There are ways to set it up so it wouldn't cater to the wealthy. Many USATF track clubs are inexpensive. It is best for the advancement of the sport and development of the athlete.
I say pay the teachers more to teach and leave the coaching to professional coaches.
Only one team (7 runners) from the same school can run in the championship race. A second team or more individuals would go into the open race. The faster team would be the one entered into the championship race.
taken from the NXN website:
ELIGIBILITY
IN ORDER COMPETE IN NIKE CROSS NATIONALS OR NIKE CROSS REGIONALS YOU MUST BE IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE NCAA, ON TRACK TO GRADUATE PER YOUR HIGH SCHOOL’S GUIDELINES AND HAVE NOT BEEN DISMISSED FROM YOUR CLUB FOR DISCIPLINARY REASONS. ADDITIONALLY, YOU MUST BE AT A GRADE LEVEL THAT ALLOWS YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY BASED ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL STATE ASSOCIATION RULES AND GUIDELINES. INDIVIDUALS MAY COMPETE ACCORDING TO THE GUIDELINES NOTED ABOVE. ALL INDIVIDUALS MUST COMPETE UNATTACHED TO A CLUB.
Read more: - Meet Info - FAQ
HOW DOES A CLUB QUALIFY FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION AT THE NIKE CROSS REGIONALS?
A COMMITTEE WILL SELECT THE TOP 25-35 (NUMBER IS BASED ON COURSE CAPACITY) CLUBS PER GENDER IN THE REGION AND THEY WILL COMPETE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP RACE.
WILL CLUBS BE INVITED TO REGISTER FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP RACE?
THERE IS NO FORMAL INVITATION. ALL CLUBS/INDIVIDUALS ARE WELCOME TO COMPETE AND MUST REGISTER FOR THE NXR CHAMPIONSHIP RACE. CLUBS/INDIVIDUALS WILL THEN BE SEEDED INTO THE APPROPRIATE RACE. RACE REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE THE SUNDAY BEFORE THE REGIONAL RACE.
Read more: - Meet Info - FAQ
All for private coaching wrote:
There are ways to set it up so it wouldn't cater to the wealthy. Many USATF track clubs are inexpensive. It is best for the advancement of the sport and development of the athlete.
I say pay the teachers more to teach and leave the coaching to professional coaches.
"Professional" coaching?
USATF clubs are mostly parents. It is the equivalent of summer swim league for the most part.
None of them pay their bills with their coaching fees. So why is it OK for an accountant or insurance salesman to be a track coach, but a teacher is just somebody who got the job because they teach?
Weak argument. Probably a troll, but it irritates me.
Not ok for an accountant or insurance agent either unless they are trained to be a coach with credentials. Most teachers do not take that step. And they are in it for the stipend.
By professional, I am referring to being educated as a coach. That is the trained vocation of the individual.
I know many usatf clubs that are not as you described. And I’m not talking about the summer rec league teams. You live in Texas.. strong swimming area. Look around at the year round USA swimming club teams. That is a great model for how I see Track and Field ought to set up running in our country.
The swim club Michael Phelps swam for , that is a club that encompasses all levels of swimming. Now if an athlete can’t pay, there is funding provided to them. Also the clubs do fundraisers to offset the costs.
Much better for the athlete. At that is what is important. The kid.
It would do the opposite of what you say for the sport. The masses would not ever participate.
Most people who are certified go and get level I and that is it.
The HS coaching staffs in our area are serious for the most part. Lots of Level II or USTFCCCA specialist programs.
Swim is still big in HS here, but club existed before HS swim as did club soccer.
Club track did not exist in Texas prior to HS. HS XC and Track is big in Texas because the UIL invests in it. And our HS teams ARE the club team in XC - Southlake, The Woodlands, Kingwood, etc. These teams are not privately coached.
I don't think we're going to see eye to eye here, so we'll just have to agree to disagree.
Btw, not a troll.
This is a good thing for you as a coach . You can start up a club team and get paid your worth. Or do it for free. Whatever you feel comfortable with. But across the board , kids deserve better. And why be stuck with a coach that doesn’t fit with the athlete either personally, athletically. They (and parents) can chose the coach and program to best develop the athlete. It’s a win win.
Curious why this irritates you?
Ah I see now... and I’m very familiar with the area you speak of in Texas.
It’s a very small percentage of school coaches that actually have the knowledge that your coaches in your area do. And I see why what I suggest is a threat to you and hs programs that you listed and others in the country. But again, small percentage.
I’d like to see tf clubs set up to develop athletes for a higher purpose. Not just hs star programs. Do what is best for the kid and the sport.
Yes the masses will do what they are told. Look around our country. They are afraid.
Time for something new. A new structure. I talk about this enough and others with accept it and at some point what I suggest will be the norm.
