TRACK COACH Spring 2017 I 219

The official technical IN DEFENSE OF THE FREE TAKEOFF . . . . . 6971 publication of USA Track & Field RIO RELAY REDUX . . . . . 6975 PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS OF BURNOUT IN FORMER/RETIRED ELITE-LEVEL RACE WALKERS IN THE UNITED STATES . . . . . 6981 A FRESH APPROACH TO SPRINT TRAINING . . . . . 6991 usatf coaching education schools . . . . . 6996 track from the editor coach russ ebbets formerly track technique

219 I SPRING 2017 The WALK

The official technical publication of USA Track & Field

E D FOX...... Publisher In my professional career I have probably given 1000 lectures, maybe RUSS EBBETS...... Editor more. During that time I have had three instances where someone from TERESA TAM...... Production & Design the audience purposely disrupted what I had to say. It’s one of those FRED WILT...... Founding Editor things one can laugh at later, but while it is happening, not so much. You quickly cycle through several thoughts—what is happening? Is there a health crisis? Why is this happening? And once you figure it out you must decide what to do about it. PUBLICATION In two of the instances the interrupter quickly exhausted what he had to Track Coach is published quarterly by say and I got to continue. In the third instance the disruptor had to be Track & Field News, physically removed from the room. He was grabbed by both arms and 2570 W. El Camino Real, #220, escorted towards the door. The audience got quite a show. The topic I Mountain View, CA 94040 USA. was speaking on was the race walk! The Summer 2017 issue (No. 220) The walk has a long and storied history in track & field. If you do some of Track Coach will be e-mailed research you’ll find some interesting and unique facts about this discipline. to subscribers about July 1, 2017. Did you know that the walk was started by “footmen” back in the horse and buggy days? A footman was a servant who walked alongside a horse SUBSCRIPTIONS carriage back in the 1800’s. Footmen fast walked as the carriage went along. $20.00 per year, U.S. or foreign. To jog or run would be uncouth. Track Coach became a digital-only publication in 2015. And did you know that back in the days before video games and reality TV walking endurance contests were held where competitors tried to walk 100 miles in a 24-hour period, averaging a little over four miles per hour? Those BACK ISSUES OF successfully completing this task earned the right to call themselves Centurions. TRACK COACH Even more astounding was the group that would walk one mile every hour for Many back issues of Track Technique/ 1000 straight hours (41 days). The first Ironmen? Track Coach, #92-208, are available singly at $5.50 (U.S. delivery)/ The walk has been part of the Olympics since 1904. In that Olympics the walk $9.50 (foreign delivery) each post- was part of a decathlon-like event where they walked 800m. In 1908 the walk paid. No issues previous became a stand alone event and has been contested ever since. Women got the to #111 are available. chance to walk in the Olympics in 1992. The United States has had participants in all these Olympics but has had little to show for it. Since 1972 the US has not To order, send your check to medaled in the Olympics or World Championships. Fifty-five years is a long time.

Track Coach As a high school and college coach in New York State I had success coaching the 2570 W El Camino Real, walk. My high school program produced two guys back to back who won a NY Suite 220, State championship, Empire State Games gold medals, IC4A, Penn Relays and even Mountain View, CA 94040 a Junior National Championship. One of the guys once held the U.S. junior record for 3000m. There were other men and women who won league titles and had nice careers.

continued on page 6995

TRACK COACH — 6970 IN DEFENSE OF THE FREE TAKEOFF

Another defense of Vitaly Petrov’s pole vault technique model by long-time Tennessee coach Jim Bemiller.

By James H. Bemiller, J.D.

I read with some consternation Mr. vertical. At the same time the vaulter The Straw Man fallacy is commit- David Bussabarger’s recent article, should avoid bending the pole until ted when a person simply ignores “The Pole Vault Takeoff”, in a recent he/she is airborne (this and taking another person’s actual position and edition of USATF’s professional off “out” are the most common ideas substitutes a distorted, exaggerated journal Track Coach (#216, Summer associated with the free takeoff).” or misrepresented version of that 2016). Bussabarger introduces the Bussabarger has spent several position. main topic of his article to promote years attempting to deconstruct his upcoming book, “to question the what he describes as fundamentals Bussabarger points to no primary so-called free takeoff or the model of the Petrov model. He has stated reference sources from Petrov developed by Ukrainian coach Vitaly previously, “The writer (Bussabarg- to substantiate his interpretation Petrov. The Petrov model, particu- er) has recently been engaged in a of Petrov’s technical model. Bus- larly his free takeoff concept, was long online debate with advocates of sabarger describes Petrov’s model, simply a hypothesis with no basis the Petrov/ Bubka technical model.” “That is, the fiberglass vaulter should in the real world…” (Bussabarger, (Bussabarger, 2013). take off ‘out’ and emphasize jump- 2016). ing directly upward at the instant Unfortunately, Mr. Bussabarger’s of takeoff …” (Bussabarger, 2016). Bussabarger further characterizes underlying stated core principles To use Bussabarger’s own words, his interpretation of Petrov’s beliefs: regarding coach Petrov’s concepts this statement is a concept with no “…that the fiberglass vaulter should of vaulting are so critically and basis in the real world. take off “out” and emphasize jump- fatally flawed that whatever value ing directly upward at the instant of contained in his following arguments Serious review and critique of a takeoff in order to produce overhand become pointless. Bussabarger sets coach’s technical beliefs should rotation in the pole to move it to up a classic Straw Man argument. dictate the examination of coach

