Coaches, do you give your athletes time goals in races?

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12 years ago 04/20/2013 2:29pm EDT

I am an assitant high school coach, and a few weeks ago the head coach and I got in a little argument about giving the distance guys some time goals. The head coach never says a time for them to run. "Just run your butt off", he says.I, on the other hand, always ask what the athlete's goal is. Therefore, I am able to yell out 400 splits, which then allows them to know if they're on pace to hit their goal.

Structuring a race plan with splits allows runners to not go out too fast.

I am curious on your thoughts about giving goal times in track meets.

12 years ago 04/20/2013 2:35pm EDT

re: ilovepacework

From a runner's perspective, it depends on the type of meet. If it's a race where I will win by a fair margin, my coach generally focuses on consistent splits and staying on track for a goal time. However, I generally remove my watch at big invitational meets where I will have competition running with me. The same is true for end of season qualifying meets, where it's only important to achieve a certain placing.

12 years ago 04/20/2013 2:42pm EDT

re: Distance Kid

Great point.

I should have stated that these meets are meerly invitational/all-comers meets, not league/qualify meets.

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Coaches, do you give your athletes time goals in races?

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