the lactic acid con-

Guy Thibault, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Kinesiology Department at the University of Montreal and a scientific adviser to the Canadian Cycling Association. His work is dedicated to the interpretation of scientific knowledge for coaches, particularly those involved in individual sports.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

CONDITIONING

centration in the muscle remains low. Conversely, there can be an absence of fatigue when the lactic acid concentration in the muscle is high. For example, at the end of a demanding bike ride of several hours in the mountains, the athleteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fatigue level is quite high, but his or her blood lactate concentration is not much higher than in a resting state. Now, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look at the opposite scenario. If an athlete performs an exhausting isometric effort with the quadriceps (for

example, one study had athletes perform a chair exercise, with their backs leaning against a wall), fatigue will tend to reduce strength temporarily. The athlete gets to the point where he or she canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t continue the exercise and needs to rest. Two minutes after completion of the exercise, fatigue in the muscle is gone, and the athlete can once again produce his or her initial force. However, during the recuperation period, the degree of acidity in the muscles lowers to normal rather slowly. At the

two-minute mark, the degree of acidity remains very high. Thus, it is difficult to embrace the idea that an increase in lactic acid in the muscle causes fatigue, since a high degree of acidity without fatigue can be observed. An athleteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall level of fatigue depends on a mixture of causes, which vary with different types of effort. Lactic acid or lactate is not the sole cause of muscular fatigue, nor even one of the major causes of it.

INTERVAL TR AINING MODEL This graph enables coaches to set interval training sessions suitable for the development of anaerobic capacity (105 or 110% MAP), VO2max or Maximal Aerobic Power (95, 100, or 105% MAP), or aerobic endurance (85 or 90% MAP), with the appropriate duration and number of bouts of effort. For example, the session represented at

square C consists of 10 repetitions each lasting 1:30 minutes at 100 percent of maximal aerobic power. As indicated in the white box, the 10 repetitions should be broken down into two sets (since it is in the yellow area), and there should be three minutes of active recovery between repetitions and 10 minutes between sets.

Recovery times in minutes between:

Repetitions

reps

sets

4 sets

3 sets

2 sets

1 set

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

110%

105%

100%

95%

90%

85%

Duration of Each Bout of Effort (in Minutes:Seconds)

COACHING MANAGEMENT

CONDITIONING

In fact, lactic acid build-up may be positive. For an average sprinter, blood lactate concentration, which is about 1 mmol/l in a resting state, increases to about 18 mmol/l at the end of a 400-meter race. But, for an elite sprinter, it rises to 23 mmol/l. The extra lactic acid produced by the elite runner supplies his muscles with a greater amount of anaerobic energy, which means a better performance. Thus, in short efforts (under 10 minutes), higher blood lactate concentration helps to make elite runners elite. It is wrong to believe that athletes training in anaerobic events learn to “tolerate” more lactic acid. Instead, they learn how to produce more, which means they develop a greater supply of energy. Related to the lactic acid myth is the anaerobic threshold misconception. It says that among the vast range of exercise intensities, there is a threshold at which you start producing lactic acid at a much higher rate and cannot increase exercise intensity any more. However, current scientific knowledge refutes the anaerobic threshold theory. Studies have found that there is no power

threshold below or above which the muscle does not produce lactate. Muscles constantly produce lactate, from the lowest work level to the highest. During a ramp test, in which an athlete must exercise at an intensity that keeps increasing until exhaustion, blood lactate concentration never appears as a threshold. In fact, a curve comparing intensity level to lactate concentration shows no deflection. The take-home message is this: There is no reason to consider lactic acid build-up or anaerobic threshold when designing your strength and endurance programs. Lactic acid and lactate—the scapegoats for the pain athletes experience—are not responsible for all the ills they are blamed for. They are not the cause of fatigue, cramps, or soreness. The anaerobic threshold is just as meaningless, and its importance has been vastly overstated. Interval Training Model Interval training is frequently chosen over continuous training because it enables an athlete to perform a greater amount of

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work at elevated intensity. And that is the key to boosting important physiological performance factors, such as anaerobic capacity, maximal aerobic power (MAP or power output when VO2max is reached), and endurance capability. One key to effective interval training is planning the correct amount of work at the correct intensity. However, no model for determining the ideal duration, frequency, and intervals for this type of training existed. In response, I designed one that relates the elements of an infinite number of interval training sessions, all of which are of the same level of difficulty. In fact, they are all very difficult, which means after doing any of these workouts, an athlete needs one or two days of easy training to recover before taking on another session. My interval training model is represented by a graph (see page 22). Each of the six curves corresponds to a relative intensity, from 85 to 110 percent of MAP in five-percent increments. The duration of each work interval is represented on the x-axis, and the number of repetitions

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Circle No. 116 COACHING MANAGEMENT