TRACK COACH — 6971 Petrov’s professional explanation us believe that the vaulter should In the IAAF Journal he writes of of his views. Relying on secondary attempt to contact the back of the the takeoff: sources, such as others’ interpreta- box with an incomplete extension tions, ‘online debate’, and relayed of the body? “The efficiency of this phase de- second hand conversation is not pends on the vaulter’s skill in the serious inquiry, lacks rigor and is In his article, “Reviewing the Revo- drop/takeoff junction, on whether a disservice to the subject, in this lutionary Form of Wladyslaw Koza- he/she is able to begin the push case coach Petrov. kiewicz” (Track Coach #202, 2013) before the pole is set against the Bussabarger touts the technique box. The pole must be smoothly Rather than relying on popular of the 1980 Olympic Champion transferred to the plant position misconceptions, as Bussabarger and former World Record Holder. when the vertical takeoff plane is does, let’s instead look to original “Kozakiewicz maintained excellent crossed.” (Petrov, 2004). source material with regard to Mr. erect posture in the final strides of Bussabargers’ two stated underlying the run and into the beginning of the In summary, Petrov states that the assumptions. takeoff… Kozakiewicz’s takeoff point proper position of the takeoff foot is was located directly under his top directly below the top hand and the First Incorrect Postulate—Bus- hand.” Bussabarger’s own analysis takeoff should be executed with full sabarger incorrectly states that mirrors Petrov’s criteria regarding extension prior to the pole ground- Petrov advocates that “the fiberglass proper step and takeoff referenced ing against the back of the box. No vaulter should take off ‘out’” (Bus- above. In this writer’s opinion, per- referenced primary source material sabarger, 2016). haps Bussabarger misconstrues states Petrov advocates taking off Petrov’s following statement: “out” as Mr. Bussabarger proclaims Petrov stated over 30 years ago in in many of his writings. Therefore, his 1985 address to the European “We do not share the view of those his continued criticism is based on Coaches Congress, “...the position who say that the takeoff in vaulting a false premise, which he seems of takeoff must be strictly beneath is distinct in that there is no free determined to perpetuate. the grip of the upper hand. (Petrov, takeoff. Straightening the drive leg, 1985). To emphasize the point, in pressing the pole perpendicularly, Second Incorrect Postulate— Bus- the next paragraph he stated, “The and that this helps in this initial bend- sabarger incorrectly states that question of where one should take ing. We approach this differently. Petrov advocates that vaulters off—before or after the vertical— should “emphasize jumping directly should not be a matter for discus- “The vaulter’s task is to drive the upward at the instant of takeoff” sion, in so far as the vaulter can raise pole at takeoff as much as possible (Bussabarger, 2016). He follows the pole to the maximum above the and to give himself a free takeoff by stating, “If the vaulter attempts track only standing on the vertical with transfer at the end into a smooth to execute a free takeoff as Petrov beneath the grip.” (Petrov, 1985). takeoff, but the vaulter should not recommends, he/she will be working feel for a smooth support, only a directly against the development of In later writings Petrov does not smooth plant.” (Petrov, 1985). forward takeoff drive” (Bussabarger, even mention a takeoff point spe- 2016). cifically but states, “The pole must Restating the above concept, Petrov be smoothly transferred to the plant is presenting an alternative to the Again, Bussabarger attributing these position when the vertical takeoff widely held belief at the time that statements/ideas to Petrov is inac- plane is crossed.” (Petrov, 2004) a vaulter must take off under and curate and misleading to the reader force bend the pole through takeoff. as they are not found in credible In describing his emphasis on a Rather, a free takeoff will reduce source material. We should instead well-executed takeoff Petrov also losses in horizontal velocity as examine what Petrov has actually explains, “…The plant ends in a the vaulter maximizes penetration said regarding the push and pen- swift body extension which must through the highest possible position etration phase. take place before the pole touches of the pole at takeoff and a smooth the back wall of the box.” (Petrov, transition onto support of the pole As early as 1985 Petrov stated, “The 1985). Would Bussabarger have as he leaves the ground. vaulter’s task is to drive the pole

TRACK COACH — 6972 at takeoff as much as possible…” enced quotes reflect, a reasonable ten attempts, and the vast majority (Petrov, 1985). understanding of Petrov obviously of those hits were not home runs. stresses the priority of maximizing Many a runner has studied and “Of great importance in pole vaulting transfer of kinetic energy through trained for the perfect race but can is the depth of the body advance- takeoff by horizontal penetration. only replicate it infrequently, if ever. ment forward during the takeoff… He describes the takeoff in terms Obviously, pole vault coaches are The quickness and depth of the take- of “a quick roll-up on the ball of the aware that due to many variables off greatly influence the technique foot.” No reasonable person could each approach and takeoff will vary of all the next elements of the vault: conceive that Petrov advocates slightly. The takeoff point will vary the hang, swing and rock-back.” “jumping directly upward at the from attempt to attempt. The takeoff (Petrov on Technique, ?year). instant of takeoff” as Bussabarger in- angle will vary with each attempt. correctly states. Bussabarger would Of course, Petrov, as with any rea- Rather than jumping directly upward have us believe Petrov advocates sonable coach, would understand as Bussabarger claims, Petrov again a 45° - 90°, takeoff? I am not sure these variations. How many long reiterated his ideas on the subject, what Mr. Bussabarger is trying to jumpers hit the board in exactly the “Of great importance is the depth of attribute to Petrov, but I am sure that same spot on every attempt (and the body’s forward advance during “jumping directly upward at takeoff” they do not have to carry and drop the takeoff.” (Petrov, 2004). is not proposed by coach Petrov. a 17-foot pole)? Pursuing a sound model of technique may rarely be Of course there is a vertical com- Conclusion ideally achieved and still result in ponent to the takeoff which Petrov outstanding performances. incorporates, “…during the whole Unfortunately, because Bussabarg- movement from the takeoff he (the er’s interpretation of Petrov’s con- The performances and records of vaulter) must aim to ‘rush’ as deep cept of a free takeoff is a misinterpre- the athletes Petrov has coached upward as possible, trying to reach tation and oversimplification of what over the last 30 years should lend the left elbow with his head. The Petrov has stated, he (Bussabarger) credence to his views. Even though foot is placed for the takeoff firmly makes another unreasonable criti- his athletes may not have exhibited with a quick roll-up on the ball of cism. Mr. Bussabarger criticizes the flawless technique on every attempt, the foot.” (Petrov, 200?) Petrov difficulty of the free takeoff model they performed exceptionally well. writes that a primary purpose of the as a deficiency, “Petrov taught this We should be impressed by Bubka, support-pushing part of the vault is, technique to Bubka. Ironically even Tarasov, Gibilisco, Isinbaeva, Braz “To perform the drop and plant with Sergey Bubka had difficulty execut- and the many other coaches and minimal losses in horizontal speed ing a free takeoff consistently and athletes who have been influenced at the angle of 20° - 22°, e.g. at a very few if any other elite male by his work and writings. For three tangent to the future swing on the vaulters employ/employed a free decades Petrov has consistently pole.” (Petrov, 2004). This is very takeoff as proposed by Petrov.” helped athletes perform at the high- similar to the long jump takeoff (Bussabarger, 2016). est level. The 2016 Olympic record angle for elite males, ~20° (McGin- victory of 22-year-old Thiago Braz, nis, 200?). This writer does not interpret the coached by Petrov, winning over exacting nature of Petrov’s free the superlative defending Olympic Therefore, Bussabarger stating, takeoff model as a negative aspect, champion should alone give Mr. “Petrov’s free takeoff theory, which is rather a proposed concept of ideal Bussabarger pause to reconsider almost universally accepted, claims technique which is to be pursued. his flawed interpretation of the core that the vaulter should avoid driv- Ted Williams, one of the greatest tenets of Petrov’s model. ing forward into the pole at takeoff” hitters in the history of baseball (Bussabarger, 2016) is another ex- intensely studied the science of Personally, as the coach of an ample of misunderstanding of what hitting. His lifetime batting average Olympic Champion and six-meter Petrov has described in the above was .344. Although Williams was vaulter, I hold Petrov’s work in the referenced material. his sports foremost authority and highest regard. Coach Petrov’s writ- practitioner he still only hit suc- ings and instruction at clinics has In summary, as the above refer- cessfully a little over 3 times out of been invaluable in my education as

