Being competitive in a cross country race is the goal that every coach wants to see
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I tell this story every year, and I will tell it again so read and listen up!
I can recall the first practice of my junior year cross country season. It was a scorching hot day in August, many moons ago at a place called Deming Park in Terre Haute, Indiana. I was very excited about the prospect of being with my teammates and having another banner season. But one thing was wrong with the transaction ... I was tardy! My mother dropped me off several minutes late and my teammates had already left to do their warm-up. Head coach Gary Gottardi told my mom, "Tony has to run back home ... he's late." Late?
That's right, it was my responsibility to be on time, and I wasn't. Coach Gottardi turned his back and walked away. My mother got into the car and drove off. I had to log the seven miles back home in 90-degree weather with little shade and no water stops. I was never late again for practice for the remainder of my high school career.
Now 30-plus years later, I am still in the sport on the grassroots level, and being late, particularly on the first day of practice, cannot be tolerated. Although I favor my former high school coach in many aspects, we are in a completely different era in how we approach and issue discipline. Time management is critical to a program for several reasons. To refresh you all, I offer tips to new and veteran coaches far and wide.
Reason #1: Set the tone for the season. Being on time says to the program that everyone is serious about the goals and hopefully, outcomes for the team can be fulfilled.
Reason #2: Virtually every team has newcomers and/or young runners, so it is extremely important to set an example from the first moment you step on campus. You want to make sure your lead is looked upon as a positive one and let everyone know that we are all here for business.
Here are several dos and don'ts guidelines that I recommend for your program during the opening period:
Do: If you have a team captain (s), remember that they are an extension of you and your coaching staff. In some instances, the coaches may be off assisting with a different group of kids, and the situation may put them in "charge" of the unit. If so, the act of being as responsible as the coaches is imperative.
Don't: Show off for the first practice. There is nothing worse than a teammate trying to push a warm-up at a 4:50 mile pace when it is supposed to be 7:15. Of course, it is normal to be excited on the first day of practice with renewed vigor and spirit, especially if your team is co-ed, guys and girls like to be noticed. I've seen guys run faster than normal during warm-ups, team runs, or workouts to impress the girls. It's similar to football players practicing more vigorously when the cheerleaders are watching. Remember the goal is to relax and enjoy the process. Being a showboat can create animosity in the locker room and threaten team cohesion.
Do: Choose your words and actions correctly and accordingly when offering constructive criticism to teammates. When I was in high school, I would pull slacking teammates aside to offer advice in an attempt that it would improve their work habits. Team meetings are a perfect environment to express personal issues as a whole and/or collective disagreements.
Don't: Be a bad teammate. Selfishness is like cancer in the cross country world and the worse thing a teammate can do is present it on the first day. For example, I've seen kids put their personal agendas ahead of the team as if working hard was an option. 'I didn't want to lead the last two intervals because it was too hot,' is something I've heard a time or two and it should never sit well within the team structure.
Do: Be sure on the eve of the first practice to eat a nice meal, hydrate, and get plenty of rest. The primary reason is the initial first meeting is usually very early in the morning. A coach wants to see the last thing is YOU falling out in practice, and later sitting on the sideline with the trainer and team manager.
Don't: Please do not forget your training shoes, spikes (just in case), water/sports drink, change of clothes, medical information (if required), and a good attitude. There is nothing worse than leaving one or all of these items at home and your coaches having to send you home.
Good luck and well-being to you all for the 2023 cross country season!
Being competitive in a cross country race is the goal that every coach wants to see
=========================
I tell this story every year, and I will tell it again so read and listen up!
I can recall the first practice of my junior year cross country season. It was a scorching hot day in August, many moons ago at a place called Deming Park in Terre Haute, Indiana. I was very excited about the prospect of being with my teammates and having another banner season. But one thing was wrong with the transaction ... I was tardy! My mother dropped me off several minutes late and my teammates had already left to do their warm-up. Head coach Gary Gottardi told my mom, "Tony has to run back home ... he's late." Late?
That's right, it was my responsibility to be on time, and I wasn't. Coach Gottardi turned his back and walked away. My mother got into the car and drove off. I had to log the seven miles back home in 90-degree weather with little shade and no water stops. I was never late again for practice for the remainder of my high school career.
Now 30-plus years later, I am still in the sport on the grassroots level, and being late, particularly on the first day of practice, cannot be tolerated. Although I favor my former high school coach in many aspects, we are in a completely different era in how we approach and issue discipline. Time management is critical to a program for several reasons. To refresh you all, I offer tips to new and veteran coaches far and wide.
Reason #1: Set the tone for the season. Being on time says to the program that everyone is serious about the goals and hopefully, outcomes for the team can be fulfilled.
Reason #2: Virtually every team has newcomers and/or young runners, so it is extremely important to set an example from the first moment you step on campus. You want to make sure your lead is looked upon as a positive one and let everyone know that we are all here for business.
Here are several dos and don'ts guidelines that I recommend for your program during the opening period:
