Are your personal bests all you need to get college coaches to recruit you? Eh. Maybe… But, go on Milesplit or Athletic.net and take a look at how many people in the country have almost identical times/heights/distances as you. Now think about the fact that coaches are recruiting athletes from multiple other countries as well. Even if you’re a blue chip prospect ranked Top 5 nationally, the same 5 schools are talking to the same 5 kids and can’t bring them all in so how do they differentiate? Even top schools are evaluating the same information to make those decisions and it trickles all the way down. Now you might be saying to yourself, “Sure Latif, but you’re just trying to convince me to register…
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College recruiting & the pandemic: What every coach, parent, and athlete needs to know
Interview Details: Latif Thomas interviews Ron Grigg (University of Jacksonville Director of Cross Country / Track & Field) on a range of topics related to how the pandemic has affected the college recruiting process with a focus on the specific actions HS coaches, parents, and athletes can take in order to increase and improve their opportunities to get recruited. In this recording, Coach Grigg dispels many common misconceptions about how to get recruited in track and field, particularly those surrounding the popular myth that your actual meet performances (times / heights / distances) are enough information to provide sufficient information about an athlete’s ability and potential, particularly when each athlete is competing with countless other prospects with similar personal bests.
How to Get Recruited Despite the Covid-19 Pandemic
For coaches, athletes, and parents alike, the chaos and uncertainty of the past year has thrown a wrench into how to get recruited during the Covid-19 pandemic. After all, which criteria are college coaches supposed to use for basing their opinions about your recruitability when you’ve missed entire seasons, training has been inconsistent, access to equipment and facilities has been infrequent, etc. College coaches are still recruiting, but they’ve had to get creative and adjust the process they use to assess your fit for their programs. Everyone knows it’s a mess. But, this article will explain exactly what you can do to help yourself or your athletes gain an advantage over the competition. Now, Covid aside, when it comes to contacting coaches there are…
[Video] How to manage coaching multiple events at the same time…
For high school coaches, managing multiple event groups at the same time (as well as managing training for athletes who compete in multiple event groups) is a significant issue that can drastically impact the individual and group success of your team and program. It’s one of the most consistent and popular questions I get. And it’s one of the primary topics I’m going to cover, in depth, during my brand new Zoom webinar class next week. ➡️Click here if you haven’t registered for it yet. To help you get prepared for next week, I’m sharing a video from a panel discussion on this very topic that took place a few years ago at the summer Complete Track and Field Clinic. There are several takeaways from…
The most effective way to improve your coaching during the pandemic?
Organized coaches are successful coaches. All coaches could be more organized. And the foundation of every successful coaching system, from sprints to distance, is the specificity and compatibility of their Training Menu / Inventory. With the spring season being cancelled, the #1 thing you can do to guarantee you come out of the pandemic a better coach would be spending time creating, updating or upgrading your training menu. So where do you begin? Well, earlier this month I hosted a webinar taught by Colby College Head T&F Coach Dave Cusano titled ‘Advanced Coaching Systems’. Considerable time was spent on this topic because we knew it would be popular when we started breaking it down. Here are a few examples of what coaches had to say…
Advanced Coaching Systems: What Really Drives Successful Programs [Zoom Seminar]
On Thursday (4/23) and Friday (4/24) we’re running the 2nd (and final) round of our CTF live Zoom webinar. The first time we ran it, we opened it to the first 100 coaches who signed up and it sold out in less than 21 hours. This time, we’re once again making it available to the first 100 coaches who sign up. As of this writing (1pm on 4/21) we’re almost half way to capacity. Here’s the original promotion. I highly recommend you attend: ==-=-==–=-= I’m really excited about the topic for several reasons, not the least of which being that I haven’t seen anyone else teach these topics, and I think it’s something you’ll want to be a part of. Here’s the rundown: At some point…
Isolated Acceleration Workout Ideas
These are acceleration workout options that I will send to my student-athletes that are at home during this tough time. I thought these ideas may be helpful share. Sometimes athletes can’t always do a true acceleration workout because of space and access to equipment. However, there is always a way to check the box. These are acceleration workout considerations for athletes with limited space and equipment. Acceleration ideas that can be done in the backyard or any other space that may be available. Drill Options: Wall Drill x 10 Skate Start x 2 pushes Hop-Hop-Splits-Skate Start x 3 pushes Crouch Start x 4 pushes Bow-Touch-Go x 5 pushes Donkey Kick Start x 6 pushes Push Up Start x 7 pushes Rollover Push Up Start x…
What We Learned Shadowing Boo Schexnayder and the LSU Track & Field Program
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…
Get Free CTF Programs When You Purchase Freelap
A couple of years ago I invested in a Freelap timing system and man oh man. What a game changer. That thing is a perfect example of ‘once you have it you don’t know how you lived without it’. If you’ve been kicking the tires, but don’t have a system yet OR you have a system and are thinking about adding more transmitters (the yellow cones we call ‘towers’), regular chips, or upgrading to the new Bluetooth chips so you don’t need the ‘Relay Coach’ (aka the thing that goes on the tripod) this email IS for you. Here’s my incentive/offer: If you order a Freelap system, add to/upgrade your Freelap accessories, and/or buy anything from the Simplifaster store through a link I’ve provided, I’ll give you 10% of your total purchase price in CTF Store credit. That…
Unicorns, Show Ponies, & The Mythical Straight Leg Bound Progression
In 2012 I spoke at the MF athletic All Star Track and Field Clinic in Atlantic city. I roomed with Tony Veney. If you’ve ever roomed with Tony Veney, it is quite the experience! (Don’t be mad at me Tony!) During one of my breaks, I had the opportunity to sit in on a lecture being given by Caryl Smith Gilbert. I knew she was a Tony Wells disciple, but I didn’t know much else. What I did know was how fast her sprinters were running and I was interested in what she was doing. One thing she did spend a good deal of time on was the elastic strength / strength endurance / straight leg bound progression she did in the fall. The main…
My Favorite Sprints, Hurdles, & Jumps Programs to Steal From
There are only a few days left before Christmas and we’re having a ‘Last Minute’ sale. All digital programs are 30% off through the end of the day on Christmas Eve. Click here to see our full catalogue of track and field programs. (Use coupon code XMAS30 at checkout.) We have a lot of programs here at Complete Track and Field. It can be confusing and even overwhelming trying to figure out which resource/s best suit your needs. Well I’m a coach, too. I thought it might be helpful to list and talk a bit about some of the programs I’m referencing, studying, and/or stealing from in my season right now. Just some quick background: I have around 40 boys and girls in my group….
Multi-Sport Athlete Transitioning to Track & Field
Often, at the high school level, it is common for coaches to persuade their athletes to join the track and field team after finishing up their preferred fall or winter sport. Likely, the main goal for encouraging an athlete to go out for the track team – or the objective for an athlete transitioning to track & field – is to “stay active,” “develop speed/power,” or “get stronger for the next season.” Though not as common at the collegiate level there are times when individuals express interest in becoming dual sport athletes. Participating in two sports in college is not impossible but it takes a special type of athlete to accomplish this, especially at the professional level. Indoor track & field programs…