Preview Of This Week at TrackMom.com
June 9, 2008
It’s 4:30am and I am feel like I should have gotten up at 3am. So much Track and Field this weekend from, Reebok in New York, Association meets all over the country, local open meets like Jim Busch, including our region 15 Association in Gardena California the past three days. So here the Scoop……I have lots coming up this week and I want to let you know not to miss a day.
Here’s A Week In Preview Highlights
** The United Age Group Track Coaches Association, Inc.
Annual Youth Invitational is Coming July 11th -13th 2008
UAGTCA www.uagtca.org
** Special Contributing writer Coach Michael Cunliffe of Seattle Speed
Talks Very Passionately about his views on USATF vs. AAU Junior Olympics
**Highlights of Youth Athletes From Around the Country
And that’s just the beginning…….
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Take Home from The Weekend
Every time I go to a track meet of any kind Pro, High School, Youth Age Group I learn something or at least I try and learn something that will help enhance my and my families over all experience the next time we attend a meet.
Time and time again organization and preparation seem to be recurring themes. When I fail to plan completely food, waking up time, Lauren’s eating and hydration. I get stuck. Let me explain. Past experience tells me that Lauren, (basically any child) can’t perform as well when there are so many multiple heats and rounds. She’s not use to the intensity and the day of competition is longer and more events. This weekend I thought about this ahead of time and although she was mentally a little tired mid-day yesterday and expressed this, she was well fueled and hydrated and was able to run her best races this season. This is the way it’s supposed to be.
Two things happen initially, she asks over and over again what time events start and when is it over. Some how it doesn’t translate to her at first that this meet is different, you are qualifying for a chance to run in the Junior Olympics. Once she understands the dynamics and importance of this meet, she seems to be just fine. She has a way of quiet determination , she doesn’t like to show, so she becomes almost aloof about the events outwardly, but she is focusing very intensely inwardly.
When she first started running she wouldn’t want to talk at all before races. This is no more.
She has found her way of concentration while interacting. I think this is a good thing. The team dynamics and friends have help tremendously. Sports Psychologist observe this as an ability to focus and place your self in a mode of preparation and focus with out over anticipation leading to anxiety before an event.
For me, I always look at the big picture of EVERTHING, rarely is anything lost on the moment with me. This big picture moment tells me that she is maturing in her competitive application. You can’t teach this or force it; it comes from the child as they develop. I actually observed it first in her academics again almost aloof in her outward interest but inward and later I see and hear a determination to get the A make all the assignments etc. Weekly we build, refine and develop our own approach to our youth athletes as they do to the competitiveness of the environment and the actual competition.
- We can’t get lost in that moment of victory or defeat .You shouldn’t measure the competiton by the previous mentioned, Time and improvement are the standards. What did you learn from the event good or bad? How did you feel? What was good about the race? Not so good? These are better gages of where they are now.
- I ask a few more questions when we get home (only at home) that usually are very telling of her over all experience of the day. Did you have fun today? What was most fun? Did you do your best? Are you happy with your performance?
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Are You Parents and Coaches Having Fun Yet?
There is an obvious sacrifice of time and money and energy to participate in any sport successfully with your youth athlete. All that said, I can’t say enough about leading by example. This weekend I observed some great standout moments good and bad in regard to the parents and coaches sportsmanship and general conduct at the meet.
Well, I will start with the positive. Very Postive.
I arrive very early most meets to get myself organized(there’s that word again) and help my husband with the canopy etc. When I arrived at the bleachers Coach Brown from Rising Stars was wiping down his area bleachers and preparing the area. He wasn’t complaining or whining about anything, just getting things ready for his team. I thought that was such great demonstration of leadership . Others noticed as well and I am sure his team appreciated his thoughtfulness. I always see him as a quiet giant on the track. He has work to do and he gets it done he watches his athletes and smiles but doesn’t really go over board with excitement. I can’t imagine all it takes to have such a high performing team , but he seems to have created the perfect storm with his team time and time again. It is a pleasure seeing him week in and out as well as his team.
The next very positive thing was so many spectators cheering for all the children not just their teams athletes. Ultimately this youth track experience will not lead many Collegiate level athletes or Olympians, but the effort and enthusiasm we share with these athletes as children can translate into lasting memories and positive lessons for our children. Good Job Parents! I appreciate it greatly when people cheer for Lauren and I am sure other parents appreciate it too.
Okay where there is good there is not so good ,Darn Right Bad.
I imagine if many from our region thought about what I am about to state they could almost figure out who I am talking about. I am not going to name any names and don’t ask me ‘cause I still won’t.
