The Benefits of Coaching Track and Field as a Team Sport

The Benefits of Coaching Track and Field as a Team Sport

I. My Background

II. A Team approach addresses and/or eliminates common frustrations • Lack of commitment by coaches and athletes • Attendance • Effort • Lack of preparation

II. A Team approach addresses and/or eliminates common frustrations B. Exposure/coverage ( this is a process) • Mindset of athletes • Mindset of parents • Mindset of newspaper/community

II. A Team approach addresses and/or eliminates common frustrations C. Should the spring season have a different set of rules than other sports seasons?

III. A Team approach reinforces the strengths unique to Track & Field What strengths does track and field have compared to other sports?

The biggest strength of track and field is that there are several ways to feel success: • Individual time and time improvement • Individual place • Improved fitness level • No bench – morale • Team place • Team improvement • Relationship building • It’s a “checkbook” sport

IV. A Team approach helps your individuals • It forces you to evaluate all your individuals 1. Pentathlon 2. Time trials 3. Must develop 3rd/4th hurdler , vaulter, jumper 4. Depth charts a. by event b. by grade

IV. A Team approach helps your individuals B. It forces you to coach all events and “find” people…specifically the “technique” events 1. 2002 – pole vault ( 11’ , 10’ 6) 2. 2005, 2011 – long jump ( 19’) 3. 2007 – shot put (42’ ) 4. 2009–tj (35’ 7)100hurdles(15.10,15.35,16.48) 5. 2011 –100 hurdles(15.10)triple jump(36’ 10)

IV. A Team approach helps your individuals C. Your outstanding individuals perform better 1. It reduces the pressure on “outstanding” individuals in big meets by taking the focus off them. 2. They are a part of something larger than themselves. 3. Their priorities are altered.

V. A Team approach helps you in your other “big” meets • Over the last several years approximately 75% of all teams in Minnesota participate in true team track and field… ~88% of the individuals in the MSHSL State individual meet that year were in True Team programs

V. A Team approach helps you in your other “big” meets B. Our situation a couple of years ago: • all-state distance runner … out 6 weeks • MVP from previous year…..didn’t come out • Our “other” 1600 runner (5: 10) sick the day of the conference meet

VI. A Team approach gets more kids out for track and field and keeps more kids out A. You and your staff become more aware of potential tracksters because you “need” more people.

VI. A Team approach gets more kids out for track and field and keeps more kids out B. Almost all of your track Kids recruit for you

VI. A Team approach gets more kids out for track and field and keeps more kids out C. There truly is no “bench” in the traditional sense.

VII. A Team approach forces you to have a more cohesive coaching staff A. It forces you to communicate with each other consistently and continuously.

VII. A Team approach forces you to have a more cohesive coaching staff B. Depth Charts and Discussion • by grade • by event

VII. A Team approach forces you to have a more cohesive coaching staff C. Coaching as teaching 1. you spend more time with students who need more time 2. what determines a great teacher? Coach? 3. Students are more understanding about “sharing” you.. It’s not just about them and their needs.

VIII. A Team approach makes you more relevant to your school district A. You become the “big” deal in the spring Girls 1999 – 35 Girls 2011 – 112 Boys 2004 – 51 Boys 2013 – 116

VIII. A Team approach makes you more relevant to your school district B. Revenue

VIII. A Team approach makes you more relevant to your school district C. Track and Field means more to more parents

IX. A Team approach will impact participation on a larger scale A. Minnesota is the only state that has “True Team” state championships.

IX. A Team approach will impact will affect participation on a larger scale B. Minnesota is 21st overall in the U.S. in population. However in 2013, we had the 9th most student/athletes out for track and field in the U. S.

2013 U.S. Population vs. Track Participation(stats from U.S. Census and NFHS)

X. Philosophy • Do you have a coaching philosophy? • If so, is winning your main objective? • How will a Team philosophy affect your team and community long-term? • In your coaching philosophy which is more important… the journey or the destination? • Our sport is at a crossroads…. Drug scandals, lacrosse, club sports, society..

Why is this so important to me personally? 1. My background 2. Teaching 3. A crisis in our culture a. glorification of ability, not work ethic b. Many people in our society do not understand how to be good “teammates” c. Many people in our society do not understand how to put the needs of others ahead of their own self-interest

XI. Comments/Questions My email: kviesselman@cambridge.k12.mn.us

The Benefits of Coaching Track and Field as a Team Sport