Coaching Management 15.8

Coaching Management VOL. XV NO. 8

■

$7.00

TRACK & FIELD POSTSEASON EDITION 2007

WITH A SPLASH

Constructing a new track facility

■

More Energy Through Nutrition

■

Becoming an Athletic Director

We don’t just build Tracks, we build Track and Field.

Proud Presenters of the USTFCCCA Convention Technical Sessions Track & Field Library: www.tartan-aps.com

Circle No. 100

Coaching Management Track & Field Edition Postseason 2007

CONTENTS

Vol. XV, No. 8

2

22

LOCKER ROOM

COVER STORY

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

With a Splash

NCAA Division I rules updates on outdoor regionals, APR penalties, and text messaging in recruiting … Hosting an alumni reunion … New research on overtraining syndrome … Iowa adds the boys’ shuttle hurdle relay … From Harvard to Texas … Two high schools share one timing system.

27

............. .......................................

14

Every coach dreams of having a new track and field facility. To make that dream a reality, you need to understand how to research the options, fundraise, negotiate, and work with contractors.

YOUR CAREER

Tossing the Whistle

....................................

22

Ever think about making the jump from coaching to athletic administration?

Here’s a look at the pros and cons, and how to stick the landing.

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Lyndon George, Head Men’s and Women’s Track & Field Coach at City College of New York (CCNY), talks about the recent success of his NCAA Division III program.

NUTRITION

Small Changes, Big Gains

...............

27

For many athletes, sweeping nutritional changes can be intimidating. But small, everyday strategies can also give them the energy boost they need.

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

TEAM EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 TRACK FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 CONDITIONING PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 MORE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

On the cover: The University of Wisconsin-Platteville opened its new track and field facility with a splash this spring. UWP Head Coach Jim Nickasch, plus five others, provide advice on how to make it happen, starting on page 14.

Publisher Mark Goldberg

Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer

Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel

Marketing/Sales Assistant Danielle Catalano

Associate Editor Dennis Read

Circulation Director Dave Dubin

Assistant Editors R.J. Anderson, Kenny Berkowitz, Nate Dougherty, Abigail Funk, Greg Scholand, Laura Ulrich

Circulation Manager John Callaghan

Art Director Pamela Crawford

Production Assistant Jonni Campbell

Photo Research Tobi Sznajderman

Prepress Manager Miles Worthington

Business Manager Pennie Small

IT Manager Julian Cook

Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter

Administrative Assistant Sharon Barbell

COVER PHOTO: ANDREW MCNEILL/UW-PLATTEVILLE

Production Director Don Andersen Assistant Production Director Jim Harper

Advertising Sales Associates Diedra Harkenrider (607) 257-6970, ext. 24 Pat Wertman (607) 257-6970, ext. 21 Ad Materials Coordinator Mike Townsend 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 © 2007 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. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Coaching Management, P.O. Box 4806, Ithaca, N.Y. 14852. Printed in the U.S.A. Mailing lists for Coaching Management Track & Field are provided by the Clell Wade Coaches Directory.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

1

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Regionals, APR on NCAA Radar Beginning in 2009, there should be a little more balance at NCAA Division I outdoor regionals. The Division I Track and Field Committee has passed a proposal to create a more even distribution of competitors in each region by shifting 52 institutions from the crowded East and Mideast regions into the Midwest and West, answering concerns that some events in those regions lack competitors. The proposal was reviewed by the Division I Championship/Competition Cabinet and will be up for discussion again at its Feb. 2008 meeting.

this issue needs to be addressed further,” he continues.

“Although we would be taking a step forward, it certainly wouldn’t solve all the problems associated with fairness in competition at the regional meets—however, something needs to be done until more action can be taken.”

In other NCAA news, with Division I set to drop the squad-size adjustment for 2007-08 Academic Progress Rate (APR) reports, a number of Division I men’s and women’s track and field teams are in danger of falling into the penalty range. Because the

APR is meant to track a fouryear rate of academic measure for a given team, a squadsize adjustment was intended to compensate for a data set that only included three years.

This season will mark the first time all four years of data are available and the squad-size adjustment will be eliminated for teams with data on at least 30 athletes.

Without the adjustment, the APRs of 153 track teams (48 men’s indoor, 54 men’s outdoor, 26 women’s indoor, and 25 women’s outdoor) would have fallen below 925 in 2007, which next year could subject

In the 2006 regionals, for instance, there were five heats in the men’s 110-meter hurdles in the East region, but just three heats in the West. In the East, runners had to register times .20 seconds faster than their counterparts in the West to advance to the meet finals.

2

COACHING MANAGEMENT

The NCAA has also eliminated a bylaw that allowed studentathletes on teams barred from postseason competition because of low APR scores to participate in championships as individuals. The reasoning was that these athletes took away point-earning opportunities from athletes representing teams that hadn’t been penalized.

The NCAA Division I Track and Field Committee hopes to make all four outdoor regional meets more equitable by moving 52 schools from the crowded East and Mideast regions into the less populated Midwest and West. Above, University of Miami thrower Khadija Talley warms up at the 2007 outdoor East regional.

Maynard, who also serves on the USTFCCCA’s NCAA Division I Track and Field Coaches Association and the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Committee, has long supported the idea of clearing competitions

CHERYL TREWORGY/PRETTYSPORTY.COM

“I’m not sure what the final answer will be, but I am sure

The USTFCCCA has appointed a committee to study how the APR relates to track and field. According to Seemes, any sport with as many athletes as track and field will inevitably face more challenges when dealing with APR. “Among sports with larger rosters we’re in good shape, but the bottom line is that we have schools that need to improve,” Seemes says.

Because indoor and outdoor track and field are treated as separate sports under the APR, some coaches feel it doesn’t accurately reflect their teams. “As coaches, we’re offered one set of scholarships for the three sports, but there are basically three APR numbers that come from those sports,” says Mike Maynard, Head Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross County Coach at Boise State University. “If you offer scholarships for all three sports together by gender, then the APR should be combined as well. That would be a more accurate representation of the actual roster you carry.”

“This is a two-pronged effort to bring more equality to the regions,” says Sam Seemes, CEO of the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), which drew up the initial plan. “One goal is to have a similar number of schools competing in each regional meet, and the other is to level the playing field as reflected by the number of athletes in each event.”

Seemes admits the realignment plan is not meant as a permanent solution to the inequity problem and suspects more sweeping changes could eventually come. “If there is future realignment, it may mean not only shifting teams but possibly eliminating regions, adding regions, or maybe changing how athletes advance at regionals,” says Seemes.

the teams to immediate penalties, including reduced scholarships. There are also 45 men’s and 20 women’s cross country teams which would have fallen below 925 in 2007 had it not been for the adjustment.

FinishLynx Bronze, Silver and Gold Packaged Solutions contain

CALL TO FIND OUT WHY ONE AD SAID IT WAS LIKE GETTING A LICENSE TO PRINT MONEY

We have a complete range of fully-inclusive packages for every situation ~ suitable for High Schools, Middle Schools, and Colleges of all sizes!

Please contact us for more information High Schools: ncourtney@finishlynx.com Colleges: abernier@finishlynx.com Tel: 978 556 9780 Toll Free: 800 989 5969

Circle No. 101

LYNX SYSTEM DEVELOPERS, INC. 179 WARD HILL AVE., HAVERHILL MA 01835

TEL: 978 556 9780 TOLL FREE: 800 989 5969

PHOTO FINISH AND TIMING

Everything You Need to Time Meets and Generate Income for your Program through Image Sales

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD for only athletes representing their teams. “Individual competitors displace scores and ultimately affect the team scoring race,” he says. “You either compete as part of a team or you don’t compete. I don’t like allowing athletes to

BlackBerry devices when trying to connect with recruits.

The Division I Board of Directors banned coaches from using text messaging to reach recruits beginning Aug. 1.

After the ban was announced, enough schools submitted

In the East, runners had to register times .20 seconds faster than their counterparts in the West to advance to the meet finals ... “I’m not sure what the final answer will be, but I am sure this issue needs to be addressed further.” compete but not score team points, and possibly displace someone from the finals who is trying to help their team.”

Another NCAA rule change has coaches putting away their

override requests to force the board to revisit its decision.

The rule was upheld at an August meeting, but it will now face a vote by the Division I membership at the NCAA convention in January.

Video conferencing, video phones, and messages on social-networking Web sites were also included in the ban.

Representatives from the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee advocated for the rule, saying the text messages can be intrusive, especially with no limit on the number of messages overzealous coaches could send to recruits.

The ban comes as a disappointment to many coaches who now must use e-mail, phone calls, and letters to contact recruits. “I see track recruiting as less hardcore and more relationship-based than some other sports,” Maynard says. “Text messaging allowed us to have a level of communication that is critical to maintaining relationships with our recruits. It’s a disappointment, but we’ll just have to do some more recruiting the old-fashioned way.”

Team pricing as low as…

Women’s Track Jacket . . . $38.59 Men’s ApproachTM Jacket . . . $38.59 $ Women’s Track Pant . . . 35.99 Men’s ApproachTM Pant . . . $35.99 Screen printing and embroidery available. Call for pricing. source code: CMTF97

Bringing Back Alumni Toni McKee, Head Boys’ Track and Field Coach at Campbell County High School in Alexandria, Ky., has never forgotten the sense of connection and camaraderie she felt as an athlete when she met the runners who’d gone before her at Northern Kentucky University’s track and field reunion. And when her current athletes started asking about the record holders on the plaques in the school hallways, it brought back memories for McKee, who ran with some of those record-holders when she competed for Campbell County High School.

So McKee took it upon herself to organize the school’s first track and field and cross country alumni reunion. “I

wwsport.com | 800.756.7576

Circle No. 102

4

Untitled-4 1 MANAGEMENT COACHING

8/17/07 11:46:31 AM

At Campbell County (Ky.) High School, athletes such as Lauren Brumley got to know alumni of the school’s track and field and cross country programs at a special reunion this past spring. The event was held after the Donnie Carnes Memorial Track Meet, where Brumley competed in the 4x200-meter relay. thought a reunion would be a fun way to introduce some history and tradition to the track and cross country programs at Campbell,” McKee says. “A lot of the time alumni aren’t very involved, especially at the high school level, because they don’t know how to be or they’ve lost contact with teammates and coaches.”

Reconnecting with former athletes was the first step, and McKee admits it was the hardest part of planning the reunion. Locating alumni who had moved or changed their last names after marriage was especially challenging, but by using several different avenues, McKee was able to build a database of names and addresses.

“I got in touch with some of the earlier coaches, and they were really interested in the idea of a reunion, so I asked them to help spread the word to people they were still in contact with,” says McKee, who also serves as Assistant Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country Coach. “I posted an announcement on our district Web site, got a couple of articles into the local newspaper, made announcements at basketball games over the winter, and sent information home with my current runners because some of them have parents or aunts and uncles who ran at Campbell.”

The hard work paid off, as she got a lot of response for her efforts. Alumni—includ-

ing former head and assistant coaches—were invited to watch the current team at its biggest home meet of the season in April, then join everyone afterward for an informal social gathering. “Groups came from the Lexington area and even West Virginia—it was neat when a bunch of friends would get together and show up as a group,” McKee says. “There was a pretty good-sized group from the early ’80s, and some of the women from the very first cross country team were there, too. Quite a few generations were represented, including more recent graduates, which was really pretty cool.”

Overtrained and Underfed

Alumni who couldn’t attend the reunion due to prior commitments promised they would mark their calendars for next year, and McKee heard only great reviews from alumni who did attend. “A lot of them suggested having an alumni meet following the high school meet next year, so we’re going to try that,” she says. “It may be only four or five events, but it would be really fun to bring them back in that way.”

In a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in May, researchers from the University of Pretoria in South Africa evaluated 33 athletes between the ages of 12 and 48. The subjects filled out detailed questionnaires about their nutritional intake each training day, time spent training per week, and emotional state. In addition, each athlete received a clinical exam.

Alumni weren’t the only ones who gained from the reunion either. McKee hopes the event produced some new volunteers for home meets as well as sponsors and community members willing to help the squad when fundraising time rolls around. And best of all, her athletes were able to meet some of those whose names grace the hallway plaques.

“It’s been pretty neat to touch base with older coaches and runners, especially for the kids. Now as they break those records, they can put faces with names,” she says. “This event really helped to create a sense of history and pride for our athletes here. They now understand that they’re not just running for their school— they’re also running to keep something alive for the people who ran before them.”

When athletes combine high physical and psychological stress with inadequate recovery periods, they’re at risk for an illness called Overtraining Syndrome (OTS).

Characterized by persistent fatigue, muscle soreness, poor recovery after workouts, and depression-like symptoms, OTS can wreak havoc on performance and overall health.

To make matters worse, according to new research, its sufferers are likely to compound their problems by being undernourished.

Based on this data, subjects were divided into two groups: OTS athletes and non-OTS athletes. Researchers found that, adjusted for body weight, the OTS athletes had significantly lower energy intake per hour of training, suggesting they were not fueling their bodies adequately to meet their high energy demands. OTS athletes came up short on both protein and carbohydrates.

Lead study author Dina Christina Janse van Rensburg noted that the OTS athletes were more likely than the non-OTS athletes to skip recovery meals after physical activity. “Overtrained athletes … don’t take in enough calories, but they don’t lose weight,” she told Medscape Medical News.

“Their bodies go into a sort of starvation mode.”