TRACK COACH — 6973 a coach. Of course he is not the of success to distill the fundamentals or properly referenced material. only coach I have studied closely, of performance. Discern and choose wisely. Caveat but he should be given his due. Emptor. He has proven through his results In summary, achieving a consistent and assistance to other coaches out step, and jumping straight up that he is the John Wooden, Knute is not the determining basis for Jim Bemiller has coached Rockne, Bela and Marta Karolyi of exhibiting success in the Petrov athletes who have broken the our event. Seven of the last eight model. Unfortunately, misconceived Olympic, NCAA, American, men’s Olympic Gold Medalists show discussion of the outside step and American Junior records aspects of his model and influence. has wasted several decades and in the pole vault. He coached Therefore, I find it necessary to overshadowed the many benefits 2004 Olympic Champion submit this response to Mr. Bus- of coach Petrov’s model. But, that Tim Mack (6.01m) and was sabargers’ version of Petrov’s views discussion is for another day. Mr. the collegiate coach of 2000 of the pole vault. Bussabarger has written extensively Olympic Silver Medalist Law- regarding the pole vault based on rence Johnson (5.98m), the Coaches should be discerning his observations. Coach Petrov has current NCAA record holder. when analyzing various views on a studied source material and tested He is an associate professor multi-faceted event such as the pole his theories in the competitive arena in the Department of Kinesiol- vault. Success will be determined with great success. Bussabarger’s ogy and Sport Studies at the by choosing wisely to selectively latest article tells us he is promot- University of Tennessee and adopt sound philosophies that will ing his upcoming book with Bruce serves on the USATF pole compliment your experience and Caldwell. My advice to coaches vault advisory board. resources. Study the commonalities would be to rely on primary sources LAST CHANCE ££ONDONONDON There are just a few rooms left at the St. Giles hotel, and these should be snapped up in the coming weeks. So, if you want to join us in Lon- don for the XVI IAAF World Championships, don’t delay—get in touch with us right away. Call 20172017 650/948-8188 and reserve your space now.

The tour package contains: • 11 nights lodging, your choice of hotel, In August 3, Out August 14. • Prime tickets to all sessions of the World Championships Tour package projected price $4,615 per person • Daily breakfast double occupancy (St. Giles), single supplement • Welcome party $900. Air transportation not included. Current de- • Gala luncheon with invited athletes, etc. posit required is $3,250 per person. • Airport transfers • Underground pass For more information • City sightseeing tour http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/tours • Goodies (i.e., tote bag, polo shirt, etc.)

TRACK COACH — 6974 Rio Relay Redux

Sprint relay analyst Dennis Grady is back—this time looking at U.S. 4x1 success and failure at the Rio Games. As usual, he doesn’t pull his punches.

By DENNIS J. GRADY, USATF LEVEL II COACH

Believe it or not, track and field Track & Field News, Oct. 2016, team in Berlin and should, therefore, relays were invented in the United after Jamaica’s 7th straight gold be well aware of the rule that had States. The first one took place at vs. the USA. cost him a medal and money. the Penn Relays in 1893. Stan Huntsman, American Track At The XXXI Summer Olympiad at THE WOMEN & Field, Spring 2005 Rio last August, the U.S. squads kept their fans on the edges of The U.S. women’s prelim team It’s just that each staff has its own their seats wondering what would consisted of Tianna Bartoletta (Gold, ideas of how the stick should be go wrong this time. The women Long Jump), Allyson Felix (Silver, passed. There is a lot of skill in- managed to get a reprieve from 400), English Gardner (7th, 100), volved; there are a lot of aspects their prelim mishap at the second and Morolake Akinosun. The team to passing the baton, and if one of exchange; they won the gold medal ran 66.71 in the prelim; 41.77, in those aspects goes wrong, then with a time of 41.01 seconds running the rerun. Tori Bowie, 100-silver you get messed up. We’ve just got in the “dreaded” lane one. and 200-bronze medalist, came to fix it. aboard to anchor the final. The one Dennis Mitchell, as an athlete, in The men’s 4x1 was disqualified—re- substitute allowed all three passers Nov. 1997, Track & Field News, peating the same DQ at the Berlin to remain the same. All ended well USA Relay Coach, 2015-present prelim (WC, 2009)—when Mike for the U.S. women, but all was Rodgers touched Justin Gatlin’s anything but well for the prelim. I think the Americans are more hand with the baton before the baton focused on beating us than running was in the exchange zone (Rule My analysis of the second exchange: a proper race. So yes, it is the pres- 170.7). Judging by Mike Rodgers’ Felix is coming into her approach sure of beating Jamaica. post-race interview with NBC, one running in the outside half of lane Asafa Powell, Jamaican sprinter, would never guess he was on that 2, just as she should. The Brazilian

TRACK COACH — 6975 VICTOR SAILER/PHOTO RUN

Legs 3 and 4, Gardner to Bowie, finish the 4x1 victory for the USA in 41.01. third leg in lane 3 starts to acceler- qualify on time that evening, knock- near the exchange yelled to Felix ate for her changeover hugging the ing the Chinese squad out of the fi- and prompted her to act. Felix got lane on the inside just as Felix is nal. The women were assigned lane the credit, which is fine, but if there passing and hits Felix with her arm 1, even though they had the fastest weren’t U.S. coaches nearby yelling on her backswing. This causes Felix qualifying time, two-hundredths of instructions to her, then someone to break stride and when she cannot a second faster than the eventual should be asking, why not. The reach Gardner’s hand with the baton silver medalists Jamaica. The silver time delay and Felix’s head turning she throws the baton at her. (The lining of running in lane one? The towards the stands suggests to me contact did not cause the baton to stagger was made up before the she got an assist. go “flying” or be “knocked away”, first pass, so no distractions at the as some reported). The baton goes exchanges. Plus, unimpeded sight There was also some debate to the track and for a while Felix lines are a given. whether it was necessary for the and Gardner are distraught at what U.S. to finish the prelim in order has happened. Eventually, Felix Felix has been given a lot of credit to have their protest upheld. Don’t retrieves the baton and passes it for having the presence of mind believe everything you hear from to Gardner, who runs her leg and to retrieve the baton and have the the TV commentators. My concern passes to Akinosun who finished U.S. finish the race with “a bona was that throwing the baton might the race. fide effort” (Rule 163.2), and then not be construed as giving a “bona file the protest for interference. But fide effort.” It seems to me that The U.S. appeal was granted, Brazil given the amount of time before Felix, understandably after all her was DQ’d for interference, and the Felix acted, I can’t help thinking that trials and tribulations at the U.S. same U.S. foursome was allowed to one or more of the U.S. coaches trials and the Olympic 400 finish,

