USATF Coaches Education Meltdown

"The USATF Level 3 program is currently undergoing a significant restructuring. Additional information will be posted as soon as it becomes available."

http://www.usatf.org/groups/Coaches/education/schools/

Level 3 in its intended format actually hasn't been taught for years.

Boo left for political reasons and being pushed around by agenda driven, position ambitious, brown nosers. The rest followed out of respect for that.

Schmidt is very bright but by himself he's replaceable. The issue I'm curious to see is if the other distance instructors leave because Schmidt brought most of them in, are his assistants or are his close friends. If that happens there may be no distance program.

Boo is a legend and one of the big draws of the level two program. He was consistently the highest rated event instructor. That said, the program did fine without him for 2-3 years when he took a short hiatus. BUT...all the other jumps instructors are Boo disciples and could potentially leave out of loyalty. That would essentially destroy the jumps program as well.

Young taught all of the biomechanics section and sometimes sprints. He was the about the only science instructor who consistently got very good reviews. He was in the process of a total rewrite of the sport science curriculum to link it in with the event groups. I'm not sure how or who could replace him or what would happen to the restructuring he was working on.

Corn is often maligned around here but he really is a good guy and the level two program wouldn't work without him. You can knock the guy as a coach but it's hard to say he didn't do a great job with coaching education.

Scott Christiansen (Endurance instructor) and Sylvia Kamp (organizer of proposed Youth School) have added their name to the list of resignations.

If this is true, USTFCCCA should jump at the chance to start their own certification schools instead of relying on USATF's BS. They have the opportunity to start fresh with a bunch of instructors with a lot of experience. Are you listening USTFCCCA?

Wow, I was going to go to Level 2 this or next summer, but I'm not feeling it now at all. Boo and Mike should start their own thing. Terry Crawford is a certified idiot!!

Bored Runner in the Winter wrote:

Are you listening USTFCCCA?

They can't hear you. Their ears are full of letters.

Jack Ranson (physiology) is now out too. USATF has really screwed this one up.

I went through the school and liked it. Name another olympic sport that offers this kind of school to high school and college coaches?

swimming, olympic lifting, tennis, soccer, volleyball etc etc

Holy shit! Are you kidding me. Can anyone confirm all this? Boo and Mike are the f***in bomb. I've been through 3 level 1 schools and 4 level 2s (repeating because of them) and I can't imagine coaching education without them. I was planning to go through again this year but definitely won't if any of this is true.

Soccer and tennis? 8 day "national" coaching schools administered by their NGB!! I doubt it.

Agreed! How does one go about getting a hold of Doug Logan to express dissatisfaction?

If you know what the departure of Boo, Young, Schmidt and Corn means to the program you can let Mr Logan know at doug.logan@usatf.org

Read this Blog post for more information on what is going on.

http://www.functionalpathtrainingblog.com/2010/02/a-sad-time-for-us-track-field.html

Can someone 'in the know' explain what happened within the ranks at USATF to cause all of these good people to step down?

I absolutely know that this is a bad bad thing and we need to raise hell until either A) it changes for the better or B) we as coaches branch off and get it done with or most likely without the blessing of the "governing" body.

Thanks for the email addy! Much appreciated.

Who would have thought that the repercussions of a failed national relay program and a couple of dropped batons in Bejing would have percolated to this pile of sedimentation among other changes.

Dear Mr. Logan,

For many years now I have been involved with track and field as a former athlete and as a long time coach. I have been a staunch supporter of USATF for many years and have been fortunate to have been able to attend many clinics and schools (including USATF Level 1). I am writing because I am hearing some very disturbing things about the coaches education program. I have been told that Boo Schexnayder, Mike Young, and Mike Corn have left the program. I don't know the particulars of their departure, but having known them from my involvement with clinics and subsequent correspondences I can only conclude that whatever has taken place to precipitate their departure is wrong and needs to be corrected. In my opinion, it was an egregious error not to make Boo the director of the program since he is a master teacher who has actually produced world class athletes over a long period of time. He and Mike Young are two of the most intelligent and driven coaches we have in the US and any national coaches education program which would be conducted without them would be nothing but an inferior product. They care about the sport and about those of us who are passionate about coaching the sport and consistently go above and beyond the call to aid their fellow coaches.

I'm hoping that you can cut through all of the political BS and rectify the situation and bring these outstanding people back in and let them provide the leadership which will benefit the sport and athletes of all levels. They are in it for the right reasons and I know that the overwhelming majority of USATF membership feels exactly as I do about this issue. I can tell you with great certainty that if they do not come back, then I will cancel my plans for Level 2 and Level 3 (if it even exists anymore!!) certifications. I won't spend my money and time on an inferior product and that is what you will certainly be left with should you allow this situation to continue.

I thought that when Congress got involved and we moved from AAU to TAC and then to USATF that the politics would take a back seat, but it is obvious that it has again reared it's ugly head. I am pleading with you to put a stop to it and right the ship. That, in my humble opinion, is your primary duty and I hope that you will complete your mission.

I will be willing to write a letter to support these great coaches.

I am still at a loss for what happened? I have read through this letter:

http://www.functionalpathtrainingblog.com/2010/02/a-sad-time-for-us-track-field.html

I have read the posts.

I am do not understand what specifically happened. I think myself and more people would write a letter if we could find out more about the situation.

I was very happy to have Boo as a Level II instructor and have heard him in other clinics. Scott Christensen is a great instructor who has not only presented well, but he also personally helped my collegiate teams with his scientific knowledge.

I will help them, but want to be educated on what I am pushing for.