The Handoff

The handoff Texas Track& Field Coaches Association

October 2011

Volume 1, Issue 7

A Summer to Remember Mexico to Oregon to South Carolina to

In this issue:

Kansas to New Orleans and to South Florida; to France and to South Korea, high schoolers like Aldrich Bailey, Jennifer

Story Title

1

Story Title

1

Story Title

2

Story Title

2

Madu and Shelbi Vaughan proved their national recognition was well-deserved and that their senior seasons should prove magical. Collegians like Marquise Goodwin gave us a glimpse of the future of track and field while veterans like Khadevis Robinson, Doc Patton, Jason Richardson, Trey Hardee, Bianca Knight, and Marshavet Myers proved to the world America’s track & field program is just fine.

In fact, Texans helped the United States capture 25 medals at the World Games (including 12 golds and 8 silvers).

Aldrich Bailey at the World Youth Games in France— courtesy DyeStat

Texans literally competed and performed brilliantly all over the United States and

Stay with the TTFCA as we keep you updated on Texans heading to London in

Special points of interest:



2012.

the world this past summer. From New

Briefly highlight your point of interest here.

Follow us on Twitter @ttfca 

Briefly highlight your point of interest here.



TTFCA MEMBERSHIP A TTFCA Membership is $10.

Please go to the TTFCA website and explore the

Membership Page for the growing list of benefits, as more will be added throughout the

year. Clinic attendance gives you automatic membership in the TTFCA.

Briefly highlight your point of interest here.



Briefly highlight your point of interest here.

FREE WITH YOUR PAID MEMBERSHIP THIS FANTASTIC REFERENCE GUIDE WILL BE EMAILED AS A DIGITIZED MAGAZINE TO ALL TTFCA MEMBERS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

From the President The National Federation of State High School Associations released its 20102011 annual participation survey revealing that nationwide participation in high school sports increased for the 22nd consecutive year. Boy’s cross country and outdoor track & field gained the most new participants, while outdoor track & field had the second highest growth for girls when compared to other sports.

Texas, once again, topped all states with 78,640 boys and 64,726 girls participating in outdoor track & field with California ranking second (57,922 / 44,624). Track & field drew more participants than any other sport in Texas except in football for boys and basketball for girls.

These statistics seem dry on paper but are given life each season with the excitement and intensity of the large invitational meets and district, region and state championships. It is not surprising that Texas leads the nation in participation and the number of champions it produces.

2011-2012 will present another great opportunity for the growth of track & field in Texas. Fresh off the heals of terrific individual performances this summer by Texans in the World Youth Trials, Collegiate Championships and World Championships will come the 2012 Olympics and the spotlight will be on Texas and track & field.

Mike Sheaner

What 's in your pole bag?

A lot of vaulter’s want to know the best tools to pack in their vaulter toolbox (or bag). In my opinion 1. The Progression Pole… The Blue Pole! For head wind, bad weather at your weight one you can qualify

with that might be shorter and stiffer than your normal pole. (This can be a used short length pole over your weight) The warm-up pole to get to The Money Pole.

2. The Money Pole.... The Green Pole the one that works constantly all the time.

3. The Adrenaline Pole… The Red Pole This ones for tail winds, great days and those times when all is together you are pumped. Confidence bends poles you know. When you know it is your day and you are progressing the Money Pole feels lighter with less upward lift you are ready for the The Adrenaline Pole.

4. The Next Pole…The Gold Pole As you get better the poles rotate and you add a stiff one to the bag.

Always have the next pole waiting in the wings and ready to go.

As you progress this selection finites itself and turns into 4-6 poles. I realize it is expensive to own four poles, but this is what it takes to be a consistent vaulter at every meet. These do not need to be new poles, and you can swap and trade to get what is needed. Unless you are super consistent or very diversified you will have to have variable poles in your bag to meet the conditions.

Some More Rules of Thumb: 1. 1.2 lbs of stiffness per 1 inch within the handgrip area.

2. Do not move any more than 1 fist up or down within a given practice or meet, as this alters timing

drastically.

3. Know what you are doing raising the grip slows the pole speed making it difficult to make the pit have a supervisor preset that is certified and add extra bun protection.

4. Raising the grip places more stress on the pole. If the pole is too soft and bending more than 90 degrees you could break the pole by raising the grip.

5. (Note: vaulters have been using poles rated up to 10 lbs under their weight for years before the NFHS rule and have blew through the poles into the back of the pit without breaking the pole so what breaks poles is improper vaulting or nicks in the pole!)

6. You can in lieu of a stiffer pole lower the grip 1 fist to get the pole not to blow through and finish the meet with performances.

You might even be able to accomplish all the above needed on one pole if you learn in practice what your pole can adjust to.

Bruce Caldwell ESSX Pole Maker

Featuring

Clyde Hart, Erica Bartolina, Louise Ritter, Khadevis Robinson, David Kaiser, Dana LeDuc, Rob Lasorsa, and Daren Rodriguez, and more to be announced. As well, please join us for the Hall of Fame Induction of Clyde Hart, Earnest James, Randy Matson, Billy Olson, and Louise Ritter + we’ll honor the 2011 Athletes of the Year— Jennifer Madu and Jaylon Hicks—as well as the Coaches of the Year, June Villers and Greg Williams.

Information can be found on the clinic page of the TTFCA website.

This year’s clinic registration makes you a TTFCA member automatically, or if you’re already a paid member, take 10% off the registration fee.

Meets for 2012 Coaches—As October is almost over, it’s time to start sending in meets for posting on the TTFCA Meets & Results Page. Please send meets with any information you’d like posted to ttfca@hotmail.com.

DyeStat—the TTFCA has partnered with DyeStat to expedite results for all Texas T&F results. 1) Send meet results to ttfca@hotmail.com; 2) TTFCA sends them to DyeStat; 3) Links on the TTFCA Top Performance page bring you to either the Texas page of DyeStat or the National DyeStat page so you can see exactly how your athletes are doing on a state and national level.

When sending Meet Results, please indicate FAT or Handheld, Weather Conditions (especially wind), and any Meet Records or Accomplishments you’d like us to post. As well, if you have pictures from the meets, please send those, too!

Area Meets for all classifications appears to be a reality, as only the Education Commissioner’s signature is required to make this official. This will happen Summer, 2012. When it does, the TTFCA will bring you all the details—from official Press Release to a Q&A with UIL T&F officials explaining the process.