Tips on Coaching Track and Field

It is early April and you have been hired or selected to coach your Junior High Track Team. Where do you start? How do you know what events the children can participate in? Who will run on the relays?

Most State associations will only let an athlete participate in so many events. Usually this is 3 or 4. Some allow for two Field events and two Track events. The first thing you do is have the athletes sign up for the events they want to participate in. Have them let you know if they have experience in any of the events.

The next thing that you do is hold time trials in each event. Find out who are your best runners and in what event. Keep track of their times and places. If someone beats an individual they move into that persons spot. This will increase competition. Do the same thing with the Field events. Tell your athletes it is open season on each event. At most meets that involve 2 or 3 schools, they will usually let you run as many as you want. However, at the big meets with more schools, you are only allowed to enter two per event and only one relay team. Always have alternates ready in each event. Many times athletes get tired or injured and you need a back up. Sometimes an athlete might just decide to let another person run in an event for other reasons.

Don't be too worried about winning the meet. Concentrate on performances first. The points and wins will come with time.

Study your athletes carefully. If you aren't getting 100% from them, switch them. You are the coach and you have others waiting their chance to participate.