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on the y-axis. Each point on the curves of the graph represents an interval training session. The squares represent sessions in which work intervals are multiples of 30 seconds. The varying colors on the chart indicate the number of sets that should be used based on the number of repetitions chosen. The box in the upper right-hand corner provides the duration of active recovery between work intervals and between sets. It is assumed that recovery occurs at around 50 percent of MAP, a relatively low intensity. Coaches and athletes can also use this model to plan interval training sessions that are not as difficult. A session in which an athlete completes less than the number of repetitions called for by the model has a level of difficulty below the “maximum” level. For example, completing only five work intervals instead of 10 as prescribed by the model corresponds to a 50 percent level of difficulty. The beauty of the model is that it helps coaches plan sessions and develop training programs for any sport in which anaerobic capacity, MAP, and endurance capability are performance factors. Feedback from coaches and athletes who use the model indicates that it has useful pedagogical and practical applications in organizing sessions and developing long-term training plans. Athletes performing one to three interval training sessions every week based on this model improve their MAP by a margin almost impossible to achieve with a regular training program. I have often seen MAP improvements of more than two watts per hard interval training session. To use this model, you must first answer some questions about your training goals. For instance, what is the physical quality you want to improve? If it is anaerobic capacity, then target intensity should be 105 or 110 percent of MAP. If you want to train MAP, then the target intensity should be 95, 100, or 105 percent of MAP. For endurance, target intensity should be 85, 90, or 95 percent of MAP. Also, do you want to put the emphasis on quantity or quality? If the answer is quantity, choose a session with more than 20 repetitions. If the answer is quality, choose a session with less than 10 repetitions. Let’s say I want to improve MAP in “quantity” at a 75-percent difficulty level. Therefore I’ll train at 95 percent MAP (100 or 105 would also be okay), with 24

COACHING MANAGEMENT

each session consisting of 24 repetitions of one minute. Using three sets at a 100percent difficulty level, I would do eight repetitions with two minutes of active rest between repetitions and five minutes between sets (see point D on the graph). But instead of doing all 24 repetitions, I’ll do only 75 percent of the 24, or 18 repetitions. That would translate into six reps in each set. If I have a device that provides feedback on the actual intensity at which I exercise (such as a CompuTrainer), I can set the intensity if I know my MAP, which can be assessed with a progressive maximal test. If I do not have such a device, I have to pace myself as if I’d be doing 24 exhaustive repetitions even though I’m stopping at 18. In the latter case, even if I’m not exactly at the targeted intensity (95 percent MAP), I should be close enough to achieve my goal, in this case increasing MAP. Lung Power Exercise physiologists used to believe that it was not possible to improve performance through training the respiratory muscles. But now, a technique to strength train respiratory muscles (the diaphragm and intercostals) has been developed, and it shows great promise. The principle is that by forcing the respiratory muscles to overcome mechanical resistance, they can be trained to work at a higher stamina. There are already products on the market for this—I have used POWERbreathe and PowerLung.

The apparatus resembles a pipe with a small valve, which is placed in the mouth. While inhaling (inspiring), the athlete must create enough negative pressure to overcome a threshold load. About 30 repetitions are recommended, either all at once or in series of five to 10 breaths with a few seconds of rest in between. Obviously, the difficulty depends on the choice of resistance, which can be modified on most units. Two or three sessions are often enough for the athlete to find intense aerobic exercise less constraining. In one valuable study, 14 elite female rowers participated in a series of tests before and after an 11-week daily training program for the inspiratory muscles. Seven of the participants performed 30 repetitions each day against a resistance that corresponded to 50 percent of their maximum inspiratory pressure. During this time, the other seven participants performed 60 repetitions against a resistance too weak to significantly affect the inspiratory muscles (only 15 percent of their maximum inspiratory pressure). At the end of the 11 weeks, the two groups were tested on an indoor rowing machine: one all-out six-minute test and one simulated 5,000-meter race. It was found that the experimental group improved its performance in the 5,000-meter race by an average of 36 seconds (a decrease of 3.1 percent), while the control group improved only by 11 seconds (0.9 percent). Analysis of the results delivered other interesting data, in

A study of 14 elite female rowers showed the positive effects of a training program for respiratory muscles. The rowers were dived into two groups— one that trained heavily with respiratory trainers (the experimental group) and one that trained lightly (the control group). Here are the results:

VARIABLE

EXPERIMENTAL GROUP

Strength of inspiratory muscles Virtual distance traveled in maximal test of six minutes Time to perform 5,000-meter test Fatigue index of inspiratory muscles

CONTROL GROUP

+45.3%

+5.3%

+3.5%

+1.6%

-3.1%

-0.9%

-59.8%

-3.6%

TRAINING THE LUNGS

CONDITIONING

particular, less fatigue of the inspiratory muscles at the end of the all-out test in the experimental group. (See “Training the Lungs” on page 24.) A thorough review of all available research recently done by Alison McConnell, PhD, and Lee Romer, PhD, of Brunel University (Middlesex, England) backed up the validity of this study. After a critical analysis, they concluded that this training technique was effective, especially in tests lasting between six and 60 minutes. Some data suggests this type of training also reduces the time needed to recover between sprints. One question remains: Should the expiratory muscles be trained as well as the inspiratory muscles? Most of the equipment on the market provides resistance while air enters the lungs, while the expiratory pathway is left alone. The belief is that expiration is passive during exercise of low and average intensity. Therefore, there would be no value in strengthening the expiratory muscles. However, I feel the training of expiratory muscles should be examined further.

