Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

boo, pfaff, powell, et al…nothing this Olympics.  What is the deal?  I’m really not trying to be a smartass, I’m just curious as to why the lack of production.  Any ideas?  Speaking of recent events, I was looking for Amy Acuff and Brad Walker to do a little better.

To me it’s like when you ask your professor for the answer to a math question and he can’t provide it.

Easy big fella.  There is a void between a coach’s ability and an athlete’s actual performance that a coach cant be held accountable for.

If say there was a coach who had an athlete who had a bad meet because of say psycho over blowing out their “favorite jumping shoes” before the big day, would you have me believe that fault should be found with coach?

: )

PS: not all athletes morph into coaches who succeed to the same degree as they acheived in their day in the spikes.  Many current athletes are mistaken or misled into coaching arrangements that they assume will be best for them.  There are many (former and not former athelete) coaches who are “stars” by orbiting around the sun of great talent that their non-equal quality cant fully squelch.

Like I said, I am not pointing fingers just wondering.  Heck I can’t even post this note in the correct forum (should be in the Olympic forum).

How else can we judge a coach’s success if not by the athlete’s performance?  I am asking, not accusing.

I think this should be addressed.

This cant be said of this coach…Nelio Alfano Moura…both mens womens olympic long jump gold medalists !!!

coachformerlyknownas… - 22 August 2008 11:42 PM

There are many (former and not former athelete) coaches who are “stars” by orbiting around the sun of great talent that their non-equal quality cant fully squelch.

Poetic. Beautiful. Nominated for CFKA hall of fame.

So coaches receive none of the blame when multiple athletes tank at the big meet? And they most of the credit when an athlete does something special? That’s of course assuming they take an approach we like.

davan - 23 August 2008 10:10 AM

So coaches receive none of the blame when multiple athletes tank at the big meet? And they most of the credit when an athlete does something special? That’s of course assuming they take an approach we like.

When it"s as many as we"ve seen with the U.S. who’ve trained under previously proven coaches I think something is strange. Could it be the coaches- sure, but I think it"s as likely to be something like the trials, food poisoning, or low team morale due to the bad start. Or maybe Lauren was right…maybe someone has a voodoo doll

Mike Young - 23 August 2008 02:29 AM

coachformerlyknownas… - 22 August 2008 11:42 PM

There are many (former and not former athelete) coaches who are “stars” by orbiting around the sun of great talent that their non-equal quality cant fully squelch.

Poetic. Beautiful. Nominated for CFKA hall of fame.

Nothing poetic unless complete honesty is bard-like?  Finding it increasingly difficult to hold down the years of crap…

Right now is as near to a perfect storm as “Baby or not, at least throw out the bathwater” rooters can hope for.  With the 2 x relay fiasco, a new sheriff (CEO) who claims to want to clean up (though I doubt he has the clout/reg authority) and Mt Olympus (Colo Springs) calling for change.

Disapointing though, was Scheer’s recent comment.  After chasing USATF around the boardroom with threats all year, he recently was quoted as telling people disapointed with the Oly track results, that they really need to consider the the 4 year body of work of the sport.  Is he hunting for bear or not?  Or perhaps he still loading the gun while pandering to corporate America with his gotta look at the whole 4 years pablum…

Mike Young - 23 August 2008 11:08 AM

davan - 23 August 2008 10:10 AM

So coaches receive none of the blame when multiple athletes tank at the big meet? And they most of the credit when an athlete does something special? That’s of course assuming they take an approach we like.

When it"s as many as we"ve seen with the U.S. who’ve trained under previously proven coaches I think something is strange. Could it be the coaches- sure, but I think it"s as likely to be something like the trials, food poisoning, or low team morale due to the bad start. Or maybe Lauren was right…maybe someone has a voodoo doll

Mike,
How much you wanna bet LW is vis-spat challenged???

next olympics schedule events we can win early and put swimming later as it’s hard to live in the shadow of the pool.

coachformerlyknownas… - 23 August 2008 10:09 PM

Mike,
How much you wanna bet LW is vis-spat challenged???

Haha. Probably. You could kinda tell when she turned. She’d probably hate driving with either of us.