Does it have something to do with hormones? The fastest girl on our team right now is a freshman, and seniors always seems to be the slowest. It seems to be the opposite the opposite for guys. Not intended to be sexist, just genuinely wondering
Does it have something to do with hormones? The fastest girl on our team right now is a freshman, and seniors always seems to be the slowest. It seems to be the opposite the opposite for guys. Not intended to be sexist, just genuinely wondering
guys don't grow...uh..."womanly features"
In any good program that isn't the case.
The coach gives the girls just as much attention as the guys
Of course freshmen are always the fastest . . . . at burning out.
Women's bodies change and their hormones change usually about sophomore year which is where women are known to plateau. They usually break through it about the time they enter college.
Only on bad teams. I got faster through high school.
I’m so tired of this topic. A smart coach and a good program won’t have this happen on a regular basis. If you look at state meets, most of the top 25-50 are upperclassmen for girls too.
Up until and including 9th grade you can coach girls like they are boys; after that you have to coach them like girls.
They've had a lot of beer and sausage
LoneStarXC wrote:
Only on bad teams. I got faster through high school.
Do you attribute your success to alpacas??
Tuohy is not a freshman.
UUGGGHHHH wrote:
I’m so tired of this topic. A smart coach and a good program won’t have this happen on a regular basis. If you look at state meets, most of the top 25-50 are upperclassmen for girls too.
Please tell us... what would a smart coach do?
Oh???? wrote:
UUGGGHHHH wrote:
I’m so tired of this topic. A smart coach and a good program won’t have this happen on a regular basis. If you look at state meets, most of the top 25-50 are upperclassmen for girls too.
Please tell us... what would a smart coach do?
Emphasize strength training, nutrition and recovery for starters. Seems simple enough until you're in the shoes of a high school girl (or their coach).
Have you never taken a health class?
Girls mature earlier than boys. A freshman girl vs a senior girl is a lot closer than a freshman boy than a senior boy.
txRUNNERgirl wrote:
Oh???? wrote:
Please tell us... what would a smart coach do?
Emphasize strength training, nutrition and recovery for starters. Seems simple enough until you're in the shoes of a high school girl (or their coach).
So you are saying coach them like you normally would?
¿huh? wrote:
Does it have something to do with hormones? The fastest girl on our team right now is a freshman, and seniors always seems to be the slowest. It seems to be the opposite the opposite for guys. Not intended to be sexist, just genuinely wondering
Some HS girls slow down, some don't. I was one of those HS girls that developed late so my "sophomore slow-down" actually happened in 11th grade. Back in the 80's I went undefeated for four straight years - 9th through Senior year (culminating in a full ride college scholarship) - but it was MUCH more difficult in 11th grade (most other's 10th grade). Weight was more difficult to manage, boys became way more interesting, friends became way more important, focus was everywhere. Some girls work their way through this stage, other girls throw in the towel and pursue other dreams. I had the lure of a college scholarship to keep me somewhat focused but back in those days most girls didn't. I don't think it's a matter of better coaching,
I think it's a matter of having the opportunity to chase benefits gotten through running (college scholarship, etc) that keeps girls running and training through the gauntlet of adolescence.
Coaching absolutely is a factor. Creating an environment where healthy bodies are encouraged and accepted is a coach's responsibility. Adding strength training that helps girls avoid injury while their body is changing is a coach's responsibility. Keeping training age appropriate even with young phenoms is a coach's responsibility. Planning training and progression over a period of 4 years (or for a lifetime) instead of a 1 season at a time is a coach's responsibility.
Our state's biggest class didn't have a single all-state freshman last year. The teams that made the podium had a combined total of 3 freshmen in their top 7. National and world records aren't set by high school freshmen. Don't make excuses if you haven't figured out how to coach girls yet, but the stats don't lie.
txRUNNERgirl wrote:
Oh???? wrote:
Please tell us... what would a smart coach do?
Emphasize strength training, nutrition and recovery for starters. Seems simple enough until you're in the shoes of a high school girl (or their coach).
Aren't those factors for boys too?
hs girls coach wrote:
Coaching absolutely is a factor. Creating an environment where healthy bodies are encouraged and accepted is a coach's responsibility. Adding strength training that helps girls avoid injury while their body is changing is a coach's responsibility. Keeping training age appropriate even with young phenoms is a coach's responsibility. Planning training and progression over a period of 4 years (or for a lifetime) instead of a 1 season at a time is a coach's responsibility.
Our state's biggest class didn't have a single all-state freshman last year. The teams that made the podium had a combined total of 3 freshmen in their top 7. National and world records aren't set by high school freshmen. Don't make excuses if you haven't figured out how to coach girls yet, but the stats don't lie.
I don't think the original statement was talking about the top girls in the sport, they were talking about the other 99% of the teams that aren't winning state and breaking national records.
Of course coaching is a factor, but having opportunities to work towards is an even bigger factor if not the main factor. If the lure of friends, boys, social life, etc. outweigh the benefits gotten from running - podiums at races/state, college scholarships, recognition by their HS, recognition by peers, camaraderie of the team, etc. The best coach in the world isn't going to off-set the peak-of adolescence slow-down if there isn't much in it for the participants.