TRACK COACH — 6976 may have understandably panicked time (So much for the law-of-aver- video/987439-workout-wednesday- when bumped by the Brazilian run- ages, an excuse former relay coach 2016-team...). Why wasn’t there at ner. Throwing the baton is never a John Drummond offered for U.S. least one meet where the teams good idea. failures). The Japanese men—with could compete under race condi- their underhand passing and stand- tions, with other teams in the next In the final all three outgoing runners ing two-point stances—beat the U.S. lanes? The answer may be that used a two-point stance and the only for their first ever Olympic silver the scheduling of the qualifying problem I saw was Gardner running medal (37.60), a national record and meets before the Olympics is done a little too much in the outer part of #3 on the nation rankings. for the benefit of other events, not the lane, and after she passed to the sprints and, especially, not the Bowie and avoided tripping her, she relays. had to step into lane two to keep her In what other balance. Luckily, the Canadians in sport do athletes The Flotrack video shows the men lane 2 were more than two seconds practice differently practicing in non-meet conditions: behind the U.S. and there was no than they plan to no one else is running in adjacent chance for any interference. perform in the lanes at the same time to reinforce game? the possible distractions; no noise The American women now have to simulate the crowd (Flotrack did a five medal-winning streak going add some fine music to their video); since 2009: 3 Gold, 2 silvers, and The Japanese success using an and, using voice commands for the a World Record (40.82). I think it underhand passing technique will, stick, which Rodgers and Gatlin safe to say that they have benefitted undoubtedly, rekindle the debate did not use at the first exchange. from keeping the substituting to a that this method is the cure for “I wasn’t necessarily looking where minimum, using two-point stances what ails the American men’s 4x1 the exchange was in the exchange for a better view of the go mark, and teams. I have disagreed with this zone. I was doing the proper steps utilizing the downward passing tech- for a decade and see no reason getting out,” said Gatlin. That means nique many have long advocated. to change my mind now. What do he counted a certain number of the Jamaican men and women do? steps, likely 6, and then put his hand One thing might help—a practice Same as we do, only their men are back. This was same technique meet could be arranged before the more successful. (More on passing that led to the DQ in ’09 between Big Show, which will prepare them later). Shawn Crawford and Darvis Patton. for the inexperienced teams they This technique is the so-called silent may have running next to them as Since the debacles at the 2008 pass (instead of waiting for the voice a result of the random lane draws Beijing Olympics and the 2009 command, supposedly because the for relay prelims. Berlin World Championships, when crowd noise is so loud)—the outgo- neither U.S. 4x1 relay even made ing runner takes a certain number of The men the finals, the one question I keep steps and then puts his hand back. asking is: how do the U.S. sprint The problem is that six steps will The men’s prelim team consisted of relays prepare? Readers may be not cover 12 meters, the 10m from Mike Rodgers, Christian Coleman, surprised at how preparations differ the fly mark plus the two meters Tyson Gay, and Jarrion Lawson. every time. Prior to the Berlin WC’s inside so that the extended arm is Justin Gatlin (100m silver medalist) the U.S. women ran in two meets in the zone. And as I mentioned, and Trayvon Bromell (100m, 8th) with two full teams, the men ran on the video they were using voice ran in the final on the second leg one team in both meets (See Track commands. In what other sport do and anchor. Coach #190, p. 6058). This year athletes practice differently than before Rio neither squad ran in a they plan to perform in the game? My analysis of the U.S. men’s effort meet and prepared by attending a will be brief: For the sixth time in relay camp in Texas, before head- Interestingly, if you watch the final seven majors the men came away ing to Rio. (Workout Wednesday: the Jamaican men in lane 4 next to empty-handed. The Jamaican men 2016 Team USA Men’s 4x1 ...— the U.S. in lane 3, were also very struck gold for the seventh straight flotrack.orghttps://www.flotrack.org/ close to having an early touch. The

TRACK COACH — 6977 difference being that Asafa Powell the 4x4 where there is little risk in London ’12 did also, and more did not immediately try to place on the exchanges. At Rio the men nations like China, Great Britain and the baton in Blake’s hand, but was used two subs and had three new Canada will likely adopt it. And in the patient and waited until he was sure exchanges from the prelim to the past, the U.S. men’s 4x1 have used the baton was in the zone. final. All that risk for a .02 second it. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, gain or to rest a “star” or two! Not the last Olympic gold for the men, The truth is that most of the athletes worth it even without the DQ. With the second and anchor legs for the running for their country’s 4x1 teams a little adjustment of the marks U.S. men used two-point stances. haven’t had a lot of experience the U.S. men’s prelim team could Back to Basics is not just a slogan. with running relays at this level. easily have shaved .3 seconds off For the U.S. men it is a necessity. The British anchor man (’09) or the their qualifying time and that would (Video available on internet), Brazilian third leg (Rio) likely never have been good enough for silver. had a team in the adjacent lane so Under-Over-Push Pass: This far ahead, as the U.S. or Jamaicans Two-point stances: Leaving con- debate has been going on since could be. Shouldn’t U.S. athletes sistently on time is easier if you the French men used underhand be aware that other teams are not can see the go-mark clearly and passes back in 1990 to break the as fast and that the random lane comfortably. Those who argue the World Record (37.79). The success drawings may put them between acceleration of the outgoing runner of the Japanese at Rio will reignite two slow teams? And Holland didn’t is hampered are deluding them- the debate. Is it safer? Possibly. make the Rio women’s final when selves. The distance to the tape is Fail safe? Not likely. Is it faster? Dafne Schippers left early for the adjusted for the runner’s incoming No. With the underhand pass the first exchange. She thought she speed and where you determine you runners are closer together (more saw her incoming lead-off runner, would like the exchange to occur risk of clipping heels) and the baton but it might have been the leadoff in the zone. must be adjusted by the receiver runner in the next lane who may to position it for the next pass. have drifted into her lane. Another As I have written before (Track The Japanese appear to avoid this reason to use a two-point stance. Coach #206, p. 6567): Consider that adjustment by partially overlapping a runner, who could be thrown in their hands during the pass. This Looking ahead to the 2017 World at the last moment to run a leg on requires them to both hold on to Championships in London this sum- the 4x1 relay, has had little practice the baton longer and because they mer, here again are my suggestions with the IAAF rule of one mark. He are passing deep in the zone, there to USATF for preparing the U.S. is nervous, the crowd is loud, the is a greater risk of being out of the sprint relays for success: runner is hot and sweating and we zone before the pass is completed. have him practically upside down The French women were DQ’d at Schedule at least one practice meet looking back, sweat in his eyes, the 2013 Moscow Worlds for just after the National Championships blood flowing to his head and we that reason, which is how the U.S. or Trials when the potential team expect him to have a clear view of women moved up to silver. is known. If that is not feasible, the tape and the incoming runner? hold a mandatory relay camp and Now, factor in the additional pres- I do not support any change from practice in competition-like situa- sure of an Olympic opportunity. We the current passing technique which tions. Invite local athletes to role- want our relay runners calm, cool, the U.S. now uses, as do the Jamai- play other nations, play loud music, collected, in control and confident cans. Not to mention thousands of have exchanges going in several that they are ready. high schools and colleges through- lanes (runners staggered to provide out the U.S. of A. The question of distractions), and even possibly hire Some critics have called using this which method to use is as settled, an IAAF official to come and watch takeoff position “starting like a high for me, as is the false-start rule. and answer questions the athletes, school team” (Track Coach #213, pp. and coaches, may have. 6742-3). Tell that to the Japanese RIO NOTES men who are wearing the silver Risk and Reward: Limit substitu- medals. Allyson Felix and the U.S. Total Passing Failure rate: 32 tions for the 4x1. Use them for women use it, both U.S. anchors teams in prelims; 16 teams in finals

