Recruiting and coaching for small team

HS or college?

Can you provide more information? What level (D1,2,3, NAIA, JUCO)? Are scholarships available, and if so, how many for that event area? What is the vision for the overall program - do they WANT MD/Distance to be successful or simply check a participation box?

dbsquirtNXC21 wrote:

I am considering accepting a coaching position at a school where the demographic typically favors sprinters, and other power sports like football and basketball. The team currently has 2 female runners and 4 distance runners none of which are super enthusiastic distance runners and are more geared toward running the 400m and 800m in track. Is there any recruiting strategies/motivation strategies other coaches might use in this situation to help curate a culture of successful distance running as well as grow the team in size and recognition.

Your description sounds similar to all other colleges and high schools in America.

King Football dominates.

What you want to do is take those kids you have and put all your energy into them.

You will definitely have to get one of them to move up in distance.

You will want the kids to do the recruiting for you. Do what you can, but ultimately the good

teams have kids as the top recruiters.

I admit my experience is mostly with high school kids. But if the kids you have

find out you are going out and recruiting runners they will not give you as much.

You have to think long term and hope that you can unselfishly give all you have to the kids in

your program now. If they have a good experience other kids will find out.

(If they do not have a good experience with you other kids will also find out that!)

My most serious mistake as a high school coach may have been trying to recruit soccer kids.

You do not want the reputation of a coach who steals athletes from other sports. If they come

of their own free will that's fine. (The coaches of other sports will also be paying attention.)

It is a high school team. Limited resources as I am not a full time staff member. Was considering stealing soccer players.

Consider talking to other winter season coaches and the value of the aerobic conditioning. The kids need to be the cheif recruiters.

Summer running club

Girls on the Run -- scout local program or start one.

Talk to PE classes

Talk to basketball coaches, in years past at some smaller schools one had to do a fall sport to play basketball in the winter, many chose cross country

Accept any and all regardless of talent -- the cream wil rise.

Is this high school coaching or college coaching. If it’s high school, then I get the advice you’re giving him and it may help. But if this is college coaching, especially D1... hell no that won’t work! So let’s get that settled first is this a high school position or college?

dbsquirtNXC21 wrote:

It is a high school team. Limited resources as I am not a full time staff member. Was considering stealing soccer players.

Sorry just seen this post... carry on..

Based on the low numbers and the demographics you provided here is what I would do :

Year 1: it would be all about having fun. I do not care how serious or committed an athlete is, if they are not having fun, a majority will not stick around. Recruit The entire school but put most of your effort into the 9th graders (think development) tell them all you are asking is 45 minutes M-F with the occasional race on Saturday. A two hour five or six day a week practice will scare the group off you described. A typical 45 minute practice might look like this:

3 min coach talk

8 min warm up

6 min active stretching

6 min drills

15 min run

7 min static stretch - dismissal

45 minutes is nothing - you cannot waste one minute.

After year one and they are excited about the sport, then you call them in and ask them how many of you want to get better? The majority will want to come back next year because it was fun and improve, that’s when you crank up the training times/expectations etc. with that being said, even the 45 minute practice with a group with virtually no background they will see significant improvements and probably get through the season entry free

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Injury free not entry fee - sorry I was speaking into the phone