In track and field, where athletes go through cycles of

COACHING MANAGEMENT

5

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD intense, prolonged physical activity at varying times throughout the training year, OTS—and its nutrition implications—should be on everyone’s radar. “During high-intensity training, track athletes really deplete their muscle glycogen stores, and if they’re not replacing what is lost through diet, their performance will definitely suffer,” says Monique Ryan, a private nutrition consultant and author of Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes.

How can you tell if an athlete is suffering from OTS? Ryan says the most visible sign is often poor recovery between workouts or practice sessions.

“If an athlete who normally has high energy levels suddenly experiences a dropoff in energy during training, that’s a red flag,” she explains.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean they have OTS—it could just be that they’re underfueled for that level of training—but it should definitely be cause for concern.”

replacing the muscle glycogen they burn today, they won’t feel good or have enough energy to train tomorrow, and they could be putting themselves at risk for overtraining syndrome. Carbohydrates are the best fuel source for active athletes, so they need to be taking in enough.”

As with most sports medicine topics, education is the key to keeping athletes safe.

“Coaches can do a lot to help athletes understand why they should focus on nutrition during high-level training, and focus particularly on taking in enough carbohydrates,” Ryan says. “If an athlete is not

Iowa Adds Boys’ Shuttle Hurdles

For more specific information on the carbohydrate needs of athletes, visit: www.drugfreesport.com/choices/nutrition/ carbohydrate.html.

For more information on OTS, visit: www.physsportsmed. com/issues/2003/0603/hawley.htm.

For the first time since 1978, Iowa has added an event to its boys’ high school track and field meets. Last spring, the boys’ 4x110-meter shuttle hurdle relay joined the meet lineup on the recommendation of the state’s Track and Field Coaches Advisory Committee. The event received rave reviews in its inaugural season, says David Anderson, Assistant Executive Director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA).

6

COACHING MANAGEMENT

“With 30-inch hurdles it’s more of a sprint race than a hurdles race, but it does require some hurdling technique,” continues Anderson, noting the boys’ 110-meter high hurdle event uses 39inch hurdles. “The IHSAA and the coaches advisory committee are open to reconsidering a higher hurdle height for the boys’ event down road, but quite honestly, in our state, for a school to have four high hurdlers is unusual—even at some of the larger schools.”

Brian Rhoads, Head Track and Field Coach at West Valley High School in Des Moines, says lack of depth came into play at the state meet for several teams. “There were a few crashes in the boys’ heats, and I think that was because some of the smaller schools had trouble finding enough athletes who could actually hurdle with good form,” Rhoads says. “Like many coaches around the state, early in the season we tried integrating sprinters into the shuttle hurdles. But it didn’t work—they just couldn’t get the form down. So we took our four best hurdlers and had them run all three hurdling events, and we ended up being pretty successful with that approach.”

Rhoads says it’s only natural for a new event to have those

CHERYL TREWORGY/PRETTYSPORTY.COM

Athletes who push themselves too hard and don’t allow adequate time for recovery may suffer from Overtraining Syndrome (OTS), a serious condition characterized by chronic fatigue, muscle soreness, slow recovery, and depression-like symptoms. New research suggests that these athletes often make matters worse by being undernourished: A study has found that they don’t take in enough dietary fuel to compensate for their intense physical activity.

The race, which the state had been talking about adding since it did away with the pole vault 20 years ago, features four hurdlers on a team running the opposite direction from the preceding runner over 30-inch hurdles.

“The thought process behind adding the shuttle hurdles is that because it takes four people to complete the relay, it offers more participation opportunities,” says Anderson, a former high school track and field coach who adds that Iowa’s girls have been running the event for as long as he can remember.

VISUAL IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY, INC./VIPIS.COM/ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

kinds of growing pains. “As the event is with us longer and longer, more kids will get into doing hurdles and we’ll be able to fill those spots without any problems,” he says. “It’s a great addition to high school track and field in Iowa, and I know that most coaches were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the event at the state meet.”

This past spring, boys’ track and field teams in Iowa competed for the first time in the 4x110-meter shuttle hurdle relay. Some schools struggled to find four runners who could negotiate the 30-inch hurdles, but coaches say the event was a hit with athletes and spectators alike. Above, shuttle hurdlers compete at the 2007 Iowa High School Athletic Association Finals in May.

In addition to the positive reaction from athletes and coaches, Anderson says the event was also a hit among spectators. “Iowa has always had a love affair with the shuttle hurdle relay,” he says.

“Whether it’s at the Drake Relays—where it’s one of the most popular races—or at the girls’ meets, our fans really like to watch the shuttle hurdle relay. It was a good move on our part.”

Improve All Your Speed Factors: Starting Form, Stride Length, Stride Rate, Strength and Endurance Incorporate the Xvest into a multitude of speed drills, plyometic and conditioning programs and start to see your time Xplode.

$30 OFF at XVEST Store Online www.thexvest.com

Discount Code TC1007 Available Models 20 lbs, 40 lbs, 60 lbs and 84 lbs

If you want to BE XPLOSIVE you have

to trai n

XPLOSIVE !

Call 800-697-5658 281-206-2281

Email: sales@TheXvest.com www.TheXvest.com Circle No. 103

ADJUSTABLE WEIGHTED VEST

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD From Crimson to Burnt Orange For most college track and field athletes, an injury means a lost opportunity. But for Samyr Laine and Lawrence Adjah, two triple-jumpers who graduated from Harvard University in 2006, it meant a new opportunity. With a year of eligibility remaining after redshirting due to their injuries, the two friends traded their crimson unis for burnt orange last season and competed for the University of Texas as grad students.

Not surprisingly, making the move entailed lots of adjustments. Going from the non-

scholarship world of the Ivy League to the sports-crazed atmosphere in Austin, they experienced what many consider to be the two opposite ends of the NCAA Division I spectrum.

“It was a completely different environment,” says Adjah.

“There’s such a spirit of enthusiasm for athletics on campus and in the community at Texas, and everyone pays attention to what the sports teams are doing. Harvard has some excellent programs, too, but there wasn’t the same sense of sports being a top priority outside the athletic department. I never anticipated just how different it would be.”

Laine agrees. “When I first arrived and they said we’d be meeting in the weightroom at 6:15 a.m., I could tell things were going to be different,” he says. “You’re thinking about your sport from the very moment you get up in the morning.

“At every practice and weightroom session, there was such a high level of intensity,” he continues. “The passion and drive of both the coaches and the athletes was a great motivator, with everyone pushing each other and constantly thinking about winning a championship. At Harvard, I found I was often motivating myself from within.”

But that doesn’t mean Laine regrets his three years of competing for the Crimson. “On the flip side, I remember athletes from the larger schools who’d scoff and say, ‘What is someone from Harvard doing at the Penn Relays or the NCAA Championships?’” he says. “The fact is, there are great athletes in the Ivy League. Now that I’ve been in both programs, I have no doubt about that.”

The two enjoyed some success at their new school, especially Laine, who recorded one of the longest U.S. triplejumps of the year in April— 16.31 meters (53’ 6 ¼”). But with their eligibility now used up and with one-year kinesiology degrees from UT in hand, they’re looking forward to life after college athletics. Adjah was hired by a management consulting firm in New York City, and Laine started law school at Georgetown University this fall (though he’ll continue training on his own and hopes to compete for Haiti in the next Olympic games).

8

COACHING MANAGEMENT

In Coos Bay, Ore., Marshfield High School and nearby North Bend High School have such a longstanding rivalry, their contests have been dubbed “The Civil War.” But when it came time for both to replace their click-button meet timing method with state-of-the-art systems, the schools added a new wrinkle to their relationship—partners.

Last season, Head Coach of Marshfield’s Boys’ and Girls’ Track Fran Worthen began looking into a fully automated timing system that uses cameras and computers to time events and record finishes.

She found one that uses a pole-mounted digital camera to take a series of photos at the finish line which if necessary can then be viewed on a computer to determine the race’s winner. But Worthen realized her school would come up short of the nearly $15,000 price tag.

At the same time, Head Coach of North Bend’s Boys’ and Girls’ Track Steve Greif was considering a fully automated system of his own, and he arranged to have lunch with his longtime friend Worthen to discuss the equipment she had researched. During the meal, the two realized that in order to pay for two separate systems they would be asking the same businesses and individuals to donate, which in their small community simply wouldn’t work. So they came up with a plan to buy one timing system and split the cost.

Worthen already had an initial $10,000 investment from the Prefontaine Memorial Run Committee—a local booster in honor of Marshfield graduate Steve Prefontaine—and another $1,000 from the school’s booster club. With about $4,000 left to raise, each school held fundraisers and Greif called on his school’s booster club to pay for its share. He

JIM SIGMON/UT ATHLETICS

After graduating from Harvard with a year of athletic eligibility left, triple-jumpers Samyr Laine (above) and Lawrence Adjah headed south to compete for the University of Texas as grad students in kinesiology. Now in law school at Georgetown, Laine hopes to compete for Haiti in the 2008 Olympic Games.

“It felt great to end my college career on my own terms instead of having a fluke injury make the decision for me,” Laine says. “I now feel like I’ve had four full years to see what I could accomplish, and that means a lot.”

Sharing New Technology

says it was much easier to ask the boosters for a $1,000 investment knowing what the alternative could have been.

pany wanted for training, so we asked a coach who had experience with it,” Worthen says. “Tech people from both schools sat in on the training.”

“I told them this was a whole lot better than me asking for $10,000 to buy our own system,” Greif says. “They really liked that we came together to share.”

Worthen says the key to making the situation work was burying the rivalry mindset and focusing on the relationships they had already established.

“It was interesting, because the Pirates versus the Bulldogs has been a rivalry for the longest time,” Worthen says. “Normally, we’re in the business of oneupping each other in sports, but for us, this wasn’t a large barrier to overcome.

LOU SENNICK/THE WORLD

As the season went on, so did the cooperation. Though each school purchased about $1,500 of its own computer software to operate the system, the coaches drove the mounted camera and other equipment four miles to the partner school after every home meet.

To save on the cost of learning to use the system, Worthen and Greif asked other local coaches for help. “We knew we couldn’t come up with the extra money the com-

State-of-the-art timing systems are expensive, so Marshfield High School and North Bend High School in Oregon looked past their rivalry and pooled their resources. They purchased a system that’s better than either school would have been able to afford on its own.

“Track and field is such a cooperative sport, and all the coaches in our league have great relationships that come from knowing each other and going to clinics together,” she continues. “As a result, our collaboration was able to work out great.”

Circle No. 104 OnTrack_CM1508.indd 1

COACHING MANAGEMENT 8/27/07 1:25:00 PM9

Q&A

Lyndon George City College of New York

They say if you can make it in New York City, you can make it anywhere. If that’s true, then for Lyndon George, Head Men’s and Women’s Coach at City College of New York (CCNY), the world is his oyster.

the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) indoor and outdoor team titles. For his efforts, George was named the 2007 CUNYAC Women’s Coach of the Year for the indoor season and Men’s Coach of the Year for the outdoor season.

In just three years in the Bronx, George has resurrected the NCAA Division III program and catapulted its teams to national prominence. The women’s team placed second at the 2007 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships and third at the 2007 Outdoor Championships, claiming five individual national titles. The CCNY men had their share of success as well last year, capturing

For George, who was born in the Caribbean and moved to New York City at age 16, the turnaround has been especially satisfying because it is his first head coaching job after spending three years as an assistant coach at Lehman College. In this interview, George talks about how his program’s success is building enthusiasm for athletics and student life at the school. He also discusses the challenges of coaching at a city school with scarce resources and what it means to foster a “culture of success.”

CM: What was your approach when you first took the job at CCNY? George: My first year was all about getting more talent into the program. After that, I tried to instill the attitude that we aren’t just trying to be one of the best teams in the conference, but one of the best in all of Division III. I want all of our men and women to aspire to be All-Americans. I know they won’t all get there, but I want them to think that way so that even if they fall short, we will get everything we can from them. It’s a mentality I want my athletes to embrace as they move forward through life after they’re finished here.

I really want the letters CCNY to be recognized nationally and for people to talk about us. When I got here, we were basically an afterthought. I wanted to change the culture and put our young people in a position where they could come from nowhere and get somewhere. I think that’s very empowering.

And it doesn’t just affect them, but also the people around them and the athletes who come after them. I coach people, not athletes. I believe that if I can instill that confidence from an athletic standpoint, it will transcend into their non-athletic lives.

10

COACHING MANAGEMENT

What are the secrets to your recruiting success?

I sell the idea that you can attain anything, no matter where you come from or what school you compete for. I also sell CCNY’s wonderful academic tradition. Many famous people in U.S. history, like Colin Powell, went to CCNY. New York itself is another great selling tool.

I tell recruits that if you can succeed in New York, the whole country will know about you.

I don’t really have the budget to recruit outside the city, so my goal is to get every talented New York City athlete. I use word of mouth and I think our program now has a very good reputation, especially with high school coaches in the city. That’s my bread and butter. It’s not just about approaching the athletes, but also cultivating a relationship with coaches. I let coaches and parents know that Alecia Watson, the NCAA Division III Atlantic Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year, helps CCNY’s 4x100-meter relay team win the 2007 CUNYAC Outdoor Championship. Watson won the Division III triple jump title and finished second in the long jump.