TRACK COACH — 6978 gives 48 attempts. DQ’s and 1 false Improvement for the Men: Every compared to the Jamaicans in the start: total 5. 10% Failure rate. Using team ran faster in their final than tunnel before the relay final on the just passing DQ’s, 1 out of 48, the in the prelims, with the exception NBC broadcast?). And Asafa Powell U.S. men: 2% failure rate. So much of Brazil and China. The biggest may be right about the American for Dr. Ralph Mann’s excuse that drop in time for the men was .67 men sprinters having difficulty han- “These relays are always a disaster seconds for the Jamaicans; the dling the pressure of Olympic and waiting to happen, which is why the smallest was .08 sec. for Japan. World Championship competition, failure rate is 25 percent.” The DQ’d U.S. men managed a .02 which goes back to the mid-1990’s second improvement, which makes when the Canadians won gold three No DQ’s in the women’s final; two you wonder why use two subs at all? times in a row. in the men’s: Trinidad & Tobago (Rule 163.3a); the USA (Rule 170.7) Improvement for the Women: One last quote from Benita Fitzger- Once again, every team ran faster ald Mosley, former USATF Chief of Use of subs: Four countries used except Canada and Nigeria. The Sport Performance (Track Coach substitutes—The U.S. and Jamai- U.S. dropped .76 second for the best #190, p. 6060): USATF can draft can’s men and women’s teams, improvement; Germany’s .08 sec- the perfect exchange philosophy along with the Canadian and British ond drop in time was the smallest. and bring in the utmost expert to men’s teams. Three of those substi- demonstrate it to its coaching staff tutions were for the anchor leg only, Conclusion: The U.S. relay pro- and athletes, but at the end of the the safest, in my opinion, to use gram continues to be a hit-or-miss day, the execution needs to improve- (U.S. women; Canada and British proposition. The protocols that were and that’s on the runners. men). The U.S. and Jamaican men established after the ’08 and ’09 subbed legs 2 and the anchor. The disasters have apparently been The confidence the U.S. men need Jamaican women, oddly, subbed for disregarded. The U.S. men sprinters to regain doesn’t come from a secret the first and second leg. (Their new could use a good sports psycholo- camp, but comes from meaningful second exchange cost them any gist or two (Did everyone notice the practice, preparation and actual hope of the gold medal.) body language of the U.S. athletes competition on the track. CHECK OUT THE T&FN WEBSITE

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TRACK COACH — 6979 The 4x100 and 4x200 Meter Relay Exchange

THREE LAWS GOVERNING RELAY EXCHANGES THE BASIC RULES AND PROCEDURES are fairly straight forward and widely known. 1) Never leave the zone without it. Just because an exchange isn’t perfect is no reason to give up on it. The outgoing runner, • Lanes all the way. Make sure you know your lane and the nearing the end of the exchange zone without receiving the ba- order you are running before you go to your exchange zone. ton, should open up, turn around and look for the baton, slowing • The baton stays in the middle of the lane all the way around. up, if necessary. A poor exchange beats no exchange every time. The two curve runners (legs #1 & #3) will run on the inside part of the lane -to save ground- and will carry the baton in 2) Always finish the race. If the baton is dropped, pick it up! their right hands. The straightaway runners (legs #2 & #4) Don’t just stand there and argue about who is to blame. And will favor the outside of the lane carrying the baton in their don’t disqualify yourself because you think you were out of the left hands. This right-left-right-left sequence, as well as the zone. If the “stick” is in the zone, the pass is legal. Let the officials inside-outside-inside-outside positioning of the runners, is do their job; your job is to finish the race. Stick to it! most critical for good alignment of the runners as they pass DNF (Did not Finish) usually means “you quit!” the baton and prevents heels from being clipped and out- going runners being tripped. These positions also keep the 3) Timing is really everything. We are talking hundredths of a baton out of harm’s way; yes, the stick is sometimes knocked second. Don’t fall asleep at the switch by leaving too late; don’t out of a runner’s hand! jump the gun by leaving too early. Coaches may debate which is • The baton, not the receiver, must be in the 20-meter exchange worse. I side with the leaving late. With Law #1 firmly in mind, a zone when the pass is made. Make use of the 10-meter ac- runner leaving early can salvage the race. On the other hand, if a celeration zone, which is allowed in the sprint relays. runner leaves late, the time lost is gone for good. The worst-case • Know the rules pertaining to marking your “go marks,” whether scenario happened one year at the Pan American Games. The with tape-not always allowed, or with half tennis balls, some- outgoing runner was talking to someone and didn’t realize the times only to be placed on the outside line of your lane. Only race had started until his teammate went whizzing by. one mark for the pros! A replacement for that runner is the only cure.

Responsibilities of the Incoming Runner: Responsibilities of the Outgoing Runner:

• Attack the zone. Do not slow up or relax until the baton is • Step off the distance (determined after repeated practice) to passed. your “go” mark. Place your mark, usually half a tennis ball • Don’t collide with the next runner in the adjacent lane. (leg or tape. Return to your starting position inside the accelera- 1 & 3) tion zone. You must be inside and remain there when the gun • Share the stick. You get the lower half, the receiver gets the starts the race. Use a two-point stance for your start. upper half. • Increase go-mark distances as you progress through your • Maintain good running form. Running with your arm extended season. Peak! slows you down. Winding up to make the pass is a waste of • Stand in front of the Acceleration Mark, not on or behind it. time. Possible DQ. • Speak first, then reach. Do not give the verbal command • Make the incoming runner catch you. Position your feet for a of “stick,” “go,” or whatever, and reach at the same instant. fast takeoff and good line-of-sight to your “go” mark. Give the command, keep running, and wait for the outgoing • Trust your mark and accelerate 100%, no holding back. (In the runner’s arm to extend, then reach and place the baton in the 4 x 200 relay, hold back some - go at 75%-85%, depending on open hand. how strongly the incoming runner finishes a 200m run). • Do not release the baton until you “see” it into the hand of the • Never extend your arm to receive the baton before you outgoing runner. The baton should never be dropped! enter the exchange zone. This comes into play more with the • Stay in your lane, but don’t worry about running out of the 4 x 200 relay when trying to “shorten” your slowest leg. ’09 zone- you are allowed. and ’16 mistake by US men’s 4x1! • Always look back before exiting the track, someone may still • When you hear your incoming teammate give the verbal com- be running behind you. mand, extend your arm straight back, horizontally, with the ------palm up, fingers together, thumb extended making a v-shaped Dennis J. Grady, target for the pass. Hold steady by pushing the upper arm USATF Level II Coach inward towards your spine. Don’t turn your head or look back; Sprints/Hurdles/Relays (last revised Jan. 2017) remember, it’s a blind exchange. See Rule 1. • When you feel the baton, grasp firmly and fly.