One product (PowerLung) provides resistance during both inspiration and expiration, and I asked athletes and coaches who regularly use it for their opinions. They all prefer to mix exercises for both expiration and inspiration instead of just the latter. Gregory Wells, PhD, in the Department of Lung Biology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, is presently doing studies with elite swimmers and cyclists. So far, his studies show that the work performed by expiratory muscles increases proportionally to exercise intensity and can become very intense in certain circumstances. In a series of papers (submitted for publication), he concludes that elite athletes should train all respiratory muscles, just as they would for any other muscle group. Why is this training successful? It is quite possible that the ergogenic effect of respiratory muscle strength training can be explained through: 1) decreased respiratory muscle fatigue, 2) increased blood flow to the active muscles due to a lowered blood volume needed by the

respiratory muscles, and 3) a perceived decrease in respiratory effort. Here is a sample respiratory muscletraining protocol if you want to try it yourself: Five days a week, twice a day, do three sets of 10 repetitions, with one minute of inactive rest between sets. Set the inspiratory and the expiratory restriction to a level that will make it difficult, but possible, to complete all three sets, inhaling and exhaling. Do not try for an elevated rhythm, but exert a maximal force at each repetition, so that the valve will be set open. Some of the advice presented in this article may surprise you, as it contradicts long-held beliefs in endurance training. But by keeping our eyes open to the latest information and taking notice of new research, we can best help athletes improve their performance. Try the training suggestions I have provided, and I believe the results will speak for themselves. ■ This article previously appeared in our sister publication, Training & Conditioning.

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CAREER BUILDING

ONWARD AND UPWARD You help your athletes set goals because you know it motivates them and improves their performance. The surest way to stay passionate about coaching is also to set goals for yourself. BY LEM ELWAY oaching can be an immensely satisfying profession, particularly in today’s world. With more extracurricular options for students, increased academic demands, and a greater need to channel energy in a positive direction, the importance of coaches in shaping young people increases with each passing year.

But coaching, like a lot of things, is a labor of love and, over time, the luster that drew us to it can wear off. Coaching is like a marriage: It can be the most beautiful experience in the world, or it can sour and create a lot of heartache and hurt. Like a marriage, coaching requires continual hard work and the desire to improve while maintaining flexibility and adaptability. This is especially true when things beyond our control build to create a

negative situation and force us to ask ourselves why we coach in the first place. How do we maintain the enthusiasm and motivation to keep coaching? No matter how long you’ve been coaching, the best way to maintain your motivation is to have goals. Enjoying coaching—and being a good coach— requires constant efforts to improve. This means making a serious, critical, and introspective analysis of your objectives. What areas need improve-

COACHING MANAGEMENT

ROB BARBER

Lem Elway is Head Baseball Coach at Black Hills High School in Tumwater, Wash. A member of the Washington State Coaches Hall of Fame, he has coached several sports at the middle school, high school, and college levels. His first book, The Coach’s Administrative Handbook, was recently published by Coaches Choice.

CAREER BUILDING

ment, and what is your plan of action to strengthen those areas? You must decide where you’re going, where you want to be, and how you’re going to get there. The Big Picture At the center of this self-inventory process are your goals. Goals are like the rudder on a boat in that they keep you moving in the right direction. Even if your athletic director does not require you to submit yearly goals, you should develop some yourself. It is imperative that the goals are written down on paper, expressed in positive terms, and defined in measurable ways. They can involve your professional or personal goals as a coach, or a combination of both. For example, does your coaching style need to be adjusted? Does your approach to working with parents need to be revised? It’s also imperative to evaluate whether you are reaching your goals. For some coaches, this means asking a mentor or administrator to sit down at specified dates to review the goals. Others do this by themselves, sometimes simply by closing the door to their office and taking the afternoon to reflect. To start the evaluation process, ask yourself the following four basic questions: Why do I coach? To keep ourselves motivated, we need to keep reminding ourselves why we are in coaching. The answer to “why do I coach?” will be a very personal one, of course, but it’s important to know what parts of the job satisfy us. Some possible reasons include: ■ Giving back to the sport that gave you so much. ■ There are not too many experiences in life where you can spend time with so many people focused on a common goal. ■ Camaraderie with people you might not otherwise get to know. ■ The emotions of competition. ■ Getting to know kids out of class and watching them grow and mature. ■ Being able to make a difference in people’s lives—seeing your players turn into productive members of society when they leave. ■ Building a successful program through hard work. How do I define success? Success is a relative term that depends on your situation and expectations. It will

mean different things to different people. For some, success can mean seeing athletes set new PRs. For others, it’s winning state titles. For most coaches, though, success is a blend of teaching the lessons of sport and training champions. The key is figuring out what is most important to you. One way to think about this is to ask yourself, “When I’m gone from the sport, how do I want to be remembered?” What is my commitment? From the outside, coaching looks like an easy thing to do. And for those who don’t do a very good job, that may be correct. But the commitment to doing this job the right way can be overwhelming at times. It’s a commitment of time, energy, and emotion. In addition, the continual development in the areas of coaching techniques and knowledge of the sport is endless. In a lot of cases, coaching the “sport”—teaching the skills and managing a team during competition—is the most refreshing part of the job. The peripheral issues such as logistics and athletes’ personal issues are time-consuming, but these aspects of coaching will help define your success and can’t be thought of as asides. When you evaluate yourself and your future, it’s critical to think about your commitment to the energy and time it takes to cover all the bases of coaching. After answering these three questions, take some time to determine if your answers mesh with where you are now and where you are progressing in your career. For example, if you define success differently than the student-athletes on your team, you may be heading down the wrong road. At the high school level, most boys and girls say the reasons they go out for sports are: 1) for fun; 2) to improve skills; and 3) to stay in shape. Is that something you can accept and incorporate into your objectives? If you’re working at a college or university, do your ideas about athletics mesh with the institution’s objectives for its sports programs? Another example: Does your time commitment match the expectations of the athletes and parents? If you don’t have time to chat with a parent on the phone because of family commitments and grading papers, maybe you shouldn’t be a head coach. Maybe it’s best to be an assistant coach until you have more time.