KENSON NOEL

What were the keys to your team’s fast ascension to elite status in Division III? That first year we were very lucky to have sprinter Mechelle Barnwell transfer in. She gave us immediate recognition by becoming an All-American. Then we got another, sprinter and jumper Alecia Watson, which was a major coup. She

had taken a year off after transferring from another school and when she got here our team just took off. We also had Jodyanne Raymond transfer in from the University of Iowa. Those three were on our national champion 4x100-meter relay team. We also brought in a number of very talented freshmen—I don’t think anyone saw us coming.

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY • SACRAMENTO

INSTALLED: 1998

2 OLYMPIC TRIALS 5 NCAA D-I CHAMPIONSHIPS

MONDOTRACK

SUPER X PERFORMANCE DRIVEN BY SCIENCE

Certified ISO 14001

Where the Games come to play 800

361

3747

mondo@mondousa.com Circle No. 105

www.mondousa.com

when an athlete makes the decision to come to CCNY, they’re going to get the same kind of care, warmth, and direction they got during their high school years.

We also look beyond high school athletes, because there are city kids who end up unhappy at a bigger school and want to come home. I always leave the door open for them to transfer to CCNY if they want to come back to New York.

If an athlete decides to go to another school, we wish them good luck, but we also let them know that if they ever have second thoughts, we’ll be here for them.

How have you succeeded despite a limited budget?

Through good planning and having a great coaching staff. My first year, nobody gave me anything—I was the proverbial chef, cook, and dish washer who had to do everything in the program. The second year, I was able to bring on board a couple of good volunteer coaches who relieved me of having to do everything myself.

I also try to work closely with administrators. It’s a give and take process with a

that we can be a great way to attract students to the school. When we travel across the country, the name City College becomes familiar in places where it otherwise would not have been heard.

What do you look for in assistant and volunteer coaches?

First and foremost, I want somebody who cares, because coaching is about caring.

And since we’re constantly trying to get the most out of our athletes in a short amount of time while dealing with a lack of space and resources, we need coaches who are very smart and who have a cando attitude. I want an assistant who can get it done, no matter the limitations.

What are your strategies for training with no indoor track on campus?

The school invested in a high-speed treadmill and two other treadmills so we do a bit of our anaerobic threshold training on those. We also do a lot of work in the weightroom and a lot of resistance training. We are a speed- and jumpbased program because those events allow us to get more bang for our buck.

However, despite not having an indoor track, we are starting to develop some distance runners.

“Sometimes we have an athlete who is trying their hardest but just isn’t placing at meets ... As a coach, I reach out to that individual and let him or her know it’s not all about going to nationals—sometimes it’s about getting your time down from 15 seconds to 13 seconds. And when they accomplish something like that in a meet, we celebrate it with them.”

lot of politics involved and you have to be willing to lose some battles to win the war. If you want to push your program forward, you need good allies—people who believe in you and what you’re doing—and you can’t be antagonistic and take things personally. Everyone has his or her own interests, and sometimes theirs are not going to agree with yours.

Instead of getting peeved, you need to be able to step back and say, “How can I mesh my interests with those of the person who is pulling the strings?”

I think there is still much room for us to improve as a program and for us to move forward with a cohesive game plan for our entire athletics department. I think track and field has opened the eyes of the administration and shown them

12

COACHING MANAGEMENT

How do you make all your athletes feel important, even if they aren’t scoring points?

It’s not always easy, because sometimes we have an athlete who is trying their hardest but just isn’t placing at meets.

At the same time, they’re reading newspaper articles about their teammates competing for national championships.

As a coach, I reach out to that individual and let him or her know it’s not all about going to nationals—sometimes it’s about getting your time down from 15 seconds to 13 seconds. And when they accomplish something like that in a meet, we celebrate it with them. We also have an intra-team Web site where we announce who ran a personal best and who is improving. In addition, our All-Americans do a very good job of

passing on congratulations to those athletes so they don’t feel left out.

What is your “culture of success?”

Succeeding is leaving something better than you found it. I may not be the fastest person in the world, but if I get better at what I do, I have succeeded. All of us have limitations and my limitations are not the same as yours. As a coach, I get each athlete to stretch and to grow.

When I do that, I get a successful, stable person who brings a lot to our program in many ways, someone who has the confidence to succeed throughout life.

What do you like about coaching at the college level?

I like that academics are really emphasized in the Olympic sports. I think our student-athletes who are rewarded with academic All-American honors are realizing, “I’m going to use the sport to get ahead, I’m not going to let the sport use me.” I also like the fact that the NCAA is going after the universities to put up or shut up about graduation rates.

What is your favorite thing about coaching in Division III? That it’s not all about athletics. When you get an athlete in Division III, you’re getting a student first. It’s the sport at its purest level, because it’s not about who’s going to be on television or in the newspaper. It’s kids who participate for the love of the sport.

When I get to the NCAA Championships, I don’t see a difference talent-wise between our kids and Division I athletes.

The only difference is the kids in Division I probably have more resources and advantages. Plenty of Olympians have come from Division III. I’ve coached Division III athletes and I’ve coached an Olympian, but I love the purity of this level.

What did you learn from coaching an Olympian?

I learned that if somebody really believes and trusts in your vision, they can go very far. I think that Nabie Fofanah, a sprinter I coached at Lehman College and later when he represented Guinea at the 2004 Athens Olympics, had that kind of trust in me. After our second year, he was close to a world-class level. With him, I noticed how far a positive attitude and commitment can take you. I’ve seen people more talented than he is not go as far.

How has your program’s success affected school spirit?

Things are beginning to change around here. The student population is getting

Q&A more energized about athletics and more people are coming to our meets. You can see a difference in how people perceive athletics here now. I think student life has been enhanced because there is a certain amount of pride in our track and field program.

Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?

I would really like to try coaching at the world-class level at some point. My inner ambition is to work with the best in the world.

Does that mean you eventually want to coach in Division I? At some point, it might mean coaching in Division I. Or, it could mean going straight to the professional or Olympic level—whatever presents itself to me. I’ll forever leave my options open. As for

now, City College is my baby. I feel like I resurrected the program. But wherever life takes me, I will follow. Wherever I feel I can go to be the best I can be, I will go.

of hard work and good planning—that’s why we were so fierce when we got to the top. Three years ago, this was basically an intramural program. Now, here

“I like that academics are really emphasized in the Olympic sports. I think our student-athletes who are rewarded with academic All-American honors are realizing, ‘I’m going to use the sport to get ahead, I’m not going to let the sport use me.’”

What legacy do you want to leave at CCNY? I want people to know that we were successful, not just on the track, but also in the classroom. It may look like this success came fast, but there was a lot

we are feeling good about the program and challenging for national championships. It’s a feeling our men and women will take with them wherever they go in life, and one they will pass on to other people.

Later this fall, Coaching Management will launch a new Web site, www.Coaching-Management.com, featuring archived articles, blogs, special editorial content, and a page of news links that’s updated daily. In the meantime, check out the Web sites of our two sister publications: ■ ■

AthleticManagement.com—for athletic directors Training-Conditioning.com—for athletic trainers and other sports medicine professionals

Cross-Over Zone™

Bench Zone™

TRACK PROTECTOR

SIDELINE TRACK PROTECTOR

FOR TRACKS AROUND FOOTBALL AND SOCCER FIELDS

PROTECTS COSTLY TRACK SURFACE Resists and cushions against cleats, yet rain drains through. Its entire edge is wrapped in vinyl with galvanized steel chain inserted all around, keeping Protector in place and virtually wind-proof WITHOUT THE USE OF STAKES OR STAPLES. Black with white or gold edging for safety and durability.

SIZES: 7.5’ or 15’ wide x 30’, 40’, or 50’. Custom sizes and imprinting available.

Colleges: Yale, Washburn, Newberry, Wagner, Lynchburg. Hundreds of high schools.

Same cushioning, cleat-resisting, self-draining, and built-in chain ballasting features as our cross-over protector. No stakes needed. Easy to install and remove. Sizes: 15’ deep x 75’, 100’, 125’, or 150’.

Custom sizes and imprinting available. Also great for cheering, concession, band, or audience areas.

Colleges: Villanova, New Mexico, NC State, VMI, Moravian, plus gobs of high schools.

BOTH PRODUCTS SHIP QUICKLY.

www.aerflo.com

AER-FLO

Inc.

FROM THE MAKER OF WIND WEIGHTED® BASEBALL TARPS AND BENCH ZONE™ SIDELINE TURF PROTECTORS

800-823-7356 © 2007: AER-FLO, Inc.

Circle No. 106 AerFlo_CM1508.indd 1

COACHING MANAGEMENT 13 9/5/07 2:19:56 PM

COVER STORY

WITH A

SPLASH

Every coach dreams of having a new track and field facility. To make that dream a reality, you need to understand how to research the options, fundraise, negotiate, and work with contractors.

BY NATE DOUGHERTY

N THE FALL OF 2006, Brad Fairchild had an ongoing wish list of things to change about Eastern Michigan University’s indoor track and field facility. But with no immediate funding in sight, the EMU Head Men’s Coach didn’t expect his wishes would become reality any time soon.

Then, one morning last year, he stepped out of his office and into a huge puddle. Pipes that ran beneath the track had burst, turning the surface into a soggy, unusable mess.

With less than two months to go until his team came indoors to practice, Fairchild needed a quick solution. The process of tearing out the old track began immediately, and Fairchild went to work bringing his wish list to life.

While few people will have to face the same watery nightmare, there comes a point in most coaches’ careers when facility upgrades become a reality.

Understanding how to navigate the terrain of everything from sales pitches to construction schedules can help ensure the final product will benefit the program for years to come.

Always Be Prepared Looking back, Fairchild thinks the burst pipes were a blessing in disguise.

The team had needed a new surface, and with an insurance check to pay for the damages, he finally had the funding he needed. But, had Fairchild not been thinking all along about the team’s needs, the situation could have become desperate. This leads to his first piece of advice: Plan ahead, even if you don’t see a project immediately on the horizon.

“It was a great help that our coaching staff knew what we would do to upgrade our facility if the opportunity arose,” says Fairchild. “You never know when a pipe will burst or a donor will walk in with $1 million for you to upgrade your track,

so you should regularly take stock of your facilities and think about what you would want to change.

“When the architects showed us the blueprints on their computer, we were able to sit down then and there and make alterations,” Fairchild continues. “When you know what you want, it’s amazing how architects can help you achieve your vision.”

At the University of WisconsinPlatteville, Head Men’s and Women’s Coach Jim Nickasch learned a similar lesson when working on an upgrade of the school’s outdoor track last year. As his team traveled from meet to meet, he took notes on which facilities seemed to work and which didn’t, and also called on assistant coaches and athletes for their opinions.

Nate Dougherty is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: nd@MomentumMedia.com.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville athletes vaulted, hurdled, ran, and threw at a new outdoor track complex this spring. Head Men’s and Women’s Coach Jim Nickasch researched surfaces and design features to make sure the facility project would be a success.

Photos by Andrew McNeill/UW-Platteville.

14

COACHING MANAGEMENT

H Do leave room for a caption, but we will wait to write it until after we have seen the final photos you choose--so we’ll add this at 4th edit.

COVER STORY

“As soon as I realized this project was going to take place, I really paid attention to all the places we traveled to,” Nickasch says. “I also talked to some of our opposing coaches, and even asked my athletes which surfaces they thought were really fast. When you’re researching a project, don’t try to be the Lone Ranger—realize that you’ve got a lot of people who can help you along.”

Fairchild also advises taking time in the research phase. He knew cutting corners when evaluating surface options would ultimately hurt the athletes more than the chilly evening runs they would have to endure while waiting for the facility to re-open. So while he negotiated to temporarily use the indoor track at the University of Michigan, he reviewed the surfaces he’d seen at other schools and thought about what he liked and disliked about each. Before a company came to give its pitch, he had already taken a detailed look at the benefits and drawbacks of its product.

“When they come, each one will tell you their product is the best,” Fairchild says. “It will help if you are already familiar with their product. Start looking closely at surfaces at other colleges and high schools. Take into account what your main use will be and go from there.

For example, our track is used for a lot of competitions, so it gets a lot of spike use. We asked each company how long its surface would last and how easy it is to repair, because we knew it would be seeing a lot of wear and tear.

“Also, don’t forget to ask what it takes for regular maintenance and cleaning,” Fairchild continues. “The surface we picked requires a different machine to clean it than the one we had, so that was an additional cost.”

In the end, Fairchild chose a surface that could endure the rigors of competition. Even though it took longer to install, he believes the time and money saved by not repainting and restriping every two years will be well worth it.

S

ometimes, although a new facility is desperately needed, the project simply doesn’t make it onto an administration’s list of priorities. At the University of New Mexico, Head Men’s and Women’s Coach Mark Henry encountered that scenario with his indoor track and field, and for him, the solution was to look elsewhere for help. Henry turned his focus outside the university and found the assistance he needed in some nontraditional places.

“Even though we were under the gun to get this done right away, we took our time,” Fairchild says. “We wanted a facility that would last a long time, because it will be a long time before we get another one.”

Taking the Lead Dave Neubauer, Head Boys’ and Girls’ Coach at Ogden (Iowa) High School, also found his program in need of a facility upgrade. But for him, there was no surprise check in the mail. After five years of discussion about replacing Ogden’s dilapidated track, Neubauer realized getting the upgrades his team needed would mean learning a new skill: fundraising.

“We had one of the original cinder tracks in our area, but as the years went by it passed its prime,” Neubauer says.

“We found ourselves in a situation where we had nothing—hurdles that wouldn’t stand up on their own, a high jump pit with a gash across it, a track that couldn’t be used for three or four days after a rain.

track surface at a greatly reduced price, they helped us get the funding.”