Caveat This is Solely “My” Opinion
I am in complete disbelief over a certain coaches behavior this weekend in regard to belittling an opposing athletes ability. Is it necessary to loudly , yes loudly say that a certain athlete can’t compare to his athletes skill ” he is nothing, get him” and say it so loud that basically all the immediate on lookers can hear it clearly? Some of them being parents on the opposing team, fellow and former teammates.
Once again I repeat and continue to say “Aren’t we suppose to be setting an example especially as a coach a parent and leaders out there?”
I am wondering why this coach is allowed to coach any children with this HORRIBLE DISPLAY OF CHARACTER AND LACK OF CONTROL?? I will tell you why, some of you parents allow it by supporting his team with your child’s participation. If you for one moment realized that without your child running for him he wouldn’t have a team.You could take your child to any number of good positive teams out there, the behavior would have to cease or go away with out support.
You have leverage, your child is valuable to the teams bottom line. This coach wouldn’t have a team, or any athletes to yell and scream at or basically create an environment of hostility,poor sportsmanship and immaturity.
The teams are a business, a great community serving business but a business all the same, if it wasn’t the case there would be no money exchange and fund raising efforts for all teams. You wouldn’t give your money and time to any other business that behaved in this manner normally. Why would you give it to a pacing, ranting and raving coach? Why do others stand for the behavior? I just not sure.
Maybe someone out there can explain it to me.?
Until Next Time
Related posts:
- Special TrackMom Week……. Gold Medal Mom Contest
- TrackMom Interviewed On Club House Gas
- Something New At TrackMom.com
- Sports Parent Highlights
- Training of Elite Youth Athletes….. What Age Would You Start?
Amen….Amen….We all have to remember to celebrate the P.R.’s just to add to the positive in Northern California I remember us celebrating the improvement of the two slowest girls in our Assoc. (they were running to offset juvenile diabetes) however with hard work and perserverance they steadily improved and teams from all over were giving them props. Every child on the track and field deserve praise because it takes a lot to get out there. Parents know this because not many of us are signing up for the parent coach relays……that is a true sign of the courage and valor of our youth.
Thanks for visting TrackMom.com. Glad you stopped by. Please come again.
Lorraine
[...] Parent and Coach Misconduct Posted on June 10, 2008 by trackmom I had no plans on posting any thing else, any time soon on coach or parent misconduct and general poor sportmanship. See yesterdays article Preview Of This Week at TrackMom.com [...]
I have only recently been introduced to TrackMom.com but I have been completely amazed with the content and style. While so much has changed during my many years in the sport, don’t ask how many, suffice it to say that it has been a long time, so much has remained the same. Children, no matter from where they hail love the sport of track & field. It is a sport that offers something for every child. Not just the swift but the strong and determined as well. It is a sport that you can get back exactly what you put in. Children see this and are drawn to the sprt like bees to a flower.
I won’t pretend that there is a magic potion for success but I do know that no one who has ever participated in earnest has left the sport with less than they brought in. Now from what other sport can you get that type of guarantee. In most other sports you are measured against someone else. In track & Field you are measured against yourself, the clock or tape.
The life lessons presented by track & field are countless but I feel that the most important one is PERSERVERANCE. How many of us would go out week after week, face the same people, under the same circumstances and know that this time the results will be different. They may not win but they will improve.
Keep doing what you’re doing and I wish you mich success in this endeavor.
Ron Jackson - Director United Age Group Track Coaches Association - Phiadelphia, PA
Thanks for stopping by and you are so right ,week in and out back to back weekends for almost 12-15 in a row and yes we often times know the players the times and the stategies but we are always looking for the best the athletes has to offer. Your comment was great…Thanks for stopping by.
[...] Preview Of This Week at TrackMom.com, [...]
There could a dozen reasons why that coach displayed such misconduct, but don’t think for a minute that people are not noticing his behavior. The rule of thumb usually is, give someone enough rope and eventually they will hang themselves. There also could be a dozen reasons why it seems as though people aren’t noticing his behavior.
I totally realize there are dozens of reasons (excuses) for his behavior, all the same, I believe the approriate persons to address the behavior would be a coaches at their meetings but,that hasn’t happened either…. evident of continued misconduct …
People are noticing , (based on e-mails I recieve)I am sure of that ,but the action or in-action seems to be to ignore it and maybe he will just go away attitude.
The coaches are the leaders and they would be the approprite people to set the conduct standard for the meets and team, coach behavior and address it.
Parents athletes and coaches are in this together year in and out.Even if we don’t know each other personally we “know often times from others,that said I am sure most in our area know who I am talking about and know first hand the behavior.It just hasn’t been addressed. I am not a parent on that team therfore it’s not my place to confront it, but if one time I heard him talking about my child dispargingly It would be my person business.
Bottom line it is the collective coaches that need to address this poor sportsmanship to create change.
Lorraine