The 2016 ITCCCA Clinic in Oak Park this past weekend was quite the treat. This year they decided to expand the event to a two-day format. The event commenced on Friday afternoon at the Carleton Hotel in Oak Park. As we arrived we saw many familiar faces scrambling from their cars to the hotel lobby. And many others checking in and preparing for the first sessions of the day.
Friday's format comprised of a few panels with some amazing coaches and a few presentations. The topics ranged from sprint programming to developing young distance runners. There was a brief intermission after the last session where coaches mingled and filled their bellies with food and other tasty beverages.
First to the Finish hosted a Hall of Fame Social. This was a special event that honored the coaches of the year and gave a quick preview of what was to come for the Hall of Famers the next day. After the award ceremony concluded I witnessed a wonderful sight. Coaches passionately talking about and celebrating the love of Track & Field and Cross Country. It is a wonderful feeling to be around people who feel as passionate about a subject as you do.
The next day was the main part of the clinic which was hosted at Oak Park River Forest High School. They did a great job with the set up as usual. There were many different presentation that covered a broad spectrum of training and philosophy. If you were a new coach or a coach of 20 years there was something that each person could attend. Learning is a lifelong embarkment- depending on where you are sitting the view changes.
I normally find myself attracted to the sprint presentations. I love to hear about the bio-mechanics and the physics behind running. The nerd in me is yearning to come out. I learned to think of sprinting in a way I never had thought about it. Now I can go back and take what I've learned and share it with fellow coaches and athletes.
After a morning of learning then there is a nice transition to the Hall of Fame ceremony in the cafeteria. The host school does an amazing job with the food. Once everybody is settled in with a full stomach the ceremony began. There were many inspiring and heartfelt messages life lessons for everyone in attendance. There were two that really felt like they were speaking to me: Dan Iverson (Naperville North girls coach) and Leroy Millsap (Cahokia girls coach). These two gentlemen have sacrificed so much time away from their families as many coaches do and it was evident in their speeches.
Their message was simple to me. Although they have great programs, they do this because of their love for the sport and the athletes. Become great people and productive citizens. Use running as a tool to accomplish your dreams and goals. Millsap mentioned that when his team is at practice he is their father. It lightens my heart to know that there are people out there that care that much about our athletes. I saw pure emotion from Iverson when he spoke. It reminded me of the most important reason why I coach. The athletes.
After the Hall of Fame ceremony was finished Dick Pond Athletics hosted a social at Skrine Chops in Forest Park. This event was a lovely ending to a wonderful weekend. There were still many coaches hanging out on a snowy Saturday afternoon that stretched well into the evening. Dick Pond gave away prizes and provided the coaches with food and beverages. Special shout out to Chris Wilhite from Dick Pond for making this happen!
For the coaches who think that they can't benefit from a clinic you are wrong! These clinics benefit everyone. If you are a new coach looking for meets for your athletes or guidance for your program this is your opportunity. You have to be willing to get out there and develop these relationships. Ask questions. Veteran coaches get an opportunity to reevaluate what they have been doing. Just because you have been doing something for 10 years and it works doesn't mean there is not a better way. I implore you to go to a clinic or just have a conversation with your fellow coaches and try to learn something. I am always stealing and deploying what I learn. Most of what we do is a combination of what we learned from somebody else and we applied through trial and error.
I also want to thank ITCCCA president Mike Stokes and the rest of the ITCCCA officers for putting this event together! Thanks to all of the coaches who take time out of their busy schedules to come to these clinics. Just know that all of your hard work and dedication is appreciated. Good Luck on the upcoming season!