State and local legislators can be an untapped resource for coaches, Henry says. “Don’t be afraid to ask them for help,” he explains. “Each one has quite a bit of money earmarked for local projects. Tell them a track facility won’t just benefit your team or your school, but the entire community because others will be able to use it also.”

“We had difficulties getting the administration to agree to upgrades, and we were using the same surface that was poured in 1986,” says Henry, who retired after the 2007 season. “I eventually went to the administration and told them, ‘I understand you can’t help me right now, but I’d like to go out on my own and raise money for the upgrades.’ That way, I knew I wouldn’t be stepping on any toes.”

Next, Henry turned to contacts he had made in the community for additional funding. “I started looking around town for people and organizations that wanted to help track and field,” he says. “Through various projects we’d developed quite a few construction and plumbing friends, and we asked if they could help. One of the companies moved our high jump and pole vault equipment from the old track to the indoor track, saving us about $10,000.

Instead of looking first to businesses for funds, Henry looked to lawmakers. “The coaching staff had some friends in the state legislature, and they got us $500,000 that we used to put in a new jumps area,” he says. “We had another good friend on the city council, and when we came across an opportunity to purchase a

“We really ended up with a facility that is a great asset to the community,” he continues. “We’re able to hold home meets there as well as a number of high school state meets and the Great Southwest Classic. The track has now become one of the best in the region.”

C R E AT I V E S O L U T I O N S 16

COACHING MANAGEMENT

200 track meets, witnessed 12 broken records, and hold 4 division titles.

I’ve hosted

And I have no plans of slowing down.

If your track could talk, what would it say? Our tracks would tell you that they‘re built for one thing: speed. But it’s not just talk. Our results speak for themselves: 7 of the top 10 teams in the 2007 Division I NCAA Men’s Track & Field Championships trained on a Beynon track. The fastest 100-meter time in Division I NCAA history took place on a Beynon track. And the world record in the 4x400, set at the 1998 Goodwill Games, happened on, you guessed it, a Beynon. The world is listening to what Beynon tracks have to say, which is why both the 2008 Olympic Trials and the 2010 Men’s Division I NCAA Championships will be run on them. So listen closely to a Beynon track, and you might just hear something else—the sound of victory.

Circle No. 107

COVER STORY

We had talked about a facilities project, but the money just wasn’t there. The athletic director asked for a coach to take on the fundraising project and run with it, and I told him I would do it.”

The first step was to outline the project’s goals and come up with a strategy.

“For the first three months, I mulled over what we wanted to do,” Neubauer says.

As a newcomer to the nuances of fundraising, Neubauer put together a group to help him. “The first thing I did was form a committee that included our athletic director, a retired superintendent, a retired principal, and an elementary school secretary,” Neubauer says. “We chose them because they each brought specific strengths to the table.

has a ton of ideas on how it should be done, but we can’t implement them all.”

Together, the group came up with a list of 50 potential givers in the community and developed a scripted outline of points to emphasize about the project when approaching prospective donors.

“Our pitch included explaining that we were going to build this the right way,

“PROJECT CONSULTANTS ARE GREAT, BUT A COACH NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED PERSONALLY ... DON’T ATTEND JUST ONE MEETING—ATTEND THEM ALL. GO TO EVERYTHING YOU POSSIBLY CAN, TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE, BE PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS, AND EVEN VOLUNTEER YOUR SERVICES IF YOU HAVE TO.” “At the time, we had one of the worst facilities in our area, so it was easy to convince our school board there was a need and they allotted more than $200,000 to get us started. But they couldn’t come up with the rest of the money, and there was no other single source we could turn to. My challenge was finding multiple sources of money.”

“The principal and superintendent were very involved with the Iowa track scene, and the superintendent understood finance very well,” Neubauer continues. “The secretary got involved because she knows the community and could help get our message out through various means. We kept the group small because with a project like this, everyone

not just construct something that would need to be replaced five years down the line,” Neubauer says. “Everyone we talked to really bought into the concept of a high quality, long-lasting product.”

Instead of setting monetary goals for each donor, the committee members focused on the big picture. They wanted

ProTraxx

®

IAAF Approved

ProTraxx ® is a spike resistant track surface brought to you by Traction. Call for more information about our complete line of synthetic flooring products.

TRACTION

™

G E T S O M E ™.

North American Specialty Flooring, Inc 866.757.5569 Toll Free

WWW.NASF.BIZ

Superior Athletic Flooring, High Performance, Unsurpassed Value and Durability.

Circle No. 108

18Untitled-1 COACHING MANAGEMENT 1

9/5/07 1:27:45 PM

COVER STORY

to generate a buzz that would echo throughout the entire community.

“In everything we did, it was important to deliver a positive message about the project,” Neubauer says. “We always emphasized that this would be good both for the student-athletes and the community. We pointed out that better facilities would mean more prospective homeowners in Ogden. Even if someone didn’t want to contribute, we asked them to help spread the word. That way they still became a part of creating a buzz.”

Those 50 leads helped open many more avenues to the group, as others came forward to help. Not only did many businesses end up volunteering funds, but some local contractors donated in-kind services toward the track construction.

To gain further community support, Neubauer focused on keeping the money raised in the community instead of going with an out-of-town builder. “We asked local people to donate, so we knew we needed to go with someone from our community to build it,” he says. “We went

with a local track builder we were very familiar with. We knew he would build it the correct way, and it helped that our backers knew we were supporting the community through our work.”

In the end, Ogden was able to purchase an eight-lane track for $338,000, which is set to open for the 2008 season. Neubauer says although he started the process as a fundraising neophyte, the low-pressure approach and positive buzz around the project has turned him into a pro.

“I understand that most coaches are like me—not too experienced going around asking for money,” Neubauer says. “But getting over that initial reluctance was the biggest step. Once we started to see the first few checks come in, it was almost intoxicating.”

Getting Involved When Clemson University built a 77,000-square-foot indoor track facility in 2003, fundraising wasn’t Head Men’s Coach Bob Pollock’s challenge. Pollock’s goal was to ensure his voice was heard and his program’s needs were met.

The first thing he did was find out how much money was available for the project and what that money could buy.

He wanted the school’s track to attract student-athletes from a wide area, so he asked for a 200-meter track with a roomy 73-foot radius to encourage fast performances, even though it meant sacrificing some seating space.

Once the project was greenlighted, Pollock went to work showing the administration he was serious about staying involved. “Communication was the most important component,” Pollock says. “If you want the administration to listen to your input, you need to show them you plan to be involved every step of the way. I communicated with everyone from the president of the university on down through the athletic department administration.

“Project consultants are great, but a coach needs to be involved personally,” Pollock continues. “Don’t attend just one meeting—attend them all. Go to everything you possibly can, take an active role, be part of the planning pro-

Circle No. 109 Untitled-3 1

COACHING MANAGEMENT 19 9/5/07 1:49:22 PM

COVER STORY

cess, and even volunteer your services if you have to. If there is something you want, let it be known. If you’re not willing to put in the effort, chances are you won’t get what you want.”

As the project’s blueprints came in, Pollock pored over every detail, even finding a few flaws. When he pointed out that a balcony meant to house the race timing systems, announcers, and sports information staff would have an obscured view of the track, contractors changed the plans.

Even after designs were approved and construction began, Pollock’s work was far from over. “You might be tempted to sit back and assume things will be done right based on the blueprints, but you can’t assume anything,” he says. “A coach’s input can be critical with the details. For example, when we saw where our sand pits for the long and triple jumps were, we realized there was no hose nearby to wet them down when they

help them, they appreciate it. And when you need to ask for a change to be made, they’ll be much more receptive.”

Pollock offers one more piece of advice: Sometimes it’s best to be patient.

“Had the money not been there, I would have had no problem telling the administration I wanted to wait,” he says. “It’s important to educate administrators on the value of having a top-notch facility. Instead of going into a half-hearted project, sometimes it’s best to wait a year or two until you have the funds to do the project right.”

Learning to Negotiate It’s no secret that track and field isn’t always at the front of the line when it comes time to dole out money. When the Fallbrook (Calif.) Union High School District approved a $2.4 million facility renovation this year, a number of track and field features were first on the chopping

Haucks were able to conduct ongoing research into what equipment and track surfaces they liked best. “A couple of years ago, when this project was first getting started, we toured other facilities in the area and took notes on what we wanted to see in our own facility,” Marty Hauck says. “We talked to coaches about the strengths and weaknesses of their surfaces.”

When it came time to fight for funding, their research paid off, as the coaches were able to educate administrators on what they had learned. “The original plan was to put in the new field but keep a dirt track, and we let them know that would not only look horrible, but it would also ruin the field quickly because dirt would be dragged across it,” Marty Hauck says. “We had them call other schools to see that no one was upgrading fields without upgrading the track. We also told them that if they were going

“KNOW WHERE THE DECISION-MAKING LIES AND FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE PEOPLE ... THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT YOU HAVE TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN HOLDING OUT FOR MUST-HAVE ITEMS AND BEING FLEXIBLE ENOUGH SO THE PROJECT CAN MOVE FORWARD.” got dry. That may seem like a small thing, but we needed to have water to wet the pits, and we didn’t want to run a pipe underneath the track. We talked with the contractors, and they installed a faucet so we could run a hose from beneath the bleachers over to the pits.”

Every day during the building process, Pollock spent time with the contractors, trying to make them feel welcome in the athletic department. Because of those relationships, communication with the crew came much easier and any alterations were made immediately.

“We met regularly for updates, but I still spent every morning outside with the contractors, getting to know them as the building came up,” he says. “Contractors are human, and they’ll work harder once they get to know you and understand what you expect from the project.

They were in the community for a number of weeks working on the project, so I asked them to be my guests at an athletic event one Saturday afternoon.

“Getting to know those contractors was the best move I made,” continues Pollock. “If you go out of your way to 20

COACHING MANAGEMENT

block when budget constraints emerged.

For the most part, it was a situation that brothers Marty and Tim Hauck, Head Boys’ and Girls’ coaches, respectively, had to accept. But that didn’t stop them from picking their battles and fighting for what they could. They figured out exactly what they needed and what they could live without.

“There had to be some give and take because the money was limited, and there were no other funds we could pull from,” Marty Hauck says. “We had to eliminate some items at the last minute, and we changed from a pour-on track surface to a spray-on surface that doesn’t have as long a life.

“That’s something we weren’t tremendously pleased with, but it was a matter of working out our priorities when it came time to make cuts,” he continues. “We agreed to eliminate a timing system, but we were able to convince administrators to put in conduits that will allow the system to be installed someday.”

Because the project had been in the works for a number of years, the

to do all the prep work for the project anyway, it would be cheaper to do the track and field at the same time rather than later, when there would be a lot of redundancy in the prep work.”

The coaches were able to convince administrators to scrap plans for the dirt track, but knew if they were going to win any future battles, they would need bigger allies. Negotiating effectively meant understanding the personalities involved in the decision-making process and finding those who would be sympathetic to their sport.

“One of our school board members coached track for 20 years,” Tim Hauck says. “With the decisions the board had to make regarding the project, he was invaluable to us at meetings.

“Before going into the negotiation process, you should know where the decision-making lies and foster relationships with those people,” he continues.

“The bottom line is that you have to strike a balance between holding out for your must-have items and being flexible enough so the project can move forward to completion.” ■

Your one-stop shop for high quality

sports surfacing

FieldTurf is fundamentally different from all others. Stable, firm not spongy, non-abrasive and uniform in traction, FieldTurf is engineered to play and feel like good natural grass.

On FieldTurf, players perform with confidence – and never experience the accelerated fatigue and muscle / joint stress associated with lightweight, rubber-filled systems.

Designed by a remarkable team of engineers with emphasis on speed and safety, the ‘Le Monde’ track system delivers the perfect amount of energy restitution and energy absorption. This high performance system provides a consistent response and a top layer that features an aggressive texture for unparalleled traction.

1-800-724-2969 email: info@fieldturftarkett.com www.fieldturftarkett.com Circle No. 110

YOUR CAREER

BY DR. DAVID HOCH

RECENTLY,

ONE OF MY COACHES ASKED ME

FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO BECOME AN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. My first response was, “Are you crazy? Why would you want to leave the exhilaration of competition and the thrill of watching young people develop to become an administrator?”

“I thought you liked your job,” was his response. The fact is, I do like my job and I don’t regret my decision to leave coaching for administration 14 years ago.

But I’m not sure I really knew at the time what I was getting into.

In this article, I hope to provide the straight scoop on making the jump from coach to athletic director. It can be a fantastic career move for some, but it’s not right for everybody. You have to be ready to give up coaching—and ready to tackle a whole new set of challenges.

TOSSING THE WHISTLE

Ever think about making the jump from coaching to athletic administration? Here’s a look at the pros and cons, and how to stick the landing.

22

COACHING MANAGEMENT

The Good, Bad, & Ugly Every profession has its ups and downs, and athletic administration is no exception. For me, the best part of the job is that I can have an impact on a greater number of kids. You are not in charge of just one team, but the entire athletic program. By hiring coaches, guiding the program’s philosophy, formDavid Hoch, EdD, is the Athletic Director at Loch Raven High School in Baltimore, Md., and a former head men’s basketball coach.

He is past President of the Maryland State Athletic Directors’ Association and can be reached at: dhoch@bcps.org.

www.FundraisingForSports.com TIPS & ADVICE

SUCCESS STORIES

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

FAQ

Presenting the first Web site...