TRACK COACH — 6980 Psychological Factors of Burnout in Former/Retired Elite-Level Race Walkers in the United States

Joseph Rayner, Juan Gonzalez, Lawrence Earl T. Pabalinas, Monica Santos, Nelson Galloso, Eduardo Arambula Human Performance Laboratory Department of Health and Human Performance College of Health Affairs The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas 78541

PURPOSE: To determine and ex- based on the subjects’ responses to (1), accomplishment (2), fatigue trapolate the causation of psycho- a non-validated anonymous online (3), apathy (4), awareness (5), ap- logical factors of burnout in former/ survey. This research was analyzed preciation (6), and lack of marketing retired female and male elite-level through exploratory analysis with (7). An independent t-test and a race walkers (N=75) in the United an eigenvalue set at 1.00 using one-way ANOVA were conducted to States (U.S.). varimax rotations. These seven determine a significant difference in factors retained 75.99% of total vari- responses between genders. METHODS: Seven factors of burn- ance which were accounted for and out were derived and analyzed explained by the factors success RESULTS: Profile analysis/one way

TRACK COACH — 6981 repeated measures analysis of vari- through Qualtrics, an anonymous receiving three cards, the athlete is ance of the seven factors indicate online survey website. Likert scale disqualified. The two major events statistical significance and efficacy survey questions were used and for race walking are the 20km and based on the Partial eta² of 0.489 the questions were analyzed quan- 50km race. using the Lower-bound being 49% titatively using a Statistical Analysis of the total variance explaining the Package for the Social Sciences To qualify for the men’s Olympic differences among the seven fac- (SPSS), one of the most commonly race walking team, the qualifying tors. Across all factors, factors 5 used software packages for survey time for the 20km was 1:36:00, and 7 scored the highest means, analysis. This is an SPSS sav data while it was 4:45.00 for the 50km. which indicated the most significant file with raw data, variable and value For the women’s team in 2016, the impact of burnout while factors 1 and labels. The results of this investiga- qualifying time for the 20km event 2 demonstrated the least impact. tion add to the body of literature and was 1:48:00. Both the independent t-test and the knowledge as well as to serve as one-way ANOVA found no significant the foundation for future research. Definitions of Burnout (p<.05) differences in responses to This study points out influential fac- factors 1 (.615), 2 (.611), 3 (.820), tors of burnout which can potentially Burnout is a combination of physi- 4 (.633), 5 (.760), 6 (.854), and 7 direct the coach-athlete relationship, cal and psychological exhaustion, (.369) between genders. thereby improving the future of the devaluation of sport, and a reduced sport in the U.S. sense of accomplishment (Lonsdale CONCLUSION: Based on the profile & Hodge, 2010). Burnout is defined analysis, the common underlying as the “psychological, emotional, factors in this research investigation Burnout has also and sometimes physical withdrawal narrowed down to “Awareness” and been explained from sporting activity formerly per- “Lack of Marketing” in U.S. race as an excessive ceived as enjoyable, as a conse- walking. This represents crucial requirement of quence of chronic stress.” (Allen, components to the declining state energy, strength, 2006). According to Joshua D. Allen, of elite-level race walking as well and resources which burnout in athletes has shown to be as the most significant impact of lead to exhaustion unique for every athlete and burnout burnout in former/retired female can vary among people of different and male elite-level race walkers in sports, age, as well as demograph- the U.S. The results of this project Background on ics. Furthermore, Allen describes will assist in identifying influential the Sport of Race factors of burnout being related to factors of burnout, hence improv- walking “boredom... pressure from coaches ing the future of the sport in the and parents, unfulfilled personal per- U.S. The continuation of research The sport of race walking has been formance expectations, personality on elite-level race walking burnout in the Olympic Games since 1904 traits, experience of competitive is imperative for the growth of the as part of the track & field program. stress, level of confidence in athletic sport and the well-being of these The major distinction between the abilities, and perceptions of social athletes. running events versus the race support (Allen, 2006).” walking events can be seen in the Introduction technique that makes race walking Another study indicated that over- unique. The sport is composed of training and burnout have character- The purpose of this study is to two major technique rules. The istics in common including impaired provide an in-depth layout of psy- first rule requires maintaining foot performance, fatigue, exhaustion, chological factors that influence contact at all times. The second rule and mood disturbance (Lemyre, burnout in former/retired female is that the supporting leg must be Hall, & Roberts, 2007). and male elite-level race walkers straight when contacting the ground. in the United States. For this study, Burnout has also been explained as an anonymous online survey was As far as officiating, red cards are an excessive requirement of energy, conducted on former/retired female issued in race walking if any or both strength, and resources which lead and male elite-level race walkers of the two rules are broken. Upon to exhaustion (Hughes, 2014). In

TRACK COACH — 6982 MARK SHEARMAN

The supporting leg must be straight when contacting the ground.

addition, (Gould and Whitley, 2009) that can be applied to the sport of environment, performance, negative define burnout as “a physical, emo- race walking. feelings, and coaching (Gufstafson, tional, and social withdrawal from 2010). a formerly enjoyable sport activity. Factors of This withdrawal is characterized by Psychological For this particular study, the factors emotional and physical exhaustion, Burnout in success, accomplishment, fatigue, reduced sense of accomplishments, Race Walking apathy, awareness, appreciation, and sport devaluation. Moreover, and lack of marketing were derived burnout occurs as a result of chronic Psychological factors have been from the exploratory factor analysis stress and motivational orientations considered to be a major cause that was conducted during this and changes in the athlete”. of burnout in former competitive study’s statistical analysis. elite-level race walkers. There are Four major domains are present several psychological factors that For this study, success is defined in both definitions. Physical and former race walking participants as “a psychological state resulting psychological/emotional exhaustion, may have experienced during their from perception of goal attainment, reduced sense of accomplishment, participation in the sport. In previous when the outcome can be attributed and the loss of value for the sport. studies on athlete burnout, some to desirable personal qualities (e.g., All of these are current definitions of the focused factors include mo- ability and effort)” (Salili, 1988). of burnout from existing research tivation, passion, self-confidence,

TRACK COACH — 6983 Authors of this study.