Or maybe coaching at a school with lesser expectations is the right choice. The Smaller Picture If you find that, overall, you are heading in the right direction—you can define your big-picture goals and they fit your current situation—the next step is to think about evaluating yourself more specifically in order to set goals. What are the small things you need to work on? Here are some areas to think about: Organizational Skills: This critical area leads to success or failure and requires maximum effort. The key to organizational success is planning and scheduling. All possible tasks involved with the program must be written down and put into a timeline. In- and out-of-season activities associated with the program must be planned and those plans must be communicated to all involved. This includes setting up practices that are organized for skill development and a schedule that allows athletes’ improvement to occur in a logical, positive direction. The little things—bus schedules, academic concerns, equipment order-

All successful coaches need to evaluate themselves and their programs, but sometimes that isn’t an easy thing to do. Remember these positives if goalsetting seems overwhelming: > When goals are achieved, they give us personal satisfaction. > They give direction and purpose and help us grow. > They help us win at things we can control. > Goals give us the courage to try new things. > They allow us a mechanism to be open to criticism and help us see our short-comings. > They help us realize it is okay to fail because we learn from the experience.

WHY SET GOALS? COACHING MANAGEMENT

CAREER BUILDING

ing—must also receive the necessary attention. You will develop trust and a following much more quickly if your athletes, their parents, and school administrators have the perception that all the details are being taken care of.

ing decisions that are best for everyone rather than just a few. More thoughts on being a good leader: ■ Do whatever it takes to do things right. ■ Always strive to improve.

and caring, and to change with the times is imperative when dealing with the young people of today. I believe that rules must be made and expectations spelled out, but each situation that arises with a student-athlete

Have you ever thought about why we have two ears and only one mouth? We need to use the ears more than the mouth. As a coach, knowing when to talk and when to listen can be critical. It isn’t easy, but it’s a skill that needs to be developed. Instructional Skills: This is a multifaceted task that requires learning the complexities of the sport you coach, keeping abreast of new ideas, taking a look at new and different teaching techniques, and perfecting your motivational skills. You need to continually analyze whether your athletes are learning the skills of the sport in the most effective and efficient way possible. Leadership: In general, being a leader means having self confidence, lofty yet attainable goals, good habits, and a positive outlook. It also requires mak-

■ You need to give respect to get respect. ■ Stress the positive and eliminate the negative. ■ Be optimistic. ■ Understand the feelings of others. ■ Have emotional control in all situations. Being a leader also means being open to a changing culture. You need to realize that athletes come to your program with different attitudes, goals, and objectives than they did five or 10 years ago. The ability to listen, to be understanding

needs to be resolved on its own facts. One point to remember: being compassionate doesn’t mean lowering your expectations of players. It means the lines of communication are open and you are approachable. A Role Model: Every day you must make difficult decisions. Many of these decisions can affect everyone on your team for years to come, so they need to be made with the utmost professionalism and deliberation. Athletes might not figure out the importance of these decisions until five or six years later, but that

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doesn’t mean you should stop teaching the lessons. Communication Skills: Have you ever thought about why we were given two ears and only one mouth? We need to use the ears more than the mouth. As a coach, the ability to know when to talk and when to listen can be critical. It isn’t always easy to be a good listener, but it’s a skill that needs to be developed. Some valuable lessons to become

decisions, and realize you need to continue to change and improve. Getting There After thinking about your organizational, instructional, leadership, communication, and people skills, you’ll need to formulate goals and develop a plan for achieving them. To start the process, sometimes it helps to get feedback from others involved in the pro-

The following is my checklist of the basic duties of being a good coach:

> Set up lines of communication with

Responsibilities:

> Form a partnership with the athletic

> Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to athletes.

> Attend activities to improve coaching knowledge and coaching performance.

> Be diligent in the purchase, issue, collection, storage, and inventory of equipment and budget preparation.

> Cooperate with others who use your facilities.

> Understand and follow rules and regulations set forth by state, athletic, league, and school agencies.

> Participate and encourage parent nights, award banquets, and pep assemblies. Write letters for interested college-bound athletes.

> Provide leadership skills and motiva-

parents throughout the year.

tion for athletes and program.

> Improve knowledge of first aid and

director.

> Make sure your facilities are well-

injury policies.

> Teach decision-making skills and the

maintained. Performance:

value of athletics.

> Be accountable for your team’s performance.

> Develop respect by example—proper appearance, manners, and behavior, both on and off the field.

Relationships:

> Be cooperative with other schools

> Provide adequate supervision at all times.

> Maintain team discipline and control.

and their coaches.

> Exhibit enthusiasm about coaching. > Cooperate with groups related to

> Be knowledgeable about the sport. > Develop lines of communication between teams and solicit other coaches’ input.

athletic programs.

> Encourage athletes to participate in other sports.

> Develop good relations with other

> Be compassionate, patient, and understanding with athletes.

slower process than changing an organizational skill. You might want to break down that long-term goal into smaller targets, such as: ■ Revamping your preseason parents’ meeting to make it more effective. ■ Working harder on being a patient listener to parents. ■ Taking the time to send an e-mail to all parents about the team once a week.

coaches, teachers, and administrators.

> Be receptive to suggestions.