THE

specifically for sports booster clubs, a valuable resource to help you raise money for your athletic teams.

of your Fundraising Project • Receive TIPS & ADVICE from fundraising experts who have experience raising funds for sports teams

SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING projects

• Read about

online Products & Services Guide •

SHARE IDEAS with other fundraisers at schools through the Fundraising For Sports Message Board

undra F . w

$ om ww

CONTACT POTENTIAL VENDORS for your project through our

• Research &

isingFor

rt Spo s.c

implemented by teams at schools around the country

YOUR CAREER

ing sportsmanship programs, making policies, and so on, you influence a lot of student-athletes.

I also absolutely love mentoring young coaches. In some ways, it’s just like coaching, except my charges are a little older.

And if I do a good job, I can influence these young coaches’ philosophies and help them get started on the right track. I definitely feel that I’m having a great impact in this area, which is very fulfilling.

Other athletic directors enjoy the job because they like working with upper-level administrators at the school and being involved in education policy. It’s a great way to take your leadership skills to a whole new level in a very dynamic field.

parents, teachers, administrators, league officials, and the community is a big part of the day-to-day work.

Probably most important, you have to enjoy and be great at hiring, evaluating, and mentoring. You will be a coach of coaches, and how well your coaches do will determine your success. You have to be able to take your coaching skills and apply them to an adult audience.

If the “good” sounds good to you, you’re not scared off by the “bad” or the “ugly,” and the daily tasks sound appealing … read on.

Getting Ready Many of the duties mentioned above may not seem that far removed from

The next step is to get more concrete experience in administration and to start learning the areas you don’t have experience in ... If you have an opportunity to serve as an officer in your state coaches’ association, take it. Many of the duties will involve skills similar to those needed in athletic administration.

What many of my colleagues and I find difficult about the job, however, is that its workload is relentless. Many athletic directors put in 12-hour days, and these can easily stretch to 14 or 15 hours when you host a contest. And, unlike in coaching, there is no offseason. Fatigue is an athletic director’s constant companion.

The “ugly” part of the job is that you sometimes have to deal with very difficult situations. The buck stops with you: You are the person who has to deal with those overbearing parents, that high-maintenance coach, and the student fans who got out of control at last Saturday’s game.

You will be named if there is a lawsuit.

And you will be blamed for many things that you have to graciously accept as your fault even though they may not be.

What is the job like on a daily basis?

You definitely have to like organization. There is a never-ending mound of paperwork and scheduling, so you must enjoy reviewing forms and putting pieces of a puzzle together. Communication is also key. Knowing how and when to communicate with coaches, athletes, 24

COACHING MANAGEMENT

coaching, and they’re not! Being a head coach definitely provides you with some skills that transfer to the athletic administrator’s office.

For example, you have learned effective organizational skills as a coach. You have to plan practices, prepare game plans, and maintain equipment and uniform inventories. Also, budgeting your time and delegating tasks have always been part of your position.

By working with student-athletes and assistant coaches, you have also been managing personnel. You have probably already developed a leadership style that fits your personality and a philosophy for motivating and mentoring.

And surely you’ve tackled at least a few difficult situations as a coach. Whether it’s handling parents, an athlete who breaks a code of conduct, or a disagreement among your players, you’ve developed some skill in resolving conflict and communicating well with everyone involved.

The next step is to get more concrete experience in administration and to start learning the areas you don’t have experience in. There are two reasons for

this—to help you decide whether you would really like the job, and to have something on your resume that shows you are working on administrative skills.

In terms of professional preparation, the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) created Leadership Training Courses (LTCs) almost 10 years ago. These four-hour courses are excellent professional development opportunities and cover a wide range of topics. I would suggest starting with the courses titled “Philosophies, Leadership, Organizations and Professional Programs” (LTC 501) and “Principles, Strategies and Methods” (LTC 502).

These courses are required for the first level of national certification, the Registered Athletic Administrator (RAA). You can also go on to earn Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) or Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA) credentials once you start working in the field.

More and more schools across the country are looking at national certification as a factor in their hiring.

You can also attend your state athletic directors association’s annual conference. These usually offer excellent workshop sessions dealing with current issues and how athletic directors handle them.

Going to these meetings also allows you to start networking with athletic administrators in your area.

In addition to courses and conferences, there are college degree programs in sports management. Is it necessary to earn one of these degrees to become a high school athletic director? No, not at all. But it would represent a seriousness and sense of direction, and you would also learn a great deal which could ultimately be used in your career.

In the meantime, whenever possible, accept ancillary leadership roles. For example, in Maryland, each sport has a Regional Sport Chairperson, who is usually a coach. These positions involve leadership and organizational responsibilities associated with the planning and coordination of each state tournament.

Similarly, if you have an opportunity to serve as an officer in your state coaches’ association, take it. Many of the duties will involve skills similar to those needed in athletic administration.

Another good option is to serve as an intern with the athletic director at your school or at a neighboring school. This is a great way to get into the trenches and

YOUR CAREER

learn by doing. If a formal internship is not possible, start a dialogue with your athletic director about why and how he or she is tackling a problem or ask about a system he or she has created. Better yet, volunteer to help him or her with administrative tasks!

At the very least, try thinking like an administrator. Honestly analyze what the athletic directors you’ve worked for do best. Do they come up with creative solutions? Do they interact and work well with the various constituencies of the athletic program? Thirty years later, I still think back to one of my first athletic directors and try to emulate his professionalism, enthusiasm, compassion, and motivational skills. Find some role models and take the best that they have to offer.

How To Apply In most areas of the country, the position of athletic director pays well and there are several applicants for every open job. How do you make your resume stand out, even if the other candidates have administrative experience?

First of all, try to find out who will make the hiring decision. It varies by district, but in most cases there is an interview committee, with a principal or superintendent making the final choice. Also

try to learn more about the culture and philosophy of the school, as well as why the last athletic director left. Are there big problems at the school that are still unresolved? By knowing who is involved in the process and what they’re looking for, you can tailor your approach.

With the pressure schools currently face from assessment tests, graduation requirements, SAT scores, No Child Left Behind, and all of the latest parental concerns, a principal wants an athletic director who can keep a lid on athletic problems. Because athletics is the most

If you get an interview, be prepared for some specific and pointed questions ... Because athletics is the most visible aspect of education (and everyone has an opinion on coaching tactics), upper-level administrators need a leader who can handle the heat.

In your cover letter, go into detail about experiences that demonstrate your readiness to become an athletic director. Highlight the ancillary leadership roles you’ve taken on and related skills you’ve developed. And do mention any little things you’ve done, such as taking LTC courses, attaining the RAA certification, or serving as an officer in a coaching association.

If you get an interview, be prepared for some specific and pointed questions.

Every first-year athletic director encounters some unexpected challenges. Here are the three things I remember struggling with the most.

On my second day as a high school athletic director, I encountered my first high-maintenance coach. This coach approached me with a demand for new equipment—and I didn’t even know which key opened the storage room yet! He was also a yeller who was not teaching his athletes the right lessons. I quickly found out that every athletic department has entrenched coaches and (in most cases) you can’t simply fire them immediately.

I had to learn to work with this individual and continue to evaluate him over a three-year period before I could let him go. I had to attempt to give him positive feedback and very, very carefully document the problems he was creating. I had to try to get him to change, even though that was ultimately impossible.

visible aspect of education (and everyone has an opinion on coaching tactics), upper-level administrators need a leader who can handle the heat.

Here are some typical questions you’ll be asked: ■ Why do you want to move into athletic administration? Your answer needs to involve more than, “I’m ready for a new challenge.” You need to talk about how your ideas and strategies can improve an athletic department.

Second, it took me a few years to really understand the difference between managerial responsibilities and leadership. Even if you can manage the paperwork and scheduling just fine, if you aren’t seen as a leader with great communication skills, you won’t be effective in making the big decisions.

Last, my journey included learning the importance of listening better. As a coach, I was used to making the decision as to who would start, who would play, and how we would conduct practice. However, as an athletic director, I had to learn to persuade others and build consensus. It can’t be “my way or the highway,” because this doesn’t work well with adults and professionals.

These were my hurdles, and I’m sure other new athletic directors have had different ones. I’m happy to report that all three were interesting challenges and solving them took my skills to a new level.

LEARNING CURVE COACHING MANAGEMENT

25

YOUR CAREER

■ What will you bring to the position?

Here’s where you can expand upon your leadership skills and ancillary experiences. This is also where it pays to have done your homework so you can offer possible solutions to one or two of their concerns or problems.

■ What is your managerial style? The committee is looking to see if you are a control freak (dictatorial), inclusive (democratic), and so on. This could be important if the school’s coaching staff is experienced and the new athletic director is coming in from the outside. The committee basically wants to figure out if it will all work.

By the time you begin interviewing for an athletic director position, you will also need to have changed your perspective. As a coach, it’s natural to have a very narrow view, because you are focused totally on your team or sport. As an athletic director, you will need to see the big picture. This means understanding and seeing that all sports are treated fairly with respect to facilities, financing, equipment, and public support. All sports are

vital and integral to an athletic program and school, and none should be considered more important than any other.

It’s critical that you communicate to the interview committee that you understand this perspective.

One more thing to keep in mind: If the competition for athletic director jobs in your area is tough, your first position may have to be with a downtrodden program. But this can sometimes be a great place to start. The expectations are often lower and there are a lot of opportunities to demonstrate your leadership. Like in coaching, if you take a downtrodden program and make some improvements, they become your accomplishments.

These efforts will help put you in a better position to secure your next administrative opportunity.

They Won’t Call You “Coach” Today, many schools do not allow their athletic administrators to coach.

The position, responsibilities, and expectations have grown so large that it would not be possible to do both effectively. So

before you accept any position, do make time to answer the big question: Are you ready to hang up your whistle and make a commitment to athletic management?

Try this analogy: Imagine the prospect of stepping into an athletic administrative position as a blank canvas. The more details and images you can put on this surface, the better the picture will look in the end. Can you paint this picture? Do you have ideas on how to work with coaches, communicate with parents, deal with budget cuts, lead a meeting, create an innovative sportsmanship program?

You will no longer hoist a trophy, give a pregame talk, or teach athletic skills. And the kids won’t call you coach.

But you will have an opportunity to affect more student-athletes, mentor new coaches, and take your leadership skills to another level. ■ Another great way to start your administrative career is by logging on to the most frequently updated Web site for athletic administrators: www.AthleticManagement.com.

Circle No. 112 1 26Untitled-2 COACHING MANAGEMENT

8/14/07 11:22:12 AM

NUTRITION

For many athletes, sweeping nutritional changes can be intimidating. But small, everyday strategies can also give them the energy boost they need.

CHERYL TREWORGY/PRETTYSPORTY.COM

A

THLETES SHOW UP IN my office every day seeking strategies for increasing their energy levels.

They tell me they feel sluggish at practice, yawn through their classes, and nap every chance they get. It’s no wonder that energy is at such a premium—student-athletes not only have rigorous training and competition schedules, but also squeeze in classes, work, rehab, study hall, volunteer activities, and fun.

Days start early, end late, and include very little down time.

SMALL CHANGES, BIG GAINS

BY MICHELLE ROCKWELL

So what do I tell them? After a nutritional evaluation to rule out any significant nutrition or hydration problems, and with the team physician’s okay that no major medical or psychological needs exist, I go straight to work on the little stuff.

Why not make big changes right away? Two reasons. First of all, asking an athlete to make a major diet overhaul creates resistance. Individuals are very attached to the foods they like and are used to eating. Working within athletes’ preferences and typical eating habits

makes them more likely to comply with the changes I suggest.

Second, athletes commonly tell me they don’t have time to eat well, making big changes unrealistic. When athletes see that the changes I’m suggesting are Michelle Rockwell, RD, is a nutrition consultant for several sports teams and individual athletes ranging from youth to professional, and is the former Coordinator of Sports Nutrition at the University of Florida. She recently co-launched RK Team Nutrition, at: www. rkteamnutrition.net, and can be reached at: michellerock1@aol.com.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

27

NUTRITION

quick and easy, they are much more willing to give them a try.

Below are eight simple energy-enhancing strategies that can easily be incorporated into almost any athlete’s diet. Time and time again, athletes who have consistently followed these strategies report back to me delighted that they truly have more energy for training, performance, and life.

Start Right When I ask a group of young athletes to raise their hands if they ate breakfast that day, usually less than half of the hands go up. For some reason, consistently fitting breakfast into their morning routine is a real challenge for athletes.

Since eating breakfast is known to jump start metabolism, fuel morning workouts, and enhance energy levels throughout the day, we need to find realistic and attractive ways to get that toast toasting.

Athletes say they can’t eat breakfast because they don’t want to wake up any earlier, but a healthy breakfast doesn’t have to take a long time to prepare.

and fat content (and have little likelihood of being energizing). Fortunately, whole grain, fortified, high-fiber cereals are becoming tastier and more widely available all the time.

Whatever foods the athlete chooses, the most important guidelines are to eat breakfast within an hour of waking up, include a little protein such as lean meats, eggs, nuts, or low-fat dairy, and include some healthful carbohydrates.

Athletes who work out first thing in the morning face the added challenge of not wanting to exercise on a full stomach, but it’s still important for them to eat breakfast. They should aim for a minimum of 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrate.

For ease of digestion, plain, non-acidic foods like bagels, oatmeal, and graham crackers often work well. An alternative is to “drink your breakfast,” using fruit juice or a sports drink to get the recommended 30 to 60 grams of carbs.