It’s already happening. And it’s good. Win win
Doing away with hs sports also could lower taxes. Well it ought to but you know how things in public school are done.
But if we think outside the box, there are ways for this to be better. And we all want that , right?
You are assuming the private coach is doing it for the kid. Go to a National Youth Championship meet and watch all the wanna be Lavar Ball coaches. Working on making the money. Recruiting with big talk. Only care about the top kids. Regular kids or late bloomers - if you got the money, maybe. Thoughts on the high school coach. They tend to be educators and trained in adolescent behavior and learning styles. No $$$ in rewards for titles or ribbons so they can often make the best decision for as you say "the kid". The stipends are a joke so they are not doing it for that. Could make more asking if you want fries with that. Certainly could make more tutoring.
HS swimming is big up here where I live as well. But it is fed by the year round club teams, either YMCA Swimming or USA Swim clubs. Most HS coaches allow our state governing association rule that says the swimmer only to attend 6 practices to be eligible for the HS team, So the swimmer goes to the first 6 HS swim practices then just goes to the club practices and swim meets. Shows up for any important HS meet, be it an important dual meet with a rival school or the state meet rounds. Some coaches want the athlete to come to practice to help out with the less experienced swimmers. Essentially being a coach on deck. Or they come and do their homework. After th eHS practice the swimmer then attends their club practice.
We have club soccer and what is really big is Lacrosse. Seems to work fine woth the clubs coaches and HS coaches, Th only sport that has an issue is Cross Country , Track and Field... and its usually the HS coach that has the problem with it,
Tutoring would require that you actually tutor, and if you did a poor job - the kid/parents would find a different tutor...kids don't have that luxury in school run sports. I have seen Track & XC coaches show for an hour a day and sometimes only show three to four days a week and make several thousand dollars for their "commitment"...that also doesn't happen in the fast food world.
Now I understand meet days may take hours, but I have also seen track coaches leave when their events are done.
Works both ways, yes.
As for teachers.... let's get rid of tenure, And let's update the adolescent behavioral training they had...in many cases decades back.
We can go back and forth on this... but at the end of the day, a choice of coach, having standards of credentialing is a good way to go. I really prefer the Swim club model.
Few places actually have tenure. Most places also have renewal for licensing on a regular basis. Rather have that than what I regularly witness in the track club coach world. If a school allows a coach to show up for 1 hour a day 3 days a week, that is an indictment on administration and where a school places priorities.
As for soccer - get ready to enjoy the Academy Approach. Massive power grab. Fees are high at the club level.
From the Academy Website FAQ
Can Academy clubs participate in non-Academy competitions?
To maintain a focus on training, Academy teams do not play in any other leagues, tournaments, State Cup competitions, ODP or All-Star events without written permission from the U.S. Soccer Development Academy staff. Full-time Academy players can only participate on their designated Academy team, with only one exception: National Team duty. Development Academy players for all teams must choose to participate in the Academy full-time and forgo playing for his high school team.
U-12 is the earliest to specialize in just this. No other outside sports allowed.
Tenure is alive and well where I live. Would like what you have described.
I’m fine with the soccer academy approach or along those lines.
Texas HS Coach wrote:
All for private coaching wrote:
There are ways to set it up so it wouldn't cater to the wealthy. Many USATF track clubs are inexpensive. It is best for the advancement of the sport and development of the athlete.
I say pay the teachers more to teach and leave the coaching to professional coaches.
"Professional" coaching?
USATF clubs are mostly parents. It is the equivalent of summer swim league for the most part.
None of them pay their bills with their coaching fees. So why is it OK for an accountant or insurance salesman to be a track coach, but a teacher is just somebody who got the job because they teach?
Weak argument. Probably a troll, but it irritates me.
^^^^ If you can coach, you can coach. It shouldn't matter if you are a teacher or fastfood worker. If you know the sport and can coach, you're good.
This club team chose to train with the private coach. There was no communication error or exclusion from the Brentwood high school team. These 6 runners opted out of a group chat last June with the coaches and team. Texts and emails were sent and a couple of the club team runners actually joined the high school team. The team wanted this group of kids to run with them, without any further drama. They had 72 kids on the high school team with the freshman girls finishing fifth at state for varsity. Boys are rebuilding as you can imagine. There WILL be a team from Brentwood high school entering NXN next year. Nike will have to make a ruling. There is no sympathy needed here. Everyone is making their own choices.
Club team goes home devastated. Big surprise.
They had a good showing. Doesn’t appear from the Milesplit interview and article that they felt they had it in the bag or really had expected to qualify. They seem to know what they were up against. No more “devastated” than others that didn’t qualify.
They are kids. Stop bashing on kids.
I am still crying about this poor team! How can they live without the private coach and have to run with all of those crappy runners? Only this team with this coach would brag about a 6th place finish. Glad to hear somebody stuck a fork in it.