THE BASICS an effective listener: ■ Give eye contact to the person who is talking. ■ Don’t interrupt. ■ Don’t change the subject. ■ Ask questions. ■ Be responsive verbally and nonverbally. People Skills: From public relations to communication with parents to fund-raising activities, more and more of coaching involves interacting with people other than players. People skills can be a very big asset when trying to incorporate many different opportunities into your program. Having these skills is an important part of being seen as a leader. Thus, it is important to understand people, possess program creativity, stand firm on tough

gram. Ideally, your athletic director will be giving you an annual review, but you can go further. Some coaches ask their assistants or senior athletes to fill out a questionnaire about the head coach’s performance. To formulate goals, have a game plan. Be aggressive in your thinking and never strive to stay the same, but don’t try to take on too much at once. Just as you wouldn’t ask an athlete to take 10 seconds off his PR in one day of practice, don’t try to perfect all your people skills in one season. It often works well to have long-term goals and short-term goals. For example, you may want to develop better communication skills with parents. Because this is a leadership goal, it cannot happen overnight. Changing one’s style is a

Other ways to achieve your goals include learning about coaching and teaching techniques, becoming more knowledgeable about your sport, developing yourself personally to be more effective during practice, and studying what other succcessful people have done. Developing coaching goals is not a simple process, but it’s critical to staying motivated and giving our students the best experience possible. Before the next season starts, take the time to think about how you define long-term success and analyze what you need to do to get there. Coaching is a time-consuming endeavor, but its rewards are matched by few other professions. Similar versions of this article have appeared in other editions of Coaching Management.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

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COMPANY

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104 . . Advanced Polymer Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 113 . . . Aer-Flo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 111 . . . Austin Plastics & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 102. . . Beynon Sports Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 119 . . . Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 100 . . Conica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC 120. . . eFundraising.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 123 . . . EZ Change Sport Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 118 . . . Ford Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 101 . . . Gatorade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 115 . . . Goldner Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 105. . . Jump Start Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 117 . . . Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 121 . . . Kytec Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 109. . . Lynx System Developers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 125 . . . M-F Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC 112 . . . Marathon Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 122. . . On Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 106. . . Raceclock by Electro-Numerics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 114 . . . RS Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 103. . . Run Worldwide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 110 . . . VS Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 124 . . . Wobenzym N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC 116 . . . Xvest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

PRODUCTS DIRECTORY CIRCLE NO.

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509 . . Aer-Flo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 510 . . . Austin Plastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 511 . . . Beynon Sports Surfaces (BSS 1000) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 512 . . . Beynon Sports Surfaces (BSS 300) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 500 . . Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 516 . . . Conica Technik AG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 525 . . eFundraising.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 524. . . eFundraising.com (Cookie Dough) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 515 . . . EZ Change/CDI Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 517 . . . Ford Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 527. . . Gatorade (Endurance Formula) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 526. . . Gatorade (Nutrition Shake) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 528 . . Goldner Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 501 . . Jump Start Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 518 . . . Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 503 . . M-F Athletic (catalog). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 502 . . M-F Athletic (Rocker Hurdle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 504 . . Marathon Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 519 . . . Power Systems (Power Chute) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 520 . . Power Systems (Step Hurdle Ladder) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 513 . . . Professional Turf Products (Trax Armor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 514 . . . Raceclock by Electro-Numerics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 505 . . RS Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 521. . . RunWorldwide.com (Body Stick) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 508 . . RunWorldwide.com (Target Trainer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 506 . . VS Athletics (Denfi Discus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 507 . . VS Athletics (Wind Gauge) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 529 . . Wobenzym . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 522 . . Xvest (Don Chu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 523 . . Xvest (Fire Fighter model) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Team Equipment Cho-Pat 800-221-1601 WWW.CHO-PAT.COM

regulations, and is protected by a fiveyear warranty. Circle No. 502

Cho-Pat’s Shin Splint Compression Sleeve eases the pain associated with shin splints. Designed and evaluated by medical professionals, this unique device tackles inflammation and discomfort by using gentle compression to support the lower-leg muscles. It also tends to stimulate circulation and maintain warmth by controlling excess fluid. Finally, two straps act as shock absorbers to reduce micro-trauma to the tendons and other soft tissue, and to keep the device in the proper position. Circle No. 500

M-F Athletic’s 2006 Everything Track & Field catalog contains 80 pages that are chock full of track and field essentials. It features vaulting poles, high jump and pole vault pits and related accessories, starting blocks, hurdles, and a complete range of throwing implements. There are separate sections for shoes, apparel, books, and videos, as well as specialized training and conditioning aids. The catalog is available by calling toll-free, or get a sneak preview by visiting M-F’s Web site. Circle No. 503

Jump Start Athletics 877-437-3885 WWW.JUMPSTARTATHLETICS.COM

Marathon Printing, Inc. 800-255-4120 WWW.MARATHONONLINE.COM

The JSA Polanik Universal discus (IAAF-certified) is one of the best values on the market. It offers the most comprehensive weight range, from 600g up to 2kg. The discuses are built in Europe by a company that has been around for 40 years and has a worldwide reputation for quality. Many of its products have been used at the Olympic Games. The Universal discus gives you the same performance and quality you’d expect from other products that cost twice as much. Circle No. 501

Marathon Printing specializes in numbers for all kinds of athletic events. Its goal is to provide on-time delivery of the highest-quality custom and stock bibs available. Marathon prints all numbers in-house, giving the company total control for easy customization of your bibs. If you need references, just contact Marathon. The company supplies numbers for some of the largest and most popular competitions in the world, and would be glad to talk with you about your event. Circle No. 504

M-F Athletic Company 800-556-7464 WWW.MFATHLETIC.COM The First Place Rocker Hurdle from M-F Athletic is a terrific value and an excellent high school hurdle that will outlast many other rockers. It’s galvanized inside and out to prevent rust and features a base made of 16-gauge welded steel. Your school name can even be screen printed onto it. This hurdle meets all NFHS

