New Coaches Education: USTFCCCA Track and Field Academy

Forgot the link:

http://www.ustfccca.org/track-and-field-academy

Great, another thing for those in the coaching world to pad their resumes with, AND THEN be dissatisfied with after they pay big bucks to attend only to find out that it isn't rocket science.

I think it won't be long until you see Joe Vigil join this crew, but Al and Scott were formerly involved with the USATF program so I don't know what you're bitching about here.

It's not like anybody has a bunch of distance coaching secrets in a vault somewhere that Scott and Al are unaware of here.

But, just for shits and giggles, whom would you like to see doing the distance portion?

Vigil, Mahon, McMillan. Won't ever happen.

Funny thing about Vigil. A few years ago before I got really serious about coaching, I heard him speak at a small conference. During the other speakers he sat down next to me in the back row. I had no clue who he was and where he stood among U.S coaches. He started talking to me about some of the training plans he had been working on. I ended up listening to him for four hours and totally missing everything else. He blew my doors off. I'm a middle school coach and he walked me through all of his charts and a ton of other material. I will not soon forget what he did for me.

Charlie Kern was great when I got to hear him speak. If he has the credentials he would be excellent.

But you're right, there isn't much more they could offer outside of what you can read. Considering this, the delivery and the teaching ability of the instructor for the distance group is extremely important. Not trying to disrespect Schmidt but he was BORING. The information was there but the presentation barely tolerable.

USATF or USTFCCA??

So let me see if I have this right. you are complaining because the guys that do the distance stuff are the same guys who did it for USATF? I thought you guys were all pissed off that they left USATF? Can not have it both ways.

What does USTFCCA do for these guys in return? Vigil and Mahon were getting support from USATF that is why they did it there. By the way Al really knows his stuff. You do not need to grab somebody elses athletes to be successful.

Ray L wrote:

By the way Al really knows his stuff. You do not need to grab somebody elses athletes to be successful.

Yes, he did very well head to head against John McDonnell over the years.

Ray L wrote:

So let me see if I have this right. you are complaining because the guys that do the distance stuff are the same guys who did it for USATF? I thought you guys were all pissed off that they left USATF? Can not have it both ways.

What does USTFCCA do for these guys in return? Vigil and Mahon were getting support from USATF that is why they did it there. By the way Al really knows his stuff. You do not need to grab somebody elses athletes to be successful.

Not arguing that "Al really knows his stuff". I am just saying that he is not a great teacher. Might be good coach (although the McDonnell reference above might suggest otherwise) but he is boring. Lots of people know their field inside and out but if you ask them to teach it to someone else, they fall flat.

Just got home from the USTFCCA coaches school in Fort Worth. It was incredible. My brain is swolen from the amount of info.

Mike Young taught most of the sessions and was excellent. He handled every event area as good as any clinician I've ever heard. The kid is good. Nick Peterson taught a couple sessions too and was also very good. Seemed a little nervous to start but did a nice job. Overall, I'm very happy I went to it.

What is the testing procedure for this course? I heard ustaf level 2 had 7 exams and if you failed 3 they sent you home?