Ipad useful investment for HS TEAM???

if you need an excuse to buy a new toy, go for it. otherwise, duhhhh no

What're the other options? 25% is very steep. If you can raise additional funds, go for it.

Also, you can save by getting a refurbished one.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC979LL/A

I was thinking of getting one also.

Do you need the internet to run Running Coach’s Clipboard and other aps?

Don’t think we have wi-fi at our track. I’d also like this to take attendance.

what about an ipod touch? ~$100

also, does getting an ipad really have anything to do with having a successful team? all they need to do is run, rest, then repeat. maybe you could save this money and buy something ACTUALLY useful to your team like some sort of training room equipment. Like foam rollers, ice bath, hot bath, etc.

sounds like you just want a new toy

i really don't understand

why do you need FAT timing in practice?

how is an ipad different than a stopwatch? and is this difference worth $400?

and how do you justify buying a $400 device so you can buy a $1 app?

The question is really how can you best spend the money you have available. What are the other possibilities for spending? You need to think carefully about how each dollar spent will truly benefit the team and chose the things that give the best bang for the buck.

OP is a dick... I had to sell all of those $3.00 chocolate bars to my mom just so you can buy a fancy $400.00 jerk off machine?!?!

A few quick thoughts-

- In no way does any ap even come close to resembling FAT. There is one that claims to do so and it is essentially a piece of garbage. So, get the automatic timing/photo finish concept out of your head. Nothing but an FAT system, costing usually $8k-15k will really do the trick.

-There are very useful timing aps. "Chronotapper" for distance races or cross country races is the equivalent of a printer watch, which usually cost $300+, but never runs out of paper or batteries. It will list in order as many splits as you want, plus you can email from the ap and then print. You can easily scroll through the file and you can save the file on the ipad. Of course, a $40 timex ironman can do 50-100 splits too.

-There is an ap just called "stopwatch" that allows you to take and view splits from 6 or 8 athletes at once. You can name each stopwatch and all of them are displayed on the screen at once. The splits can be emailed, saved, etc. I find this ap to be the most useful when coaching at a meet and needing to take splits for multiple kids in the same race. It's WAY easier than doing it with a timex and writing them down.

I don't know much about filming athletes using an ipad, but I'd be careful with that anyway. You'll get DQed if you do that at a meet, but I could see its usefulness in a practice setting since you could immediately show them their flaws on a pretty nice screen.

I heard that an ipad will lower your mile time by 5 seconds. Just sayin'.

2 questions will the iPad be used for personal use

What will you do with it when you are no longer the coach.

Thanks for the feedback. We are good on equipment (might need a new pole vault pole). I think it would be useful to the team. Being able to get everyone’s splits just by hitting their name is very useful, could also use it to score meets, and manage stats.

Remember it would mostly be used for the field events; it’s for the track team, not just the distance runners.

It would not be used for my personal use and if I am no longer the coach it stays with the team. I’ve been here 10 years and don’t plan on going anywhere for the next 20.

I will look into other things for the team, but right now we don’t have too many needs. The money comes from our xc invite not the kids selling anything. We have about $2,600 so it would be less than 25%.

Thanks again.

I use one for our swim team, love it.

I was going to buy one myself to use for the team. Until we had a track meet when it poured the whole time. My pens couldn't even write on the wet paper. I since use only pencil. I can't imagine what would happen if I were iPad dependent in a rainstorm. We also had an XC meet in a downpour. The pencils were great, but what would happen to the iPad?

Nice toy, but will it really improve the quality of coaching that you are able to provide? I mean, is it better than using a camera and stopwatch, or is it just a better interface that ultimately does the same things? Seems to me that if you already have an iPad of your own, you might as well use it in your coaching, but I wouldn't go out and buy one just for the purpose.

I would put the extra money toward greater opportunities for competition. My team saves the extra money. Then on years when we have a really good 4X800, we have the cash to send them to the Penn Relays. Something like that seems more valuable to me than a fancy stopwatch.

Don't use the ipad if its raining.

You are half way to your own FAT system. Which would be much better than an Ipad. The FAT system will pay for itself in a couple of seasons if you learn it and teach some people.

1. You can set the system up for practices/time trials or dual meets. Much cooler

2. You can host an invitational in outdoor which will bring in some revenue.

3. If you learn how to use the system without flaws you can contract out your services and equipment to others. You can make a little bit of cash for yourself and your program.

4. You could also train some kids in the school or on your team to use the system which will leave you with more time to coach and you will still have an FAT system.

5. Charge the football team a small fee to set the camera up to get an actual legit.

If none of this interests you can treat your entire staff to a weekend coaching clinic. The sport is constantly evolving and if you want to stay on top or get to the top everyone should learn some new techniques/training methods/ or ideas.

old coach man wrote:

5. Charge the football team a small fee to set the camera up to get an actual legit 40 time