RS Track 800-567-2739 WWW.RSTRACK.COM Created in 1988 by two former national team athletes who wanted to train and compete wearing clothing that was comfortable and looked good, RegattaSport and RSTrack specialize in the design and manufacture of custom high-performance team apparel. The companies utilize the best fabrics, such as CoolMax®, Supplex®, and Supplex® Lycra®, to allow teams and

clubs to look their best without blowing their budgets. Go online or call toll-free to explore all the possibilities. Circle No. 505 VS Athletics 800-676-7463 WWW.VSATHLETICS.COM Give your throwers the same discus Olympians use. The Denfi discus from VS Athletics was thrown by all medalists (men and women) at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. It’s scientifically designed to outperform any other discus on the market. There are four different models to suit any thrower’s ability and any throwing conditions. Circle No. 506 Make your sprint and jump marks official with the help of VS Athletics’ Compact Wind Gauge, the smallest and best-selling legal wind gauge in the world. It’s very easy to set up and use. This product is a must for championship meets. Circle No. 507 RunWorldwide.com 800-756-7576 WWW.RUNWORLDWIDE.COM The Timex Ironman Digital Triathlon Target Trainer heart rate monitor is an essential tool for the dedicated runner. It calculates target zones, maximum heart rate, interval and zone timing, recovery rate, and average heart rate. Features include night mode, summary mode, 100-lap memory with recall, a lap/split option, four linked interval timers, a three-mode countdown timer, and two alarms with daily/weekday/ weekend options. A two-year battery life and 50-meter water resistance make it ideal for serious runners. Additional Timex systems are available on the RunWorldwide Web site. Circle No. 508

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Track Facilities Aer-Flo, Inc. 800-823-7356 WWW.AERFLO.COM The Cross-Over Zone track protector resists and cushions against steeltipped cleats. Its breathable polypropylene fabric allows rain to drain through while protecting modern track surfaces from crossing traffic. A steel chain inserted in the edge keeps the protector in place without stakes or staples, even in windy conditions. The entire edge and chain are wrapped in white or gold vinyl for durability and safety. Standard sizes are 15’ x 30’, 40’, or 50’, and custom sizes are also available. Circle No. 509 Austin Plastics & Supply, Inc. 800-290-1025 WWW.ATHLETICRECORDBOARDS.COM Athletic record boards from Austin Plastics are effective tools for motivating your athletes to do their best. The boards are easy to install, made of durable plastic, and available in various colors. They come in three standard sizes: 38” x 48”, 45” x 80”, and 72” x 120”. Engraved record nameplates are available, or teams can print their own using perforated card stock supplied by the company. All record boards, custom and standard, are available for all sports. Circle No. 510 Beynon Sports Surfaces 888-240-3670 WWW.BEYNONSPORTS.COM Designed for a specialized and unique feel underfoot, the BSS 1000 with Beynon’s encapsulated texture is an optimum training and compet-

COACHING MANAGEMENT

ing surface. Its bioengineered forcereduction layer integrates very fine SBR rubber with environmentally friendly polyurethane to create an impermeable shock-absorbing cushion. The BSS 1000 can be customized to match the specific needs of coaches and athletes. Beynon Sports Surfaces is a manufacturer, designer, and installer of premium poured-in-place polyurethane athletic surfacing. Circle No. 511 The BSS 300 from Beynon Sports Surfaces is an IAAF-certified surface. Its Dual Durometer Sandwich system features a paved-in-place polyurethane base mat topped with a two-component polyurethane seal coat. The surface is finished with a flow-applied layer of two-component polyurethane and your choice of embedded EPDM granules or a state-of-the-art encapsulated texture. BSS manufactures a full range of IAAF-certified track surfaces as well as indoor gymnasium and fieldhouse surfaces. Circle No. 512 Professional Turf Products 866-726-3326 WWW.PROTURFPRODUCTS.COM Trax Armor™ Cross-Over Tarps are designed to protect your synthetic running track surface from all types of traffic, including football cleats, cheerleaders, and even maintenance machinery. All tarps are available in black and light gray. Call toll-free to find out more, or go online to view all the company’s products and specifications and to locate a dealer near you. Circle No. 513 Raceclock by Electro-Numerics, Inc. 800-854-8530 WWW.RACECLOCK.COM Raceclock timing clocks are available with 4”, 6”, or 9” digits featuring

super-bright LEDs or traditional “flip” digits. The single- and double-sided models are accurate to 1/100 of a second. Internal batteries provide over 10 hours of operation with selectable timing modes set by a keypad. Accessories include tripod stands, carr ying cases, remote controls, and remote display operation compatible with Finish Lynx. Circle No. 514 EZ Change 800-941-6716 WWW.CDI-CORP.COM EZ Change goal and strength record boards offer tremendous opportunities to highlight athletic accomplishments. They’re durable, they look great, they offer unique customization, and they can be updated easily and inexpensively. Contact EZ Change toll-free, or visit the company online. It’s that EZ. Circle No. 515 Conica Technik AG 800-642-7010 WWW.CONICA.COM As a world leader in the supply of polyurethane components for sports surfacing systems, Conica has multiple IAAF approvals, and its indoor and outdoor class A track systems meet ASTM F2157-02 requirements. Conica materials are 100-percent free of mercury. Products like the Conipur SW, Conipur SP, and Conipur MX offer the durability and performance your program deserves. Call today or go online for more information. Circle No. 516

