Elgin Sharks Coach he’s passionate about his team for sure..
After yesterdays post regarding the AAU Northern Indoor Championships I recieve many comments from parents and a few coaches too. I also recieved an e-mail from the meet director and I feel it is approriate to reprint his response in fairness to the allegations
Response by Marchan Adkins
“I must say that I am very disappointed in the article submitted by Lance Lenard of NE Kansas TC commenting on the fairness of the AAU Indoor National Championships. The article gives the appearance that one team persuaded me to change the rules of the meet so the team scoring would favor them. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I responded to countless calls and emails from Coach Lenard himself prior to the meet and explained to him what was to be the setting, including the Primary 4X400, which by the way is an authorized event since 2007
I promise you that I have nothing at stake in making the decision I made but rather to be fair to all teams that participate. Track and field tends to be sprint oriented. Several distance teams don’t participate because there are not enough events offered during these meets.For instance, Primary aged athletes run a distance of 2000 meters at the cross country championships but we have historically only offered the 800m to them during the indoor season. This means that a kid would pay $40.00 just to run one event. In hind sight, maybe I should have offered the event, but not score it as an alternative to keep everyone happy. I believe this is the only area I failed. This had nothing to do with me not being fair to any athlete. The Elgin Sharks that competed in the relay could not have exceeded the 3 events allotted them as only one of their 56 athletes competed in the 400. The others only competed in the 800 and 4X400.
I have tremendous respect for Coach Lenard. Even though he suggests that the rules were put in place to protect children, why did he ask me if I’d allow his Bantam (9-10) and Midget (11-12) aged athletes to perform and event as complex as the triple jump on the last day of competition so that he could make up the points needed to beat Elgin.The aforementioned article only serves to overshadow what was a great event and accomplishments by many. I will look into what is most fair as it relates to points, but we are really looking at a sore loser trying to tear down good people who work to make this sport a better place for kids. I took Coach Lenard’s comments under advisement and actually had another team champion trophy printed up well prior to the article being printed.
Thanks in advance for your time and attention to this matter”
I appreciate Mr.Adkins submission to help explain the circumstances of this meet. I see that a great level of passion resides with youth track and that is a good thing.
We have attended and officiated meets all over the country and I would like to say that this indoor meet was done well as could be expected. Where there areas that could be improved, yes, but overall. It was a very impressive meet.
Many have attended this Indoor meet because the national records were low. Not this year! Athletes that participated this year were veterans of AAU JO. Mr. Adkins did a wonderful job marketing this event and staging this event.
As parent,coach,official, I was so impressed with Mr. Adkins meet management skills, that I volunteered my time as an official and whatever else they needed. Before the meet Mr. Adkins returned calls to all of my parents and myself no matter how minor the situation was.
It was also impressive that Mr. Adkins thought “outside the box” and created a meet for the track masses, and for not just one aspect of the sport.
Even though we won the Sub-Bantam Girls division. We thought we were going to win overall. The talent at that meet would not allow it.
I recieved this follow up e-mail and felt it was better placed here for continuation of the conversation.
Coach Lenard wrote:
“With all due respect to Mr. Adkins, I still haven’t heard the reason why the AAU handbook says one thing, and the AAU National Championship meet, followed their own set of rules. On the subject of the 4×400, previous to the weekend of the meet, I never discussed the event being conteted with Mr. Adkins (I did address the validity of the 1500).
I only found out that the Primary 4×400 would be run, in a late Friday night visit to the meet performance list, as it was never listed on the Coach O performance list. As of the composition of this e-mail (Noon on March 13th) the Coach O “meet set-up summary” still does not offer the opportunity for any club to enter a Primary 4×400!
This is what precluded any of the other clubs from entering a relay team in that age group/event. On the subject of my request for the younger kids to be able to Triple Jump, it was done with as much sarcasm as I could have possibly supplied.
I chose to follow the rules set up by AAU, and was making a point that others chose not to. I have a great amount of respect for Marchan Adkins, and truly believe that he does a fantastic job in promoting the sport of Track and Field, and is a true credit to the district that he represents.
I do not wish to make this sound like I am attacking him, I just believe that this meet was set up in such a way, that the team title was nearly impossible to obtain for any team other than the team that won it. I have no problem holding my head high, and being proud of the efforts of not only my athletes, but all of the athletes that participated in the meet, I am just wondering why we have rules, if we as an organization are not going to follow them.”
Coach Lenard
I truly believe that Lance knows in no uncertain terms would I ever concoct a points system that favored another team on purpose. It has been my goal to make this meet more enjoyable by all. I know that there will always be circumstances wherein best efforts come up short in others eyes. I pray that this is a situation that we can collectively worked together to improve this meet.
With that said, I welcome Coach Lenard’s input as we move forward. His team team along with many others have been an integral part of making this meet what it is. I would never shut him out. I am blessed to direct this meet but realize this meet belongs to the teams, coaches and unattached athletes that participate. It is not my goal to have an adversarial relationship with Coach Lenard. I was just disappointed that he didn’t give me a chance to work this out before hand.
On the issue of the 4×4, it was a website issue for which I take the blame. The event was contested last year for the first time as no entries came in 2008. I stand by my decision to allow the 1500m Run as it is shorter than a distance the AAU already allows in competition by that age group. Although a sprint/hurdles coach, I have long fought for the rights of distance runners in my district and around the country. I believe the right thing to do was to allow the event but not score it. I welcome Coach Lenard’s opinion on this.
In all fairness to the Elgin Sharks, they were not even aware they had won anything and were packing up to leave. This is a team that is totally distance oriented and only wanted opportunities for their kids. I was surprised they had garnered as many points as they did. It was then that I started to rethink the whole points thing. The NE Kansas TC totally dominated the first two days of competition. I thought they were a clear team champion until the final numbers were run. I understand the frustration and only want to do what is fair for all.
With all that has been said and done over the past days, I must first apologize for anything that I have done that offended anyone and seek forgiveness for my efforts were merely intended to enhance the sport not detract from it. I earnestly believe Coach Lenard knows this and will contiue to be a partner in progress. Best regards to him and his team.
Sports For All, Forever
Marchan Adkins
Meet Director
AAU Northern Indoor Championships
I think that this situation will help create an even better run meet in the future. I both you and coach Lenard’s willingness to work out a solution that works for the kids and parents alike. I beelive that the attendence will continue to grow as the word spreads on the great meet that AAU has provided. Thereis always work to be done to make a meet better.I am glad some still are working to that end. As a parent that means a lot to me and our experience asa track family.