Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

Yesterday, I blogged about America’s track performance in Beijing and whether it was really as bad as it seemed. I kinda steered towards an optimistic view yesterday. Today, I’m back to give the other side of the argument. The answer to whether Beijing was a complete meltdown isn’t real simple but I think it’s safe to say that something wasn’t wright in Beijing. First off, America has histori
 
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I just found your new job, Director of High Performance and National Team Head Coach for 4 years. 

1. You coached multi’s so you can coach any event with a fair amount of competence.
2. You are a scientist and a coach, easier to convey scientific talk into coach talk
3. You’d hire competent cronies, what good coach doesn’t?
4. You would inject youth back into the coaching ranks at the National Level, no longer a wait your turn attitude.

If I only had Roe’s and Logan’s job rolled into one, President and CEO of USATF to make this happen.

dbandre - 28 August 2008 03:05 AM

I just found your new job, Director of High Performance and National Team Head Coach for 4 years. 

1. You coached multi’s so you can coach any event with a fair amount of competence.
2. You are a scientist and a coach, easier to convey scientific talk into coach talk
3. You’d hire competent cronies, what good coach doesn’t?
4. You would inject youth back into the coaching ranks at the National Level, no longer a wait your turn attitude.

If I only had Roe’s and Logan’s job rolled into one, President and CEO of USATF to make this happen.

Thanks for the vote of confidence but it’s an undertaking that many others are far more deserving.

It would certainly be nice if we did have a national team coach (in some regard) rather than just honorary coaching positions.

Mike Young - 28 August 2008 01:11 AM

...I’d reevaluate how we handle our pre-meet training camps. I know that this years’ in Dalian was amazing and offered everything you could possibly want in a resort style manner. Is that what we want?...

That ‘68 team didn’t do too bad with their arrangements in Tahoe.  Quonset huts and trailers…it worked for them.

Price - 29 August 2008 11:31 AM

Mike Young - 28 August 2008 01:11 AM

...I’d reevaluate how we handle our pre-meet training camps. I know that this years’ in Dalian was amazing and offered everything you could possibly want in a resort style manner. Is that what we want?...

That ‘68 team didn’t do too bad with their arrangements in Tahoe.  Quonset huts and trailers…it worked for them.

Price:

I concur whole-heartedly with you on this one.  A training camp should be a training camp, not a resort.  Maybe it doesn’t need to be as military-esque as the ‘68 team had it, but definitely something is promotes team-building and promotes a common purpose for the since of the country they represent and what that means.  Sometimes, I think of how much better the old British Amateur System was in this respect of the Olympic Ideal instead of this self-centered professional culture that has been created in the Olympics.  I see it in some of the lessor known or participated sports worldwide.

Mike Young - 28 August 2008 05:43 PM

dbandre - 28 August 2008 03:05 AM

I just found your new job, Director of High Performance and National Team Head Coach for 4 years. 

1. You coached multi’s so you can coach any event with a fair amount of competence.
2. You are a scientist and a coach, easier to convey scientific talk into coach talk
3. You’d hire competent cronies, what good coach doesn’t?
4. You would inject youth back into the coaching ranks at the National Level, no longer a wait your turn attitude.

If I only had Roe’s and Logan’s job rolled into one, President and CEO of USATF to make this happen.

Thanks for the vote of confidence but it’s an undertaking that many others are far more deserving.

It would certainly be nice if we did have a national team coach (in some regard) rather than just honorary coaching positions.

Don’t sell yourself short judge…

You’re a tremendous entrepreneur, organizer, almost fanatical about research and coaching, and I imagine you would a great teacher as well.  Something this sport has long needed in the USATF and in the High Performance Division.  It would be great to see a Pfaff or Boo take on the responsibility, but I have never gotten the impression that they would want to be a head coach.  Getting them as National Team assistant coaches would be a tremendous boost to US potential in the field events and getting them involved at the Youth and Junior levels as well as the senior level would be a tremendous asset to USATF.  It’s not about deserving something, it’s about earning something.

I personally have issues with the USATF over several items including how they run JO’s, Youth Nationals, Juniors, and so on and so forth to include masters.  It could be better.  The officials are unhappy, the club coaches are unhappy, and now with all that’s happened a great many Association’s and their officers are ticked off.  Here’s to a restructuring that takes care of the grassroots first, then senior national team issues in the High Performance division, National team selection, and Coach selection and retention and to have that restructuring fit within what USOC wants. 

Damn Sen. Ted Stevens to hell for his stupid legislation that want hold water outside the US and could cause de-certification by the IAAF if the USATF doesn’t maintain a grassroots program if the USOC decides to take over.

Mike Young - 28 August 2008 05:43 PM

dbandre - 28 August 2008 03:05 AM

I just found your new job, Director of High Performance and National Team Head Coach for 4 years. 

1. You coached multi’s so you can coach any event with a fair amount of competence.
2. You are a scientist and a coach, easier to convey scientific talk into coach talk
3. You’d hire competent cronies, what good coach doesn’t?
4. You would inject youth back into the coaching ranks at the National Level, no longer a wait your turn attitude.

If I only had Roe’s and Logan’s job rolled into one, President and CEO of USATF to make this happen.

Thanks for the vote of confidence but it’s an undertaking that many others are far more deserving.

It would certainly be nice if we did have a national team coach (in some regard) rather than just honorary coaching positions.

Your job awaits (see T&FN;& USA Today)