Conditioning Products Ford Athletics, LLC 308-472-5074 WWW.SWINGUPINVERT.COM

Jump Stretch, Inc. 800-344-3539 WWW.JUMPSTRETCH.COM

Power Systems 800-321-6975 WWW.POWER-SYSTEMS.COM

The energy-conserving and reliable pole vault trainer from Ford Athletics promotes technically sound muscle firing. Newly created muscle memory will bridge the gap between drills and actual vaulting. An adjustable height allows for coachassisted physical manipulation with younger athletes, while advanced vaulters can focus on strength and efficiency. Spotting assures an athleteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s correct completion of the swing-up and invert phases. Increased efficiency allows the continuation of the upward movement of the hips, which translates into greater flyaway and higher bars. Circle No. 517

The goal at Jump Stretch is to provide equipment that simulates actual game conditions to improve performance, including equipment that utilizes anaerobic training. Most sports require short bursts of explosive power. Squats and squat thrusts performed with Flex BandsÂŽ provide a safe and highly effective method for improving explosiveness. Jump Stretch has been helping professional, college, and high school teams improve vertical jump, speed, and power since 1980. Circle No. 518

Increase speed, explosiveness, and acceleration to power past the competition with the Power Systems Power Chute. This premier training chute provides resisted and overspeed training in the same run to improve stride length and frequency. The Power Chute opens during training runs for resistance, and the Velcroâ&#x201E;˘ belt allows for mid-stride release for overspeed training, giving athletes that â&#x20AC;&#x153;shot out of a cannonâ&#x20AC;? feeling. The Power Chute is available in four sizes from S to XL, delivering up to 50 pounds of resistance with the XL model, and it has an adjustable belt with a storage pocket for when the chute is not in use. The superior design utilizes built-in mesh panels to eliminate tangled strings and stabilize the chute during training runs. Circle No. 519

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Circle No. 120

Circle No. 121 COACHING MANAGEMENT

Conditioning Products Power Systems 800-321-6975 WWW.POWER-SYSTEMS.COM Power Systems’ Step Hurdle Ladder can be used for plyometrics, high knee drills, forward and lateral drills, and more. This product, exclusive to Power Systems, has six adjustable cross slats and built-in adjustable hurdles. The slats can be positioned at any distance, and the hurdles quickly snap into an 8” or 12” high position. The hurdles fold down for storage, and the entire unit stacks easily onto the handle, where it is secured with a locking pin. The Step Hurdle Ladder can be used indoors or out. An instruction guide and carry bag are included. The ladder measures 15’ L x 20” W. Circle No. 520

Inside the NFL, The Original Body Stick is the ideal model for the average-sized male or female athlete. At 24 inches in length, it has 15 therapeutic spindles that address most muscle groups with ease. This product improves strength, flexibility, and endurance; accelerates recovery; and reduces muscle soreness, stiffness, and pain. Performancespecific Body Stick models are available at the company’s Web site. Circle No. 521 Xvest 800-697-5658 WWW.THEXVEST.COM “I have found the Xvest to be an excellent tool for providing overloads in plyometrics, strength training, conditioning, and rehabilitation programs. The fit and adaptability are excellent. The Xvest allows freedom of movement and doesn’t interfere with any of the

RunWorldwide.com 800-756-7576 WWW.RUNWORLDWIDE.COM Featured in USA Today and on HBO’s

Great Equipment Keeps You On Track DECADES OF COACHING & COMPETITION EXPERIENCE WENT INTO THIS COLLECTION…

agility, bounding, or running programs that I write for a wide variety of athletes, both collegiate and professional. The Xvest has proven itself in my programs. Thank you for all your efforts and help in improving my capability as a strength and conditioning specialist.” —Donald A. Chu, Ph.D., PT, ATC, CSCS, author of Jumping Into Plyometrics Circle No. 522 Xvest has a new weight configuration, and it’s heavy: 84 pounds of heavy. The new Xvest, known as the Fire Fighter model, was developed especially for fire fighters and their rigorous training. It has the same basic design as the original Xvest, but internally it has a new weight configuration that allows for 84 pounds of weight. Because of its ability to adjust weight like the original Xvest, everyone from body builders to military personnel is buying them. For more information on all the Xvest models, call the company or visit its Web site. Circle No. 523

Time for new hurdles? o Stackable to 20 hurdles high Others just don’t k’s o 100% Steel frame & tubes ac stack up to On Tr o Heli–arc welded, no nuts & bolts FAST LANE HURDLE o Zinc–plated for lasting looks o Open approach to hurdle

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Ph: (800) 697-2999 x Fax (818) 563-9705 sales@ontrackandfield.com or check us out online at www.ontrackandfield.com

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Circle No. 122 COACHING MANAGEMENT

o Board printing available

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Vaulting Poles x Shots Discus x Javelins Hammers x Starting Blocks And much, much more!

coated in most school colors at NO extra charge

Case Study

Great Fundraising Results Help Baseball Team Raise Money for Travel Equipment “The first-rate customer service and immediate delivery enabled us to raise over $4,000 in only two weeks.” Marcel Galligani Varsity Baseball Coach White Plains (N.Y.) Public Schools