Simple strategies for athletes: ■ Pre-pour a bowl of whole grain cereal into a sealed container in the evening

Eating small to moderate-sized meals and snacks throughout the day (rather than two or three large meals) improves energy levels, particularly for active individuals. I tell athletes that they need to fuel their bodies throughout the day and forget the adage to eat “three square meals.”

Elaborate breakfasts like pancakes, omelets, and fresh-squeezed orange juice are unnecessary. (Save them for weekends!) In fact, breakfast doesn’t even need to be “breakfast” foods at all. Trail mix and 100 percent fruit juice, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on wheat bread with low-fat milk, or even leftover spaghetti and meatballs can be excellent options, and these take less than five minutes to prepare. I’ve had teams compete in peanut butter and jelly-making relay races to show just how quickly a good breakfast can be prepared.

Cereal can be another quick, energizing breakfast. However, it’s easy to make poor choices in the cereal aisle. Sugary, low-fiber cereals are extremely popular, but they are the nutritional equivalent of a king size candy bar in terms of sugar 28

COACHING MANAGEMENT

and leave it on the kitchen table for the next morning.

■ Stock your backpack, car, or coat pocket with trail mix, energy bars, and/or dry cereal for breakfast on the run.

■ Make breakfasts on the weekends to eat during the week. For example, make large meat/cheese/veggie subs and eat a portion each morning, hard-boil several eggs and keep them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or keep pre-mixed pancake batter in a pitcher in the fridge and toss a serving into a skillet each morning.

Eat Frequently Many athletes eat insufficient amounts of food during the daytime due to time

constraints, which leaves them making up for lost calories in the evenings. In terms of energy provision, this is not ideal because most athletes train in the morning or afternoon. I tell my athletes that this strategy is like leaving home for an eight-hour road trip in the morning and then finally getting around to gassing up the car at 9 p.m.—it doesn’t work!

In addition, eating small to moderate-sized meals and snacks throughout the day (rather than two or three large meals) improves energy levels, particularly for active individuals. I tell athletes that they need to fuel their bodies when they need it the most throughout the day and forget the adage to eat “three square meals.”

Simple strategies for athletes: ■ Set the countdown function on your watch to beep every three hours during the day. This can be your reminder to fuel up!

■ Use your daily planner or palm pilot to plot eating times into your daily routine. Pre-planning helps make regular eating a priority and a habit.

■ Keep “emergency” snacks in your backpack, purse, or locker. These should be nutritional choices that appeal to you enough to eat them when you don’t have time for something else, but nothing so tempting that you’ll munch on it just because it’s there.

For one athlete I recently worked with, apples, fig newtons, and beef jerky fit this description perfectly.

Switch to Whole Grains Improving the nutritional quality of the carbohydrates athletes eat can lead to a more consistent level of energy and increase the consumption of vitamins and minerals associated with energy production. The latest “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” recommends that individuals consume three or more servings of whole grain foods each day, and it could be argued that athletes require even more since their overall carbohydrate needs are typically higher. To add whole grains to their diets, I advise my athletes to make easy switches in the foods they consume regularly.

Simple strategies for athletes: Snack on whole grain cereals or popcorn instead of pretzels, chips, and candy.

■

NUTRITION

Switch from grits or cream of wheat to instant oatmeal packets (which are whole grain). Even better than the pre-sweetened packets would be plain oatmeal with fresh fruit, raisins, or fruit yogurt.

■ Routinely purchase whole wheat bread, English muffins, bagels, and pasta instead of traditional varieties.

■ Select brown rice or wild rice (instant is fine) over white rice.

■ Add popcorn to your diet. Of course, leaving the butter in the movie theater is recommended. Air-popping or microwaveable varieties are fantastic options.

■

Lower Dietary Fat Consumption Eating foods high in fat sometimes is not problematic for the energy-seeking athlete. In fact, occasional consumption should be encouraged, since high levels of fat in foods are often associated with high levels of taste. Foods that are consumed habitually, however, can often be replaced with lower-fat versions.

Small changes in fat content can go a long way in improving the energy poten-

tial of the athlete’s diet. This is because fatty foods are digested slowly and can cause a feeling of sluggishness. Also, athletes who are eating too much fat are rarely eating adequate carbohydrates, which are the primary source of energy.

Getting athletes to try reduced-fat and low-fat versions of their favorite foods

products, or that they actually prefer the lower-fat versions!

Remember, though, it is important to verify that a reduced-fat product is actually nutritionally superior to the regular version. Sometimes food manufacturers replace fat with sugar or artificial sweeteners that are in fact less nutritious.

It is important to verify that a reduced-fat product is actually nutritionally superior to the regular version. Sometimes food manufacturers replace fat with sugar or artificial sweeteners that are in fact less nutritious. is a good starting point. I enjoy hosting taste tests where athletes try the same foods with varying fat content (examples include yogurt, milk, cheese, ground beef, cream cheese, salad dressing, and mayonnaise). They are often shocked to learn that they either can’t tell the difference between regular and fat-modified

It’s also beneficial to offer athletes lower-fat alternatives to high-fat foods they routinely eat. For example, a runner I worked with whose typical breakfast included a sausage, egg and cheese croissant sandwich, hashbrowns, and whole chocolate milk was consuming 72 grams of fat daily before 8 a.m.! Her

Ever wonder where the pro teams get those GIANT rubber bands they use for stretching?

Look no further!

Jump Stretch has been supplying the large continuous-loop FlexBands® to high school, college, and pro teams since 1980.

We have a total of seven sizes, but most teams use either the Light or Average bands for stretching. For more information, visit our website at www.jumpstretch.com or call 1-800-344-3539.

Jump Stretch, Inc. 1230 N. Meridian Rd. Youngstown, OH 44509 www.jumpstretch.com 1-800-344-3539 Fax: 1-330-793-8719 Circle No. 113 jumpstretch62v0v3.indd 1

COACHING MANAGEMENT 29 1/3/07 1:39:01 PM

NUTRITION

energy level throughout the morning and during her early-afternoon run was improved by switching to a bagel, egg, and cheese sandwich, cantaloupe, and skim milk (20 grams of fat).

Simple strategies for athletes: ■ Think low fat when it comes to condiments. Purchase reduced-fat salad dressings, sour cream, cream cheese, and mayonnaise.

■ If you use butter or margarine regularly, switch to whipped butter over regular butter (for less fat) or lowerfat/trans fat-free margarine.

■ Cut fried foods out of your daily routine. Anything deep-fried contains a lot of fat.

Work Out With Sports Drinks Many athletes benefit from replacing water with a sports drink during training. Research has repeatedly shown that carbohydrate ingestion during intense exercise in addition to good hydration status enhances performance. Sports drinks can help delay energy deficits or “hitting the wall” during exercise.

Many athletes tell me they can’t tolerate any fluids at all during training, let alone sports drinks. My best tip is to teach them to “train their tummies.” I have them start by drinking a very small amount of sports drink (even just a sip) every 15 minutes during exercise and gradually increase over time to gulps and then to at least eight ounces every 15 minutes.

Simple strategies for athletes: Make sure cold sports drinks are readily accessible at regular intervals during training.

■ Keep individual servings of powdered sports drink and an empty bottle in your sports bag to mix with cold water provided at practice.

■ Freeze a bottle of sports drink overnight and take it with you to hot outside workouts. By the time you’re ready for it, it should be thawed out.

■

Refuel After Exercise Athletes have an important window of opportunity to replenish energy stores

in the post-exercise period that they need to take advantage of. Research has shown that muscles are especially good at taking up carbohydrates mixed with a little protein during this time. Stocking up on energy after today’s workout can be a great way of preparing for tomorrow’s workouts. And when athletes have multiple practices or competitive events in the same day, refueling after the first session is highly beneficial for promoting optimal energy for subsequent workouts.

The three key ingredients of a good post-exercise refueling snack are fluid, carbohydrates, and a little protein. Good examples include a bagel sandwich and fruit juice, yogurt and a banana, or some trail mix and a sports drink. Many athletes find sports recovery beverages and bars convenient and useful after workouts.

Simple strategies for athletes: ■ Keep a week’s worth of refueling snacks in your locker or sports bag for after practice.

Medals, Pins & Patches Something for everyone!

™

The Ultimate in Field Protection. Bench & Track Cross-over Tarps • Made of nonwoven fibers • Lightweight • Easy to clean up and store • NEW strong-assteel fibers are “HEAT WELDED” on both sides to be fuzz-free, fight abrasion damage, stretching, and water retention

EXCLUSIVE

5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

Custom & Stock Items • Custom designs created by you • Up to 7 colors on • Any size – any shape custom patches, • Up to 5 colors on medals, price patches 50%-100% includes drape ribbon, event embroidered card and poly bag • No setups or die charges • Stock medals for speedy • Minimum order 100 pieces delivery • Delivery in 3-5 weeks

The Ultimate in Athletic Field Protection!

Toll-Free: (866) 726-3326 PH: (724) 929-2111 FAX: (724) 929-0282 or contact your local authorized Turf Armor™ dealer

800-251-2656 x.238 www.proturfproducts.com QUALITY SINCE 1989

Direct line: 615-244-3007 Fax: 615-244-5937 www.goldnerassociates.com Bskolnick@goldnerassociates.com

Circle No. 114

30 Untitled-2 1

Circle No. 115

COACHING MANAGEMENT 1/3/07 11:34:01 AM

231 Venture Circle Nashville, TN 37228

NUTRITION

Borrow a shelf in the athletic training room refrigerator for the sole purpose of recovery nutrition. Stock it with chocolate milk, string cheese, fruit, and bagels. â– Divide and conquer recovery nutrition with teammates. Assign each day to a different athlete. On that day, the athlete is responsible for providing teammates with nutritious refueling foods and beverages. â–

Include Enough Iron Iron is a mineral involved in the formation of hemoglobin and myoglobin, two proteins that help supply oxygen to cells. Iron deficiency is common among some types of athletes, primarily due to rigorous workouts and dietary iron deficiency. Iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia are associated with low energy levels, decreased exercise tolerance, and an increased risk of infection.

When I was the Coordinator of Sports Nutrition at the University of Florida, we screened our athletes’ blood iron levels. In 2004, over 40 percent of our

freshman female athletes had serum ferritin (iron store) levels lower than our goal, and about 15 percent had iron-deficiency anemia. I have observed dramatic increases in athletes’ energy when they utilize dietary strategies for enhancing iron stores.

Good dietary sources of iron include beef, poultry, fish, beans, whole grains

the Recommended Daily Allowance for iron can be good insurance that needs are met. However, athletes should not supplement with iron tablets unless specifically screened for iron deficiency.

Simple strategies for athletes: â– Eat beef three times each week. Beef is one of the best sources of iron

Athletes have an important window of opportunity to replenish energy stores in the post-exercise period that they need to take advantage of.

Research has shown that muscles are especially good at taking up carbohydrates mixed with a little protein during this time. or fortified cereals, nuts, and green leafy veggies. Athletes should routinely incorporate at least three or four servings of high iron foods into their diets each day. A multi-vitamin containing

â–

since it is well absorbed by the body.

Purchase cereals fortified with iron at a level of at least 40 percent of the Daily Value (check the nutrition label). Eat this for breakfasts and snacks.

TM

4HE /RIGINAL "REAK !WAY 3PEED 4RAINING 3YSTEM 5SED BY ELITE SPRINT COACHES AROUND THE WORLD

WWW BULLETBELT COM /NE 5NIVERSAL "ELT FOR \ POP \ RIP \ ZIP \ SLED \ PULLEY \ SPEED TRAINING

Circle No. 116

Circle No. 117 COACHING MANAGEMENT Jumpstart_CM1408_resized.indd 1

31

9/12/06 4:20:29 PM

NUTRITION

■

Routinely drink orange juice with breakfast. The vitamin C in the juice will help the body absorb iron from whole grains and cereals.

Avoid “Energy” Supplementation Many supplements that contain caffeine or herbal stimulants promote their abil-

What’s the harm in supplemental stimulation? Some dietary supplements contain unsafe levels of stimulants. Even though permitted by the FDA, these stimulants can cause significant side effects, including gastrointestinal problems and cardiovascular issues. Supplements containing lower levels of caffeine may not

Energy supplements do not actually increase energy—they increase perceived energy and stimulation. Athletes should strive for optimal energy levels by eating appropriate carbohydrates at appropriate times. ity to enhance energy levels. These range from tablets to bars to shakes to sweetened beverages. It’s important to realize these supplements do not actually increase energy—they increase perceived energy and stimulation. Athletes should strive for optimal energy levels by eating appropriate carbohydrates at appropriate times.

be nearly as harmful, but depending on them on a regular basis is strongly discouraged.

Simple strategies for athletes: ■ Give yourself a curfew. Go to bed by that time every night and aim for seven or more hours of sleep. This

will decrease the likelihood that you feel the need for energy supplements.

■ Be sure you are taking in carbohydrates routinely every three hours throughout the day. This is the true source of energy for exercising muscles.

■ Reserve caffeinated energy drinks for very special and extenuating situations when you really need them.

Taking baby steps to make small nutritional changes one day at a time can add up to a huge impact on energy, performance, and health. When athletes eat energizing food on a regular basis, special eating occasions and well-deserved nutritional breaks are negligible. Advise your athletes to slowly make small changes, and those changes will translate into that extra burst of energy so many of them crave. ■ A version of this article previously appeared in Training & Conditioning, a sister publication of Coaching Management. More articles from T&C can be found at: www.Training-Conditioning.com.

