What We Learned Shadowing Boo Schexnayder and the LSU Track & Field Program

Posted by Latif Thomas



In October (2019), I went down to Baton Rouge with my good friend David Cusano (Head T&F Coach – Colby College) to shadow Boo Schexnayder and the LSU track and field program. During the time we were there, the team was starting their second cycle of GPP. They were coming off a recovery week and starting the first microcycle (5th overall) of mesocycle 2.

We had no idea what to expect, but the trip far exceeded our epectations.

Once we got back, we collected our notes and got on the phone to discuss and review our trip.

This recording is 2 hours and 45 minutes long and covers sprints, hurdles, jumps, strength and power training, coaching administration, program mastery, rehabilitation, periodization, and more…

Originally, I was going to break it up into parts and use it as podcast content, but I decided against doing another of the same old podcast. 

It’s a lot of content in one big video/file, but I’m confident you’ll find it worth your time.

That said…

…if you’re truly pressed for time, I recommend listening to the final hour.

Below you’ll find some very general podcast style time stamps and notes. Some of the bullet points have links to programs that match up with the topic/s being discussed in that section. Use coupon code LSU2019 and get 20% off those programs.*


 

Intro - Dave Cusano

Review at LSU - 4 days - LSU track program

00:00 - Latif - 2:00

Philosophy and looks (how important is it to give background)

Cusano - 2:21

Cusano - Force, Velocity, Curve - 2:31

Short approaches - 3:04 - 3:33

Shaver - 3:34

Boo - 5:39

TALK SHOP - Sandwich

Rehab - Notes - 5:30

Cusano personal experience, Specific rehab - sled etc., Don’t send to trainer.

Be aggressive, sleds, BWP skip, hop BWD. 

2 FWD - 2BW - 10 Meters, 10 total actions

Masters Athletes - Protocol - 11:30

Cusano - Run out - cone to cone, 20:30 run out

Quantity - Hops - Metrics

Very corporate comment - 13:30

Indoor - Hallway training - 14:07

Coaching Expectations - Instagram stars - Attire was different - Warm up - Not all on same

Week 5 - Monday Mantras 600

Accel T (10) - Accel (10) - Step over (10) - 15:00

 

Boo testing,  knowledge - 19:52

Vince Anderson - Master your training program - 20:28

Cusano - Boo, Teach scramble circuit, Demeanor - 20:54

Boo calls per athlete leadership - 21:59 - 22:25

Latif runs scramble circuit - 21:33 - 23:43 JEDI MIND TRICKS

Boo speaks @ 7 volume - 24:28 - 26:13

Find the right moment to make an impact - 26:45

Athletes - LSU - 27:14

IQ - Weight room - 29:17

Clear expectations, 18 - 22 year old behavior - 31:1

Feedback - 31:14 - 14 - 18 year old

Addict clinic - 32:48

Clear expectations - 33:34 - 37:12

Boo tells girls push more (knee) (moment) - 37:13

Moment - Close with story or intro 37:56

Another takeaway - Natural - Start with great story - 41:52

Coaching observations 43:25 - 43:44

Managing events and meets - They struggle - 44:18

Feedback addict - 50:55 - 51:42

Asking Boo - solutions to splitting board OR slow down during jumps approach 

- Run strong, not fast - 57:38

Rhythm and dance - 1:00:46 - 1:01 (1:00:53 + 1:25)

Split squat - Change of direct - Vertical shin angles - 8 steps - Accel - 1:01:49

Thigh split vs Shin Angle - Adjustment 1:06:27

Observe in real time - 1:07:02 - 1:07:12

Seeing it live changes everything - 1:07:26

Run throughs - 1:08:40

Weight room: systems and simplicity - 1:10:55

Coaching system, Competence planning and order - 1:12:16

Bandwidth - 1:13:35 

Latif observes - 1:14:04

Nutrition with fridges - 1:15:01

Autonomy  1:19:07

Structure vs rigid, Being flexible, Mastering your program, Adding too much pressure. Pat Henry - Future Olympians - 1:22:42

Smashing workouts - Freshman - 1:23:10 - 1:23:18

Killing other three girls - (1:24:10)

* excludes Vince Anderson's Progressive Acceleration Blueprint


PART 2: The Lightning Round

 

 

I don't have time stamps for this power hour. But the consensus from those who have listened/watched is this is the best hour of the entire 2 3/4 hour recording.

I agree.

It took us a while to get going because we had to code switch real hard to keep the tone professional and responsible because, in real life, conversations between me and Cusano lack any type of filter. 

Enjoy!

-LT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Latif Thomas - Latif Thomas owns and operates Complete Track and Field and serves as the Co-Director of the Complete Track and Field Clinic at Harvard University, the largest track and field clinic in the United States. A popular speaker and presenter at some of the largest coaching clinics across the country, Latif has true passion for the sport and it definitely shows. Over the past 19 years, he has coached more combined League, Division, All-State, and New England Champions in sprints, hurdles, and jumps than he can count. Follow @latif_thomas on Twitter.

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