Developing a multi eventer, anyone have experience.

From what I've heard the two most important decathlon events are the 110 hurdles and the pole vault (I guess because they are the most technically challenging.) So maybe get him started on those.

Yeah, he has shown some interest in the PV. Also, the Jr. High coach teaches everyone to hurdle, so there is something to work with there also.

Start with the PV and Hurdles as soon as possible, but make sure to start atleast elementary work in all field events, the sooner he gets a basic grasp on them, the better.

He is already decent in the Shot and Disc. Nobody throws jav in CA, so finding someone with knowledge of the event could be tough.

Hurdles and High Jump... and yes, the Vault. Teach him how to jump from short approaches - 5-6 step HJ, 8-10 step LJ - and

youtube David Butler to learn how to vault.

Work on the Pole Vault as soon as possible. It is the most difficult event to get right. You can power your way over the bar to a degree but then you won't progress unless you get the various technical aspects down. As a multi-eventer I had to go back and learn the proper technique, as there was only a certain point where my speed and athleticism would take me. A great resource to check out (if you haven't already) is Alan Launder's videos.

Also, the Javelin is very technical and getting the correct technique takes a lot of time. I know that many states don't have this event (California doesn't right?) so many kids don't get to try it. It is a tricky event in the multis, especially in the Decathlon where you have to throw the Jav right after the PV with very tired arms and upper body!

I would say get the fundamentals down for all events as soon as possible. For hurdles, do walkovers, 5 step drills, 3 step drills with the hurdles moved in, even one step drills (these will expose your form weaknesses the most), start with 36" hurdles and work upward, make sure he leads with the knee and snaps that trail leg through.

Good luck and hope your athlete has fun with the multis!

Our dec athletes have usually been (primarily) pole vaulters or hurdlers.

The Decathlon is a speed/power event so get him into the weight room and minimize XC.

It's hard in a HS program to train someone to become technically proficient in all the events, so make sure you focus on overall athletic development and learning how to sprint and accelerate properly, which are the foundational skills for speed/power athletes.

I like the advice above about giving him the rudiments of each event, but be very careful with what is taught in the more technical events: discus, jav and pole vault. It's very easy for strong athletes to get decent marks in these events using really bad technique, but as the previous poster noted, the athlete will have to unlearn these bad techniques to progress. The point here is that it's (almost) better to be untaught than to be taught poorly.

From what you've described, he'll probably have the most success soonest in the 300h. Success helps kids love the sport, and if he's going to do the dec, he'll have to really love the sport.

If you can spare him from relays, train him for both hurdles (which will cover the 100 & 400), a throw and either the high or long jump from a short approach, and then see how he responds.

If he wants to do a dec this summer, you can show him the rudiments of the other events in a few afternoons, at least enough to get him over 6' in the vault and get a presentable mark in the other jumps and throws. The 1500 takes care of itself.

But I'd suggest not moving to another technical event or trying to master one until he masters hurdling.

Hurdles, Hurdles, Hurdles. The best Deca guys usually are fantastic hurdlers. I was not a good hurdler and it showed in the points. I had a Pole Vaulting background so it was one of my better events, but it was a truly revealing event at big meets. Studs would drop crazy point totals in the prior run/jump events, but looked like a moron trying to clear opening height at PV.

I would do some of the following:

-Practice hurdles

-more hurdles

-Get basic PV form down and comfortable being in the air. Try to find a coach willing to teach you the basics.

-Learn to throw the Jav straight(invest in a Turbojav if you don't own a Jav)

-Lift a lot.

-Learn the glide for the Shot(if he doesn't know already)