ATHLETIC RECORD BOARDS “Strive For Athletic Achievement” What a great way for motivating your Track & Field athletes!

45” x 80” board shown $1125.00 with engraved records or $895.00 using our perforated card stock Record Boards available for all sports Custom boards available

Austin Plastics & Supply, Inc. 2415 A Kramer Lane, Austin, TX 78758 (800)290-1025 email: ausplas@io.com website: www.athleticrecordboards.com Circle No. 118

32

Circle No. 119

COACHING MANAGEMENT Untitled-11 1

8/8/07 4:29:21 PM

Team Equipment Boathouse Sports 800-875-1883 www.boathouse.com Boathouse Sports offers track and field uniforms made with Tech-Mesh moisture-transferring fabric for extra comfort.

They allow full range of motion and feature double-needle cover stitching to ensure durability. Three sublimated logo placements are included in the price. Visit Boathouse’s Web site to see men’s and women’s uniforms, training gear and accessories, jackets, track pants, and more.

Circle No. 500 JumpStart Athletics 877-437-3885 www.jumpstartathletics.com The JSA Polanik Revert Hurdle is a declining hurdle designed for training children. It features telescopic aluminum tubes connected by a crossbar that’s covered with a protective soft lining instead of the traditional top board. After a young athlete strikes the crossbar, a special mechanism makes the hurdle decline and then return to the upright position.

The feet are made of a solid, flat steel bar that helps ensure stability.

Circle No. 501

a heavy-duty fabric that’s available in many colors and can be customized with your school logo (optional). Go online or call today for more information and to request a catalog.

Circle No. 502 Marathon Printing, Inc. 800-255-4120 www.marathononline.com Marathon Printing specializes in numbers for all kinds of athletic events. The company’s goal is to provide on-time delivery of the highest-quality custom and stock bibs available.

Marathon prints all numbers inhouse, 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. 503 Omni-Lite Industries, Inc. 800-577-6664 www.omni-lite.com/usage.php Omni-Lite’s lightweight spikes are designed to compress on synthetic tracks, returning energy to the runner

M-F Athletic Co. 800-556-7464 www.mfathletic.com M-F Athletic’s professional, heavy-duty tents are not sold in stores and are featured in M-F’s Everything Track & Field catalog. Shown is a deluxe E-Z Up shelter that will protect your team from the weather and withstand the rigors of many tough track and cross country seasons. Choose steel or aluminum framing fitted with

and minimizing damage to the track. The threads on the spikes are compatible with all major brands of track shoes, and extended-length threads are available for use with sprint crowns. Omni-Lite’s spikes are made of ceramic, so they will never rust. They’re available in several different styles, including Pyramid, Christmas Tree, Needle, and Blank.

Omni-Lite has the right spike for every track event.

Circle No. 504

to allow for maximum performance.

The Pyramid spikes are recommended for middle- to long-distance events. The spikes are available in five lengths: 1/8”, 3/16”, 1/4”, 3/8”, and 1/2”, and seven colors: black, silver, fast blue, Olympic green, violet, fast red, and Olympic gold.

Circle No. 505 On Track 800-697-2999 www.ontrackandfield.com On Track high jump and pole vault standards feature lightweight anodized aluminum uprights equipped with polymer measurement scales that resist peeling and tearing. Unique on-off riser clamps make height adjustment certain and secure at all heights—no more slipping because of loose screw-downs.

The steel riser tubes and offsets are electroplated with zinc for durability.

The pole vault standard slides along heavy steel rail units for unsurpassed stability.

Circle No. 506 On Track Fast Lane high school hurdles are the original truly stackable rockertype hurdles. Constructed with a doubletube steel base and heli-arc welded for superior strength and durability, they ship completely assembled and ready to use. There is no rear crossbar to intimidate young hurdlers, and button latches quickly adjust to five heights.

Upright tubes are available in most school colors, and there is no extra charge for selecting your school color.

Circle No. 507

Omni-Lite’s ceramic spikes are onethird the weight of steel, and they’re designed to compress on the track

COACHING MANAGEMENT

33

Team Equipment VS Athletics 800-676-7463 www.vsathletics.com According to Rich Benoy, a former nationally ranked 110-meter hurdler who’s now the VS Athletics Product Line Manager, the Springco Rocker High School Hurdle is perfect for both training and meet use at the high school level.

This balanced hurdle features a welded onepiece steel base with no “shin banger” front bar. It has permanent weights for a legal pullover weight at all high school heights, and it’s easy to adjust to all five hurdle heights with a unique button latch design. This Lshaped hurdle is stackable.

Circle No. 508 Safety plus stability equals increased performance: That’s the weightlifting equation to make your athletes stronger with the VS Athletics Weightlifting Shoe.

This affordable shoe features two “hook

and loop” straps over the laces for added support, and a leather-reinforced flat rubber sole.

It also has a reinforced heel cup. This shoe is available in sizes six through 15, and team pricing is available. Visit the VS Athletics Web site for all your training needs.

Circle No. 509 Worldwide Sport Supply 800-756-7576 www.wwsport.com Worldwide Sport Supply carries a huge selection of ASICS brand shoes and apparel. The affordable ASICS Gel-1120 is a staple in the company’s running shoe collection. This sturdy running shoe is known for its lightweight support and optimal fit.

It is loaded with ASICS technology, including Gel® cushioning, the Trusstic System®, and a SpEVA® midsole to enhance stability, comfort, and durability. Call for pricing to take advantage of a great team offer.

Circle No. 510 The ASICS Chico Duffle is a compact gear bag that’s perfect for workouts, short journeys, and long bus rides. This stylish bag is built to last with high-count polyester fabric and offers a ton of room for your team name or logo. Worldwide Sports Supply’s in-house custom screen-printing and embroidery makes this an easy team choice. It’s available in seven different colors.

Circle No. 511 Lane Gainer 800-443-8946 www.lanegainer.com Lane Gainer offers Gorilla™ agility hurdles. Convenience is the primary feature of these highly visible orange hurdles. They can be stacked and carried “briefcase style,” and they’re easy to store. The hurdles have a synthetic edge, making them ideal for indoor or

Circle No. 120

34

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Untitled-12 1

8/8/07 4:34:54 PM

outdoor use, and the collapsible design makes them safe for any athlete. Gorilla hurdles are very affordable, and are available in three sizes: three inches, six inches, and 12 inches. A carrying tote bag is also available. The three-inch hurdles cost just $8.

Circle No. 512 Beacon Athletics 800-747-5985 www.beaconathletics.com The Smart-Cart training system is another great new product from Beacon Athletics. The core of the Smart-Cart system is a diverse selection of quality training products organized onto a single cart that solves issues of storage and transport. The Smart-Cart contains enough equipment--and the right kinds of equipment--to put 50 athletes through a tough training session in less than an hour. Whether you’re training the pros, working with high school athletes, or rehabilitating injuries, the Smart-Cart system is for you.

Circle No. 513 Jump Stretch, Inc. 800-344-3539 www.jumpstretch.com “Don’t Ice that Ankle Sprain!” by Jump Stretch founder Dick Hartzell and Dr. Michael Shimmel will introduce you to the FlexBand Ankle & Strengthening Traction Technique, which is designed to reduce pain and swelling and to speed recovery time from ankle injuries. You will never deal with a sprain the same way again. The book is 85 pages long, includes a companion DVD, and covers horizontal traction, vertical traction, deferred pain, and more. It also includes testimonials from athletes and healthcare professionals.

Circle No. 514

Track Facilities 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 competing surface.

Its bio-engineered force-reduction layer integrates very fine SBR rubber with environmentally friendly polyurethane to create an impermeable shockabsorbing 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. 515 Give your team the ultimate edge with the state-of-the-art BSS 2000 track system from Beynon Sports Surfaces. It’s

that’s designed for speed while providing maximum comfort to the athlete. Le Monde’s aggressively textured top layer results in outstanding traction, while the base layer provides the perfect amount of shock absorption. The patent-pending seam construction protects against splitting and heaving. The IAAFapproved Le Monde is fully backed by a third-party-insured five-year warranty.

Circle No. 517 FieldTurf Tarkett offers a complete line of high-quality poured-in-place Resisport track systems. From the very affordable BMSS to the world-class FP, these IAAF-approved systems are designed for maximum performance and durability. Whether you’ve got a local community jogging track, a high school facility, or a world-class stadium, you will find a surface perfectly suited to your venue’s intended use. The Resisport line is fully protected by a third-party-insured five-year warranty.

Circle No. 518

ence have determined optimum banking and construction techniques for almost any indoor configuration.

Features include a perfectly uniform surface, controlled deflection, correct banking, safety zones, protection barriers, and custom designs. Permanent banked tracks, portable banked tracks, and hydraulic banked tracks are all available.

Circle No. 520

TARTAN Track Surfaces 951-273-7984 www.tartan-aps.com TARTAN®-APS is a fully integrated track sur facing company. From research and development of raw materials and polyurethane systems to manufacturing and installation, TARTAN-APS is your single-source solution. TARTAN tracks meet the strict

Mondo 800-361-3747 www.mondousa.com designed and manufactured for optimal competitive performance. Grounded by a bio-engineered force-reduction layer of butyl rubber and full-depth color polyurethane, the BSS 2000 provides the resilient response and maximum energy return your athletes need to shatter records. Each system is finished with a customized surface engineered to meet the intense demands of competition.

EPDM granules—embedded or encapsulated, your choice—are mixed throughout the depth of the wear layer for better traction and total control. Certified by the IAAF and backed by an outstanding 10-year warranty, the BSS 2000 is tough enough to handle whatever weather comes its way.

Circle No. 516 FieldTurf Tarkett 800-724-2969 www.fieldturftarkett.com Le Monde is a revolutionary new track surface from FieldTurf Tarkett.

Countless hours of research and development have resulted in a product

The Super X Performance surface is driven by science. Mondo’s biomechanical design provides a running track that delivers competition-caliber performance.

Extensive research and development has produced an innovative design with vulcanized rubber for technically superior characteristics. The firm, nonslip top layer provides maximum elasticity and outstanding durability. The surface requires no coatings and is UV-stable. The geometrically molded bottom layer is designed for maximum energy absorption and return. Super X Performance is a multipurpose product that can be used indoors and out, and it’s available in many colors.

Circle No. 519 Mondo’s indoor track systems are yet another example of the company’s commitment to research, development, and state-of-the-art engineering. Years of research, testing, and installation experi-

standards set by national and international track governing bodies and exceed all installation recommendations. Coaches and athletes know that TARTAN is a fast, per formance-driven product and a premier track sur face for training.

Circle No. 521 Based on Athletic Polymer Systems’ preferred material chemistry and recyclability, its limited use and degradation of water resources, and its initial steps to establish positive agendas for energy use and social responsibility, TARTAN® tracks are certified as a Cradle to Cradle™ product at the Silver level by MBDC. Circle No. 522

COACHING MANAGEMENT

35

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY CIRCLE NO.

Great Ideas For Training...

Knee Strap Cho-Pat’s Original Knee Strap is designed to alleviate certain knee discomforts due to overuse syndromes, arthritis, and other forms of degeneration. Nearly two million sold!

Sizes: XS - XXL • Colors: Black and Tan

COMPANY

106. . . Aer-Flo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 118 . . . Austin Plastics & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 107 . . . Beynon Sports Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 116 . . . BulletlBelt (Lane Gainer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 120. . . Cardinal Publishers Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 121 . . . Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 110 . . . FieldTurf Tarkett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 115 . . . Goldner Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 113 . . . Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 117 . . . JumpStart Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 101 . . . Lynx System Developers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 123 . . . M-F Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC 119 . . . Marathon Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 105. . . Mondo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 112 . . . Omni-Lite Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 104. . . On Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 111 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 114 . . . Professional Turf Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 100 . . Tartan Track Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC 108. . . Traction™/ProTraxx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 109. . . VS Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 122. . . Wobenzym N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC 102. . . Worldwide Sport Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 103. . . Xvest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Dual Action Knee Strap Patented device offers an extra level of pain relief and protection from knee degeneration and overuse syndromes.

Stabilizes and strengthens the joint while allowing full mobility.

Sizes: Sm - XL

Achilles Tendon Strap This patented device will reduce stress upon the Achilles Tendon and provide effective relief from pain and discomfort associated with Achilles Tendonitis. Sizes: Sm - Md - Lrg

Bicep/ Triceps Cuff This patentpending device affords protection from overuse injuries for individuals performing repetitive lifting in activities such as weight training. Sizes: Sm - XXL

www.cho-pat.com 1-800-221-1601

PRODUCTS DIRECTORY CIRCLE NO.

36

COMPANY

PAGE NO.

