What books, articles, blogs, etc. should I read to make myself a better running coach?
Background: I was a fairly decent runner (14:46 5k PR), know most of the basics when it comes to training and programming, and have a bachelor's degree in exercise science (so I know some anatomy/physiology/kinesiology etc).
I need some stuff that will push me a little beyond the basics, but I don't want to be reading a bunch of boring scientific studies either.
Penthouse... and if you really want to get it going, Hustler. And then there's the really nasty stuff. Never really got into that.
The silence of great distance is a great book about women's distance running.
Find books on motivation and or books that will inspire you. You already know enough about the technical aspect of coaching.
Daniels Distance Running Formula is a good one.
Get Joe Newton's books. All that I've seen are really good, but The Long Green Line (still available on line, I think, but you may have to dig a little) and Coaching Cross Country Successfully are outstanding IMHO, especially the former.
The *least* important part of his books (though very important indeed) are the training schedules. (But it's fun to look at TLGL and see what top-level HS training was like, nearly half a century ago!) What you want to read and internalize are the actual *coaching* parts: the dealing with young athletes.
We don't coach cross country; we coach people who run cross country. Joe understands that distinction as well as anyone I've encountered.
What type of coach? Track&Field or Distance/XC Coach? For track&afield...read Track & Field Coaching Essentials and for XC/Distance then Tradition Class Pride or any running science/inspirational books. Bottom line, keep seeking out the latest books, articles and movies about running/coaching.
lease wrote:
Get Joe Newton's books. All that I've seen are really good, but The Long Green Line (still available on line, I think, but you may have to dig a little) and Coaching Cross Country Successfully are outstanding IMHO, especially the former.
The *least* important part of his books (though very important indeed) are the training schedules. (But it's fun to look at TLGL and see what top-level HS training was like, nearly half a century ago!) What you want to read and internalize are the actual *coaching* parts: the dealing with young athletes.
We don't coach cross country; we coach people who run cross country. Joe understands that distinction as well as anyone I've encountered.
Yeah, Joe Newton can tell you all about teaching boys how to subjugate their girlfriend and why it's important to require a crew cut to be on the cross country team.
Books on coaching by John Wooden. Principles apply to every sport and life as well.
Follow the strength training advice in particular for hips. You will have far less injuries on your team if you are not already doing them, If you are this book is an incredible resource anyway. He has worked on Uta Pippig and Rob DeCastella years ago but he also remains current.
Probably the best book on Lydiard training is this one:
next level coach wrote:
What books, articles, blogs, etc. should I read to make myself a better running coach?
Background: I was a fairly decent runner (14:46 5k PR), know most of the basics when it comes to training and programming, and have a bachelor's degree in exercise science (so I know some anatomy/physiology/kinesiology etc).
I need some stuff that will push me a little beyond the basics, but I don't want to be reading a bunch of boring scientific studies either.
Who are you coaching? HS kids? College? Amateur adults? Their needs are very different.
Assuming it's HS, I'd have Noakes (physio/injury) and Daniels' (training plans) on hand as references, for when you run out of ideas. I wouldn't start a season based on them, though. HS is more about learning why each kid is on the team, and giving them what they need to set and achieve goals. Some kids are there to run and win and go run in college. Many are staying in shape for another sport. Some are there because their best friend runs, or because they hate their step-mom and don't want to go home after school. Learning these motivations is about 35x more important that having them run the proper set of intervals.
I'm not a coach. But the Frank Horwill articles on The Serpentine Running Club webpage are very useful indeed. They are the first place I look when I am putting together a training plan:
http://www.serpentine.org.uk/pages/advice_frank.html
Also the Magness and Marcus podcasts are extremely interesting - though the audio quality can be variable:
http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/magness-and-marcus-on-coaching
I'm not sure if the Horwill stuff is more example of what not to do or what to do. You need to be very careful to work slowly into that stuff.
My suggestion of something to read is the first chapter of Kenny Moore's Bowerman and the Men of Oregon.
I'd highly recommend Pete Magill's book. It is eminently readable and an excellent book to just delve into.
The biography about Arkansas Coach McDonnell and RWTB
luv2run wrote:
Books on coaching by John Wooden. Principles apply to every sport and life as well.
+1. You can find "how to train" information anywhere. Study the works of great coaches, including other sports. Read the principles of John Wooden and you'll be a better coach. Heck, you'll be a better person.
Rexing, J. wrote:
luv2run wrote:Books on coaching by John Wooden. Principles apply to every sport and life as well.
+1. You can find "how to train" information anywhere. Study the works of great coaches, including other sports. Read the principles of John Wooden and you'll be a better coach. Heck, you'll be a better person.
Conversely, you could study the coaching habits of some of the worst coaches of all time and know what not to do. I'm sure this forum has a long list of coaches they think are any mix of the following: stupid, too old, requires too many miles, requires too few miles, is a moron, is John Bingham, and so on.
This may seem obvious but I'll say it anyway.
You were a pretty good runner and understand how to train. I think that you probably don't need any more info for that kind of stuff. I think that in general people/coaches can end up overthinking training and making it a total mess. Of course they can also know nothing and think that they know everything and then make it a mess also. Anyway, you probably don't need any help in that area. I think that there aren't any real secrets to training. Any smart runner can read a bunch of stuff and try it on themselves and form an idea of how they would like to train or what methods they might apply to runners whom they are coaching.
The part that most coaches need help in is communication. Years ago coaches could be authoritative dicks and kids responded to it and parents thought that kind of "tough love" was character building. However, that approach doesn't really work anymore because of how different children are now. A majority of parents think that their children are special and most children grow up thinking that they are as well, so that approach doesn't really work much anymore. You can do the Gregg Popovich version which is kind of an updated version of that. He is stern but still treats all of his players differently depending on what he thinks will be the best approach with the player. So essentially, he doesn't take any shit but he knows how to relate to a variety of people. Coaching is like managing people. You have to convince people to do what you would like them to do and for them to do diligently and with pride. This is really what the great mystery of coaching is on the high school/collegiate level. Remember, that even on the collegiate level, many of the athletes are children (emotionally most especially). They just aren't mature and they aren't professionals and they aren't getting paid for it. With high school kids this is especially true. So you will only be setting yourself up to be disappointed if you think that every kid on the high school team, even the best guy, is going to approach running like you did/do or like a professional would. These are kids with raging hormones and a million other things going on in their lives. So your challenge will be to relate to them and convince them to trust you so that they will follow your training schedule and work hard for you. It will be almost impossible to get all the athletes to do what you want all the time. You're going to have to learn to relate to all different kinds of people, not just the ones who are like you or like your friends. This is the real challenge. Read books about relationships, not coaching. Get some psychology books. The iron fist doesn't work anymore, you have to learn how to massage these days. Think outside of the box and you'll be fine.
Oh Yeah?!?!?! Would you be talking so tough if I was in front of you?? I'm not scared of you and your tough guy talk, I won't walk away. I am here all day and don't plan on leaving.