We’ve been getting an increased number of calls and emails about the 2015 Complete Track and Field Clinic to be held July 18 & 19 at Harvard University.
I understand many of you are trying to plan your summers so I wanted to give you an update:
We’re within a few days of opening ‘Early Bird’ Registration for all event groups. I’m hoping we’ll be open by the end of the week.
I am still waiting to get the Hotel Reservation Link. I want to have that information for you so you can reserve your hotel room/s when you register for the clinic.
But, this does give you time to let your athletes know they have a small window to register at a reduced cost.
Coaches: If you get three athletes from your team to attend, you can attend for free.
So here are some specifics:
1. Complete Track and Field Clinic Headquarters will again be held at the Courtyard by Marriott Cambridge – Boston.
Our staff will be staying there and the Saturday Evening Coaches Seminars will be held there as well.
2. Athlete Attendee Tuition…
Athlete prices will be the same as last year. Register by the end of the day on February 28, 2015 and save $50.00 (20%). Register after 2/28 and pay the regular price of $249.
3. Coach Attendee Tuition…
We saw a dip in the number of coaches who attended last year. This confuses me, but yet it doesn’t. So, this year, coaches (and also parents who want to attend in order to help your kid) who register by the end of the day on February 28, 2015 will save $50.00 (25%). Register after 2/28 and pay the regular price of $199.
4. Your registration includes a non-refundable deposit of $100.
Some people lost their minds last year when they tried to bail on the clinic 20 minutes before it started, so let me explain why we have this:
Running a clinic this big is a huge undertaking. We pay for costs associated with each attendee weeks and months before the clinic. If people bail at the last minute and come looking for a full refund, we can not replace them with another athlete/coach.
I know emergencies happen.
But, the number of crippling injuries and grandparents who pass away 3 days before the clinic defies the law of probability.
And also common sense.
Prove you have an actual emergency before July hits and we’ll give you all your money back.
If this policy offends you, no worries.
There are other clinics you can attend. I’m sure they’re great.
UNBIASED OPINIONS: Here are unfiltered tweets from athletes and coaches who attended last year.
5. We will be bringing in another ‘Brand Name’ coach or two this year.
Last year it was Boo Schexnayder.
We’re still negotiating who that (or they) will be, but I can promise our staff will be the Gold Standard when you compare it to other clinics.
We’re not bringing in former Olympic Athletes. Nothing wrong with that. Those athletes tell awesome stories.
I’d just rather bring in their coaches. I think you’ll get more out of it that way.
New This Year
We listen to athlete, coach and clinician feedback and continue to refine our curriculum. This is our fifth year running the event and our third year at Harvard.
Each year we add more cool stuff.
- Last year we brought in Boo. The mentor to most, if not all, of the clinicians at the event.
- We added classroom sessions to view film and answer athlete and coach questions.
- We added a catered ‘Social’ on Saturday night, so attending coaches could hang out and talk shop with our clinicians.
- We added a ‘Relays’ unit to the clinic. This year we’ll alot more time to 4x1 drills and exchanges.
Those things are now standard fare.
As of this moment, we have two new things planned.
1. We will film ‘The Best of the Sprints Group’ rotations
A film crew will be present to film parts of the Complete Track and Field Clinic Sprints Group sessions and rotations.
We are going to film our most popular coaches teaching the most popular and important drills, skills, and techniques from the sprints group.
It will consist of our ‘ringers’. For example, Marc Mangiacotti works the hurdles group, but he’ll come over and teach a sprints group session for the video.
I don’t work the clinic because I serve as the Administrator, but I will jump in and film a session.
And you can bet our headliner/s will also be included.
We are committing to 2 hours of top notch content.
If you’re in the sprints group, grab a copy so you can always go back and review it during the season when you forget.
Maybe you sprint and jump, but have to pick one group. Problem solved.
Sign up for jumps and then get the sprints videos.
Maybe you’re a coach who is in charge of multiple event groups. Now you don’t have to feel as guilty spending time at hurdles because you can get the sprints videos.
It’s up to you. But, this year we’re focusing on the sprints. Next year, we’ll do another event group.
At some point after the clinic, we’ll make this available to the general public. We will charge at least $99.00.
Early Bird price will be $29.
2. Saturday Night Seminars will be filmed.
I wanted to get this done last year, but I didn’t. This year we will film all the seminars. This way, even if you choose to attend one session, you won’t have to fully sacrifice the other session taking place at the same time.
No extra fee for this.
All attending coaches will receive the recordings and the slides for these presentations as part of your tuition.
So that’s my update.
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please 'leave a reply' below.
-Latif Thomas
Complete Track and Field Clinic Co-Director
Follow me on Twitter: @latif_thomas