525. . . Aer-Flo (Bench Zone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 526. . . Aer-Flo (Cross-Over Zone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 527. . . Austin Plastics & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 513 . . . Beacon Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 515 . . . Beynon Sports Surfaces (BSS 1000) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 516 . . . Beynon Sports Surfaces (BSS 2000) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 500 . . Boathouse Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 535 . . Cardinal Publishers Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 538 . . Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 517 . . . FieldTurf Tarkett (Le Monde) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 518 . . . FieldTurf Tarkett (Resisport track systems) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 539 . . Goldner Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 514 . . . Jump Stretch (“Don’t Ice that Ankle Sprain!”) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 532 . . Jump Stretch (Spartan Fireout Station) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 501. . . JumpStart Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 512 . . . Lane Gainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 528. . . Lynx (FinishLynx) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 529 . . Lynx (LynxPad) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 530 . . M-F Athletic (Economy Bleachers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 502 . . M-F Athletic (tents) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 503 . . Marathon Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 520. . . Mondo (indoor track systems) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 519 . . . Mondo (Super X Performance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 505 . . Omni-Lite (ceramic spikes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 504 . . Omni-Lite (lightweight spikes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 506 . . On Track (high jump/pole vault standards) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 507. . . On Track (hurdles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 533 . . Power Systems (Lateral Stepper) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 534 . . Power Systems (Power Chute) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 531. . . Professional Turf Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 521. . . Tartan Track Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 522. . . Tartan Track Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 523. . . Traction™/ProTraxx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 524. . . Traction™/ProTraxx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 508 . . VS Athletics (hurdle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 509 . . VS Athletics (weightlifting shoe) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 540 . . Wobenzym N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 541 . . . Wobenzym N (Crème) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 511 . . . Worldwide Sport Supply (ASICS Duffle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 510 . . . Worldwide Sport Supply (ASICS Gel-1120) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 537. . . Xvest (conditioning) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 536 . . Xvest (training) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Circle No. 121

Untitled-4 1

PAGE NO.

COACHING MANAGEMENT 4/16/07 11:44:41 AM

Track Facilities Traction™ Sports Surfaces North American Specialty Flooring, Inc. 866-757-5569 www.nasf.biz Swampscott (Mass.) High School has a brand new building and a brand new ProTraxx track. The new $40 million dollar school has all state-of-the-art fixtures, including the indoor competition track. “The ProTraxx material is designed for optimum speed and performance,” says Michael DiNatale, Principal of Traction Sports Surfaces. “It is the best running track surface on the market.”

For more information, contact Michael by going online or calling the company.

Circle No. 523 Al Carius knows track. In 42 years as a track coach, this North Central College legend has won 17 NCAA championships and has coached countless AllAmericans.

It’s no surprise that he chose ProTraxx by Traction Sports Surfaces. “We train on that track every day,” says Carius. “It provides the comfort and durability our athletes and coaches demand.”

Circle No. 524 Aer-Flo, Inc. 800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com The Bench Zone™ track protector is for tracks that fit tightly to football and soccer fields. The tough polypropylene fabric resists and cushions against cleats, yet allows rain to drain through.

A steel chain is double-stitched into the vinyl edging all around, keeping the protector down—even in high winds—without the need for stakes. The Bench Zone features gold or white edging to maximize visibility. It is 15 feet wide and 75, 100, 125, or 150 feet long. Custom sizes are also available. This product is great for protecting cheerleader areas.

Circle No. 525 The Cross-Over Zone™ track protector from Aer-Flo resists and cushions

against steel-tipped cleats. Its breathable polypropylene fabric allows rain to drain through while protecting modern track surfaces from crossing traffic.

A steel chain inserted in the edging 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. The Cross-Over Zone is 7.5 or 15 feet wide and 30, 40, or 50 feet long. Custom sizes are also available. This product is easy to install, remove, and store.

Circle No. 526 Austin Plastics & Supply, Inc. 800-290-1025 www.athleticrecordboards.com

issues, and lower-level packages can be upgraded at any time.

Circle No. 528 The LynxPad computer program from Lynx System Developers provides an efficient, easyto-use interface for administering track and field meets and other athletic competitions.

Creating lists of events, competitors, affiliations, and seeding marks is a snap, and results can be compiled and ranked quickly and easily. With just a few clicks, the software creates heats or flights according to the criteria you specify. LynxPad can be used by itself or in conjunction with FinishLynx, FieldLynx, ReacTime, and ClerkLynx products.

Circle No. 529

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. 527

The M-F Everything Track & Field catalog offers a wide selection of bleachers. The First Place Economy Bleachers (shown) feature 2” H x 10” W aluminum seats with a non-skid surface. The understructure is made of heavyduty galvanized steel with cross braces to stabilize the frame.

In addition to the model shown, they’re also available in five- and 10-row models and can feature your school colors and logo. Call M-F or go online to request a catalog.

Circle No. 530

Lynx System Developers 800-989-5969 www.finishlynx.com

Professional Turf Products 866-726-3326 www.proturfproducts.com

Lynx System Developers is a premier manufacturer of digital photo finish and timing equipment. For more than a decade, the company has offered top-quality technology to high schools and colleges nationwide.

FinishLynx hardware and software packages give you everything you need to manage a track meet—from athlete entries to seeding, FAT timing, and results. Even the most basic (bronze) package provides a turnkey solution to event management

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. 531

M-F Athletic Co. 800-556-7464 www.mfathletic.com

COACHING MANAGEMENT

37

Case Study

Olympic-Caliber Track Facilities Choose Their Surfaces Carefully John Beynon has worked in the field of manufacturing and installation of polyurethane sports surfaces since 1974.

He founded Beynon Sports Surfaces with the goal of providing state-of-theart polyurethane surfacing systems to athletic facilities all over the world.

Soon after, Beynon Enterprises, Inc. was founded to supply IAAF polyurethane surfaces to track and field, gymnasium, field house, and other athletic surface markets.

Beynon Sports Surfaces was selected to build the track at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, where the 2008 Olympic track and field trials will be held.

Beynon Sports Surfaces 16 Alt Rd. Hunt Valley, MD 21030 888-240-3670 Fax: 410-771-9479 www.beynonsports.com

38

COACHING MANAGEMENT

With a dedicated team that includes top chemists, engineers, and worldfamous track coaches, John, along with his son Drew, the director of business development, and Mike Gasparovik, the head of research and development, have quickly turned Beynon Sports Surfaces into a leader in the sports surfacing industry. The company has completed more than 400 outdoor running tracks and more than 5,000 indoor gymnasium and field house floors at some of the world’s most celebrated athletic facilities, such as the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas; Louisiana State University; the University of Maryland; and Mitchell Park in New York.

Recently, Beynon Sports Sur faces was selected to build the track at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, where the 2008 Olympic track and field trials will be held. The contract was awarded through a comprehen-

sive evaluation and selection process, with Beynon winning out over both national and international sur facing companies. Beynon’s BSS 2000 track and field sur face will be manufactured and installed in the late summer of 2007 and will consist of approximately 9,000 square yards of sur facing.

“Winning the bid to build a track at such a prestigious venue as the University of Oregon offers Beynon Sports Surfaces a tremendous opportunity to showcase our commitment to providing environmentally conscious sports surfaces that perform at the highest level possible,” says Drew Beynon. “The 2008 Olympic track and field trials will see the world’s greatest athletes performing on our surface at one of the country’s leading track and field facilities.”

The BSS 2000 at Hayward Field is designed to be the fastest track surface in the world, with maximum return of energy and superior shock absorption owing to a bio-engineered forcereduction layer of butyl rubber and full-depth color polyurethane, which allows for daily training without stress injuries. The track is finished with a custom-made sur face consisting of embedded EPDM granules to create advanced traction.

Hayward Field has hosted three Olympic trials and a variety of NCAA, national, and Masters championships, and it is slated to host the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships and the annual Nike Prefontaine Classic in addition to the 2008 Olympic trials.

Conditioning Products Jump Stretch, Inc. 800-344-3539 www.jumpstretch.com Athletes are always looking for an edge—some way to vary their training routine and ramp up their workouts.

The athletic trainers who worked with the actors in the movie “300” came up with a creative exercise: run out against the resistance of FlexBands, pick up a kettlebell, and run back. Now you can use this same technique with the Spartan Fireout Station. It consists of four bands—three long bands, with the fourth looped through to serve as a harness over the shoulders.

Circle No. 532 Power Systems, Inc. 800-321-6975 www.power-systems.com Agility training develops balance and awareness while resistance targets the hard-to-isolate hip muscles. The Lateral Stepper can help your athletes improve agility, reaction time, and strength. It’s available in two resistance levels—intermediate and advanced—to facilitate progression. Start with the intermediate resistance to teach and

perfect skills, then graduate to the advanced tubing for even more dramatic gains. Each unit includes two padded cuffs with Velcro™ closures and one 10-inch length of latex tubing.

Circle No. 533

weight training, flexibility, and abdominal exercises used by athletes worldwide. The books are extremely well designed, easy to use, and committed to weight training.

Circle No. 535

The Power Systems Power Chute provides resisted and overspeed training in the same run to improve stride length and frequency. It opens during training runs for resistance, and the Velcro™ belt allows for mid-stride release, giving athletes that “shot out of a cannon” feeling.

The Power Chute delivers up to 50 pounds of resistance (XL model). It has an adjustable belt with a storage pocket, and built-in mesh panels to eliminate tangled strings.

Circle No. 534

Xvest 800-697-5658 www.thexvest.com

Cardinal Publishers Group 800-296-0481 www.wishpublishing.com The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Sports series, published by the trainers at Spor tsWorkout. com, is one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date spor ts-specific training series in the world today.

Each book contains descriptions and photographs of more than 80 of the most effective

The Xvest is currently used by and has redefined training and fitness protocols for most, if not all, MLB teams, as well as teams in the NFL and NBA and at many colleges and universities.

The Xvest also has a reputation for being one of the most used training products by U.S. Olympic programs. The Xvest can be utilized with most training protocols and activities. It will not move, migrate, or bounce, enabling you to take your training to the extreme.

Circle No. 536 The Xvest is ideal for inseason and out-of-season conditioning programs.

Staying in top condition during the long season is a must. The Xvest is designed for extreme conditioning, versatility, strength training, speed, and agility. It’s also great for specific training such as plyometrics. Xvests are available weighing 20, 40, or 60 pounds, and there’s also the 84-pound Firefighter model.

Circle No. 537

Web News Check Out Exciting Stats Software Online Track and Field Statware from Digital Scout offers analysis at the meet and at practice. Collect statistics in real time and produce reports and performance charts immediately after meets. This software records personal bests and cumulative points scored, and it works for cross country in addition to track and field. Visit Digital Scout’s Web site today for more information and to get your free trial download. Digital Scout, a leading provider of statistics and scouting software, now offers software for baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball.

www.digitalscout.com

COACHING MANAGEMENT

39

Calling Cards

Providing top-quality field materials, maintenance equipment, and technical assistance. www.beaconathletics.com

Blazer is athletic equipment from start to finish since 1974. www.blazerathletic.com

More Products Cho-Pat 800-221-1601 www.cho-pat.com

Wobenzym 888-766-4406 www.wobenzym.com

Knees take a beating. Cho-Pat’s patented Dual Action Knee Strap provides an extra dimension of relief for painful and weakened knees. First, it applies pressure on the tendon below the knee to reduce patellar subluxation and improve patellar tracking and elevation. Then, by adding pressure on the tendon above the knee, the strap further strengthens and provides an additional level of support and stability for the joint. The Dual Action Knee Strap allows full mobility.

Circle No. 538

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 athletes and weekend warriors back into action more quickly and safely than ordinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. During the recent world soccer championships in Germany, several teams used Wobenzym®N with their athletes, and it helped get the world’s most elite soccer players back onto the field more quickly.

Circle No. 540

Goldner Associates, Inc. 800-251-2656 www.goldnerassociates.com

A leading manufacturer of innovative pain-reducing sports medicine products. www.cho-pat.com

Cost-effective complete lighting systems for athletic facilities. www.uslnet.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. 539

Wobenzym®N Crème provides fast, penetrating relief for minor arthritis pain, back pain, muscle pain, and sports injuries.

It incorporates traditional herbs used for centuries in Asia and Europe to help ease surface pain.

Bromelain and Papain help promote robust circulation and normalize inflammation. This product has been validated by the latest research to interfere with COX-2 activity. Visit the Wobenzym Web site to learn more.

Circle No. 541

The following companies have partnered with the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) to launch their new publication “techniques”. These companies have shown a strong commitment to track & field and cross country throughout the United States.

Benyon Sports Surfaces. .www.beynonsports.com

An excellent strength-enhancing, power-producing conditioning tool. www.thexvest.com

FieldTurf Tarkett . . . . . . . www.fieldturftarkett.com M-F Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.mfathletic.com Mondo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.mondousa.com

Radically increase game-winning intensity, first-step quickness, and vertical jump. www.vertimax.com

40

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Tartan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.tartan-aps.com VS Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.vsathletics.com

T A E R G IT´S

Wobenzym®N. Swear by it.

World-class athletes from across the globe rely on Wobenzym®N to support their bodies’ recuperation process, and as an essential part of regular training and maintenance programs.

Wobenzym®N

These athletes know that after an injury or muscle strain, damaged blood vessels cause swelling as a signal to the body to prevent further abuse. With adequate rest, the injury will normally recover, but who wants to wait?

is featured in the Physicians’

The sooner your clients recover, the better. By supplementing with Wobenzym®N, you can support nearly every metabolic and physiological process involved in recuperation – and help your clients get back in action faster.†

Desk Reference

For more information or to order literature for your clients, visit our website at www. Wobenzym .com/tandc †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. ©2007 Naturally Vitamins, a Marlyn Nutraceuticals, Inc. company. Wobenzym®N is a registered trademark of Mucos Pharma, GmbH

Circle No. 122

the

SuperSourcefor

We Deliver WHAT You Need...

WHEN You Need it.

Call for your 2007 Track & Field Catalog.

800-556-7464

M-F ATHLETIC COMPANY • P.O. Box 8090 Cranston, RI 02920-0090 • Toll-Free 800-556-7464 Fax: 800-682-6950

Circle No. 123