Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

After waiting what seemed like a lifetime, I finally had the opportunity to advance my education by attending the USATF Level II Coaching School. I would by lying to you if I didn’t mention that sufficient nervousness preceded entering the weeklong excursion. Although, as time drew closer the opportunity to learn from a group of instructors, whose knowledge and expertise have produced countless elite level athletes, changed that nervousness to excitement.
 
     
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USATF schools are great (really).  I would recommend them highly as they are a great place to meet other coaches and learn from them like Chad said so you reap what you sow….

and no need to be nervous because everybody ‘passes’.  I could send my grandmother to one and she would come out level 2 certified (that’s my jab/uppercut combo for the week).

I really wish the instructors would rip us when we do the projects though.  I felt as if many of the people did not follow what the instructors had taught and went with what they always do in practice.  I understand that only looking at a specific week as well as a generalized annual plan is hard on the instructors but if you see they are not following the curriculum, I would understand and appreciate a little scolding.  I believe you learn better under pressure like that.

I think it is hard for some people to comprehend that much information in such a short time span. I wouldn’t expect everyone to get it the first go around. Most of the better groups had some alums who were exposed to the training before.

Then there’s always the coaches that “don’t get it” but still can get very good results (for any number of reasons).  Track is very humbling all around.  Even if you have read every book and consulted with every coach, there are still times when you will get your butt handed to you by haphazardly coached opponents.  Too many variables. 

Don’t take this the wrong way, but did Boo mentioned what happened with Walter Davis?  In retrospect, did he make any mistakes in his preparation?  It’s fascinating that he got bumped out by the champ with a stress fracture who hadn’t sprinted or jumped in over a month.

1.  Boo is one of the 2 that never fail to amaze.  If and when you can catch Dan P I strongly encourage to.

2.  Boo was not Walt’s coach this year.

coachformerlyknownas… - 23 July 2008 02:28 PM

1.  Boo is one of the 2 that never fail to amaze.  If and when you can catch Dan P I strongly encourage to.

2.  Boo was not Walt’s coach this year.

1. Yes Dan Pfaff is key.  He has a couple excellent interviews available on athleticscoaching.ca website.  Also has a new general strength dvd available via his website.

2. Wow, I did not know that.

This could be BS, but I heard from a guy that lives down there that Walter wasn’t listening to Boo like he used to and Boo fired him.

I certainly am not qualified to know much about the specifics of these events but common sense tells me to listen to what Boo says. Especially if he is the one who helped pave the path.

I have one of his books with interviews and I can tell he is straight and not full of BS like some.

Is Boo coaching anyone in Beijing?

Boo asked Walter to leave the group in early January.  Todd Lane is helping him out with his technical jump sessions and he has been doing some running with Dennis Shaver.

Boo coaches Miguel Pate and Bryan Johnson who are both on the team in the long jump.  Tiombe Hurd is also training with Boo, but she just started with him in mid May.

Well, heres something for you guys…

last year, i cant remember the month, a few national event coaches of the GB Britain team, including Pete Stanley had a conference in Ireland, and the presenter was Boo…It was about long and triple jump development…

I was working first hand with one of the coaches at the time, and they had some interesting things to tell me…

Basically over 3 hour presentation, they agreed with ONE thing Boo said…which was about how you should try to get more height with each phase of the triple jump. Everything else, how he groups elements of training together in one session, about the energy system stuff, his tactics for solving technical problems, his periodization methods etc etc etc, they didnt not agree with…and said he was a very un-practical coach with some far out methods that could only work with athletes of extreme talent….

This coming from Stanley who has coached the WR holder, took an already world class Gregorio, to 17.90m, coached the British LJ record holder from when he first started long jumping and also now, another athlete from day 1 upto 7.93m this year…is pretty amazing…

and im sure, shows the differences in philosophies…

Crazy,

Can you give examples of how Stanley is different in his training means?  Especially the grouping elements, energy system stuff, solving technical problems and periodization.  It would be interesting to see how others do it that have had success as well.

tkaberna - 24 July 2008 08:59 AM

Crazy,

Can you give examples of how Stanley is different in his training means?  Especially the grouping elements, energy system stuff, solving technical problems and periodization.  It would be interesting to see how others do it that have had success as well.

I’d love to hear this too. Especially, considering that Boo’s program is VERY similar to Dan Pfaff’s and in many regards, even to Randy Huntington’s. I’m not too familiar with Dick Booth’s training plans but I’d imagine they were quite similar too. Odd, that they could be perceived as so different.

mortac8 - 23 July 2008 09:15 AM

and no need to be nervous because everybody ‘passes’.  I could send my grandmother to one and she would come out level 2 certified (that’s my jab/uppercut combo for the week).

I’m pushing hard for this to change. This year 5 people were held back.

tkaberna - 23 July 2008 12:21 PM

I really wish the instructors would rip us when we do the projects though.  I felt as if many of the people did not follow what the instructors had taught and went with what they always do in practice.  I understand that only looking at a specific week as well as a generalized annual plan is hard on the instructors but if you see they are not following the curriculum, I would understand and appreciate a little scolding.  I believe you learn better under pressure like that.

Your project was pretty good so there wasn’t much to tear in to but this is something we need to look at because there was one group in particular that just didn’t seem to get it. The problem is so many people take it really personal. While the educator / coach part of me says ‘who cares?‘, the realistic side of it is that-

1) It creates a lot of problems for the management of the school

2) Some instructors don’t like to be perceived as ‘mean’

3) It’s the end of a very long week, and the time when most instructors are mentally drained

Overall, I think the 8-10 hour a day week long immersion creates a lot of learning and education problems but the entire executive committee is struggling to come up with alternative solutions that don’t create bigger problems along the way.

I feel like we are all drinking the same koolaid and if Stanley has something different I would look forward in hearing about it.