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.
Now that I think about it, coaching plays a huge role in creating an environment where girls want to be. If not winning races as a team or individual, there needs to be a group dynamic that is intriguing, building friendships and camaraderie. This is definitely influenced heavily by the coach. If the team isn't winning, at least it's fun and offers opportunity to learn and grow?