The varsity baseball team at White Plains High School in New York had a large challenge to overcome in a short amount of time: The team needed to raise money for travel equipment in just two weeks. The various fundraisers the team had used in the past could not bring in enough money to cover the costs as quickly as needed, so Varsity Baseball Coach Marcel Galligani con-

tacted eFundraising and explained his fundraising needs. He chose the company’s scratchcard program, because it offered up to 90-percent profit and the cards could be personalized. Normally, such an order takes four to five business days to receive. However, eFundraising understood the team’s urgency and completed the personalized order in just two days. The results were incredible. “The first-rate customer ser vice and imme-

diate deliver y enabled us to raise over $4,000 in only two weeks,” says Coach Galligani. “With this large sum of money, we were able to purchase warmups and travel bags for our entire team.” Galligani is impressed with the camaraderie the program has brought to his players. “Not only did eFundraising’s 90-percent profit guarantee become a reality, but its scratchcard program brought our team closer together, moreso than any other fundraiser we have used in the past.” he says. “We are recently enjoyed one of our finest seasons in many years, and are already looking forward to this year’s fundraising efforts with eFundraising. I cannot imagine why others would not want to use this program. They would simply be missing out!” eFundraising.com, part of the World’s Leading Fundraising Company™, specializes in personalized scratchcards, World’s Finest Chocolate, magazine subscriptions, cookie dough, and gift brochures. Its fundraising consultants are available through ever y step of your team’s fundraising campaign, setting eFundraising.com apart from ever yone else.

eFundraising.com 205 W. SERVICE RD. CHAMPLAIN, NY 12919 866-461-1016 INFO@EFUNDRAISING.COM WWW.EFUNDRAISING.COM COACHING MANAGEMENT

More Products eFundraising.com 866-235-9660 WWW.EFUNDRAISING.COM It’s easy to sell more—and earn more profit for your group—with the Gourmet Preportioned Cookie Dough brochure. Your supporters can order

helped our organization reach our goals. After attempting various forms of fundraising in the past, we decided to try the Scratchcard fundraiser. This has been by far the most successful fundraising event we have participated in. Thanks.”—Dwan Lee, Capitol Athletic Basketball. Circle No. 525 The Gatorade Co. 800-88-GATOR WWW.GATORADE.COM

all their favorite flavors, made from only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients. This full-color catalog features 10 delicious flavors, including M&M’s, Snickerdoodle, Triple Chocolate, and more. At eFundraising.com, anyone can find a fundraiser to meet their specific needs. Circle No. 524 eFundraising’s Scratchcards are one of the most profitable fundraising products in America, offering a rare profit opportunity of up to 100 percent. Check out the company’s special offers and fundraising tips online, and find out how this fundraiser can be personalized for your group. Here is just one of the many success stories: “You have

Gatorade Nutrition Shake is a balanced nutritional supplement that’s ideal for use as a high-energy meal replacement, or a pre-event or betweenmeal snack. Gatorade Nutrition Shake contains vitamin C, calcium, and iron, so it’s great for athletes who want to per form at their best and need to supplement their diet with a convenient, balanced, and nutritious product. Gatorade Nutrition Shake is available in two flavors: chocolate and vanilla. Circle No. 526 After years of extensive research, scientists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute have developed Gatorade Endurance Formula for athletes’ longer, more intense workouts and competitions. Gatorade Endurance Formula is a specialized sports drink with a five-electrolyte blend contain-

Circle No. 123

COACHING MANAGEMENT

ing nearly twice the sodium (200mg) and three times the potassium (90mg) of Gatorade Thirst Quencher to more fully replace what athletes lose in sweat when fluid and electrolyte losses become substantial. Circle No. 527 Goldner Associates, Inc. 800-251-2656 WWW.GOLDNERASSOCIATES.COM Goldner Associates has been a leading supplier of medals, pins, and patches for 40 years. The company can create custom designs in any size or shape, and stock items are also available. Looking for an item with your team logo? As a top-50 distributor, Goldner offers a full line of promotional products, including team caps and T-shirts, trophies and awards, fundraising items, giveaways, and much more. Circle No. 528 Wobenzym 888-766-4406 WWW.WOBENZYM.COM Let Wobenzym®N, the clinically validated enzyme formula for sports injuries, work for your athletes. Its proven bioactive enzymes get both elite athletes and weekend warriors back into action more quickly and safely than ordinar y nonsteroidal antiinflammator y drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. During the recent world soccer championships in Germany, several teams used Wobenzym®N for their athletes, and it helped get the world’s most elite soccer players back onto the field more quickly. Circle No. 529

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To learn more about Wobenzym®N, please visit www.wobenzym.com. To receive a free sample of Wobenzym®N Crème, please call our customer service representative, Sara @ 1-800-899-4499 ext. 427

Let Wobenzym®N, the clinically validated enzyme formula for sports injuries, work for your patients and your reputation. Its proven, bio-active enzymes get both elite athlete and weekend warrior patients back into action more quickly and safely, with less time on the sidelines due to injury, than ordinary non-steroidal anti-inﬂammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids. In Germany, Wobenzym®N is the second leading over-the counter brand, next to aspirin.

Used by professional athletes to: • • • •

shorten recovery time* improve joint movements* reduce muscle pain* reduce swelling, immobility and tenderness*

Recently, during the world soccer championship in Germany, several teams used Wobenzym®N for their participating athletes. †

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

*Wobenzym ®N OTC Pain Relieving Crème: NDC31793-014-60. Wobenzym ®N Tablets: a dietary supplement.

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Our 46th Year Serving the Track & Field Needs of High Schools and Colleges. M-F ATHLETIC COMPANY P.O. Box 8090 Cranston, RI 02920-0090 Toll-Free 800-556-7464 Fax: 800-682-6950

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