Accomplishment is defined as and practice which acknowledges size was 40 former/retired U.S. “subjective term for personal that behaviors are embedded in the female and male elite-level race achievement” (Elliot, 2005). Fatigue individual, consumer, and societal walkers. is defined as “a psychobiological level behavioral change occurs state caused by prolonged periods through mass adoption of individual The letters of support attached to of demanding cognitive activity and level behavior” (Dann, 2010). Each this application granted permission characterized by subjective feelings of the mentioned factors could to the coaches to email an online of ‘tiredness’ and ‘lack of energy’” solely be the cause of psychological consent form to their former/retired (Marcora, 2009). Apathy is defined burnout in a race walking athlete, race walking athletes. To clarify, as “a disorder of motivation and but it is also entirelly possible that the online consent form was made operationalized as diminished goal- a combination of factors could lead by the researchers, but the online oriented behavior and cognition” to psychological burnout as well. consent forms were sent to the (Starkstein, 2008). Awareness is athletes by their former coaches. defined as “self-reports indicat- Methods This form indicated participation ing that the observer consciously agreement to the following Qualtrics sees a stimulus” (Merikle, 2013). Participant Recruitment and Pro- anonymous survey. Appreciation is defined as “a tocol: The first step for recruitment matter of whether individuals are was to email and attain letters of Once the online consent forms able cognitively to recognize and support from A.C. Jaime, a former were filled, the next step was to acknowledge that certain facts that USA Track & Field (USATF) South email a Qualtrics survey link to the pertain to them really do apply to Texas Association Executive Board race walking athletes to complete them” (Charland, 1998). Lack of member and race walking coach, the survey. The survey took an Marketing is defined as “the means as well as other U.S. race walking estimated time of 10 minutes to and mechanism for behavioral coaches he is affiliated with for this complete. Survey responses were change using marketing concepts research investigation. The sample de-identified through Qualtrics and

TRACK COACH — 6984 Elite Race-Walkers Rotated Component Matrixa Component(Factors)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Q7 .770

Q8 .654

Q9 .663

Q12 .692

Q14 .767

Q15 .776

Q17 -.797

Q18 .722

Q20 -.750

Q24 .807

Q26 -.798

Q28 .826

Q29 .809

Q30 .548

Q32 .727

Q33 .821

Q34 .900

Q35 .858

Q37 .847

Q38 .835

Q39 .898

Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis. Rotation Method: Varimax with Kaiser Normalization. a. Rotation converged in 7 iterations.

Within-Subjects Factors transferred to Human Performance When analyzing the survey re- Measure: MEASURE_1 Lab computer for quantitative and sponses, the questions of the survey Factors Dependent Variable qualitative data analyses. The ma- were categorized into nine sections: 1 Success jority of the Qualtrics online survey demographics, motivation, passion, 2 Accomplishment responses incorporated a Likert self confidence, environment, per- 3 Depleted scale and a couple of questions formance, negative feelings, and 4 Indifferent were multiple choice. All email coaching. The data collected from 5 Awareness contact and data analyses were the survey responses was analyzed 6 Appreciated strictly conducted within the Health qualitatively and quantitatively. Sur- and Physical Education Building II vey responses provided descriptive 7 Lack of Marketing Human Performance Lab Room 141 data which was analyzed statistically Factors were transferred into common computer, and the data was only in order to indicate possible causes matrix and common calibrations and made accessible to the research of burnout. performed a profile analysis of the team and faculty advisor. participating elite race-walkers.

TRACK COACH — 6985 Pairwise Comparisons Measure: MEASURE_1

Mean Difference 95% Confidence Interval for Differenceb (I) Factor (J) Factor Std. Error Sig.b (I-J) Lower Bound Upper Bound (1)Success 2 .124 .097 1.000 -.189 .438 3 -1.316* .216 .000 -2.014 -.617 4 -1.316* .202 .000 -1.969 -.662 5 -1.576* .195 .000 -2.206 -.945 6 -.587* .157 .012 -1.096 -.078 7 -2.099* .149 .000 -2.581 -1.617 (2)Accomplishment 1 -.124 .097 1.000 -.438 .189 3 -1.440* .217 .000 -2.143 -.738 4 -1.440* .190 .000 -2.054 -.826 5 -1.700* .187 .000 -2.304 -1.096 6 -.712* .151 .001 -1.200 -.224 7 -2.223* .140 .000 -2.675 -1.771 (3)Depleted 1 1.316* .216 .000 .617 2.014 2 1.440* .217 .000 .738 2.143 4 1.009E-013 .213 1.000 -.687 .687 5 -.260 .181 1.000 -.845 .326 6 .729* .203 .018 .072 1.385 7 -.783* .188 .003 -1.390 -.176 (4)Indifferent 1 1.316* .202 .000 .662 1.969 2 1.440* .190 .000 .826 2.054 3 -1.009E-013 .213 1.000 -.687 .687 5 -.260 .200 1.000 -.906 .387 6 .729* .217 .035 .028 1.429 7 -.783* .213 .014 -1.471 -.095 (5)Awareness 1 1.576* .195 .000 .945 2.206 2 1.700* .187 .000 1.096 2.304 3 .260 .181 1.000 -.326 .845 4 .260 .200 1.000 -.387 .906 6 .988* .194 .000 .362 1.615 7 -.523 .181 .126 -1.108 .061 (6)Appreciated 1 .587* .157 .012 .078 1.096 2 .712* .151 .001 .224 1.200 3 -.729* .203 .018 -1.385 -.072 4 -.729* .217 .035 -1.429 -.028 5 -.988* .194 .000 -1.615 -.362 7 -1.512* .163 .000 -2.040 -.983 (7)Lack of Marketing 1 2.099* .149 .000 1.617 2.581 2 2.223* .140 .000 1.771 2.675 3 .783* .188 .003 .176 1.390 4 .783* .213 .014 .095 1.471 5 .523 .181 .126 -.061 1.108 6 1.512* .163 .000 .983 2.040

Based on estimated marginal means *. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level. b. Adjustment for multiple comparisons: Bonferroni.

TRACK COACH — 6986 Results The results from the profile analysis ence is present among Depleted and indicate statistical significance and the rest (Success, Accomplishment, In order to understand the causation efficacy based on the Partial Eta Appreciated/Supported, & Lack of of psychological factors of burnout in Squared using the Lower-bound be- Marketing). former/retired U.S. female and male ing 49% of the total variance which elite-level race walkers a 40-question explains the differences among the Trial 6 indicated a significant mean survey was uploaded and made ac- seven factors. When comparing the difference among Appreciated/ cessible through Qualtrics to better mean difference among the different Supported and the rest (Success, understand the common underlying trials different relationships appear Accomplishment, Depleted, Indiffer- phenomenon dimensions respon- at the .05 level. ent, Awareness “Ridiculed/Proud”, & sible for elite-level race walkers Lack of Marketing). leaving the sport. The 40-question Trial 1 indicated no significant mean survey contained eight demographic difference among Success and Ac- Trial 7 indicated a significant mean style questions to assist in sorting complishment while a significant difference among Lack of Marketing out non-elite level race walkers as difference is present among Success and the rest (Success, Accomplish- well as the use of IP addresses and the rest (Depleted, Indiffer- ment, Depleted, Indifferent, Aware- through Qualtrics to sort out non- ent, Awareness “Ridiculed/Proud”, ness “Ridiculed/Proud”, & Appreci- U.S. athletes. One hundred seventy Appreciated/Supported, & Lack of ated/Supported). six subjects responded to personal Marketing). invitations via email to participate in Factors 5 (Awareness “Ridiculed/ the Qualtrics survey and were elimi- Trial 2 indicated no significant mean Proud”) & 7 (Lack of Marketing) nated for incomplete surveys. From difference among Accomplishment scored the highest means among the 96 participants who completed and Success while a significant all seven indicating having the most the survey, 17 were eliminated for difference is present among Accom- impact on participants while factors non-elite status. Seventy-nine elite plishment and the rest (Depleted, 1 (Success) & 2 (Accomplishment) athletes completed the entire survey Indifferent, Awareness “Ridiculed/ have the least impact. but four were eliminated for being Proud”, Appreciated/Supported, & non-U.S. athletes, leaving 75 eligible Lack of Marketing). The common underlying phenom- participants. enon dimensions responsible for Trial 3 indicated no significant mean elite-level race walkers leaving Seventy-five subjects responded to difference among Depleted and the sport are factor 5 (Awareness the 32 items designed to assess the Indifferent or Awareness “Ridiculed/ “Ridiculed/Proud”) & 7 (Lack of underlying phenomenon dimensions Proud” while a significant difference Marketing). responsible for elite-level race walk- is present among Depleted and the ers leaving the sport of race walking rest (Success, Accomplishment, Discussion in the U.S. These 32 items utilized Appreciated/Supported, & Lack of a five-point Likert scale response Marketing). The limitations of this study will help format. The underlying dimensions clarify the absolute need of con- being measured/observed were Trial 4 indicated no significant mean tinuing research on elite-level race derived through exploratory factor difference among Indifferent and walking burnout. A limitation of this analysis with an Eigen value set Depleted or Awareness “Ridiculed/ study is the sample size that was at 1.00 using Varimax with Kaiser Proud” while a significant difference achieved. It is recommended that Normalization rotation. Seven fac- is present among Indifferent and any follow-up studies ensure that tors were retained with 75.99% of the rest (Success, Accomplishment, there is a more sufficient sample the total variance accounted for ex- Appreciated/Supported, & Lack of size to provide more reliable statisti- plained by the seven factors. Eleven Marketing). cal results. Another limitation would items were deleted from the initial be the non-validated survey. Due to item pool because they did not load Trial 5 indicated no significant the limited elite-level race walking on any of the seven factors or they mean difference among Awareness research that is currently acces- cross-loaded on two or more factors. “Ridiculed/Proud” and Depleted or sible, and due to the timeline of this Indifferent while a significant differ- study, a non-validated survey was

TRACK COACH — 6987 completed in order to complete this to the declining state of elite-level m. Pan American Cup study in a timely manner. race walking as well as the most sig- n. Olympic Trials o. World Cup nificant impact of burnout in former/ p. Olympic Games retired female and male elite-level 6. Please mark any of the following events the common race walkers in the U.S. The results that you have ever placed in the top 3: underlying factors of this project will assist in identify- a. Junior Olympic 1500 Meter Champion- in this research ing influential factors of burnout, ship b. Junior Olympic 3000 Meter Champion- investigation hence improving the future of the ship narrowed down to sport in the U.S. The continuation of c. Junior Olympic 5000 Meter Champion- research on elite-level race walking ship “Awareness” and d. NAIA National 3K Championship “Lack of Marketing” burnout is imperative for the growth e. NAIA National 5K Championship of the sport and the well-being of f. USATF National Outdoor 10000 Meter these athletes. Championship g. USATF National Outdoor 20K Cham- It should be noted that non-validated pionship surveys are occasionally referenced Survey Questionnaire h. USATF National Indoor 3K Champion- ship in current research and that their i. USATF National 5K Championship 1. Please select your gender. j. USATF National 10K Championship credibility is useful for continuous a. Male k. USATF National 20K Championship studies of this research topic to b. Female l. USATF National 50K Championship reference (Kotecha, 2016; Tibbling m. Pan American Cup 2. At what age did you first participate in n. Olympic Trials 1982). This principal study used race walking? o. World Cup a non-validated survey that con- a. Younger than 10 p. Olympic Games sisted of validated questions from b. 10-13 c. 13-16 7. I have accomplished many worthwhile referenced athlete burnout ques- d. 16-18 things in race walking (as cited in Al- e. 18+ tionnaires and relevant questions tahayneh, 96). to identify psychological factors of 3. At what age did you retire from competitive a. Strongly Agree burnout (Altahayneh, 2003; Hughes, race walking? b. Agree a. Younger than 18 2014; Staff, 2012). c. Neutral b. 18-21 d. Disagree c. 22-25 e. Strongly Disagree It is recommended that follow-up d. 26-30 f. I don’t know studies try to validate this study’s e. 30+ 8. I enjoyed overcoming obstacles in race- survey in order to further validate 4. When did you retire? walking. research findings. Furthermore, a. 2010-2015 a. Strongly Agree b. 2004-2009 for future research it is important b. Agree c. 1998-2003 c. Neutral to ask the participants if they have d. 1992-1997 d. Disagree received mental training or any type e. 1986-1991 e. Strongly Disagree of sport psychology services. Mental f. I don’t know 5. Please mark any of the following events preparation, sport psychology and that you ever participated in: 9. I enjoyed achieving the goals that were a. Junior Olympic 1500 Meter Champion- mental training can help an athlete given to me, while participating in race- ship be mentally stronger. Not having walking. b. Junior Olympic 3000 Meter Champion- a. Strongly Agree sport psychology services or men- ship b. Agree c. Junior Olympic 5000 Meter Champion- tal training might not allow them to c. Neutral ship perform at their full potential. d. Disagree d. NAIA National 3K Championship e. Strongly Disagree e. NAIA National 5K Championship f. I don’t know Conclusion f. USATF National Outdoor 10000 Meter Championship 10. I was more competitive in race walking g. USATF National Outdoor 20K Cham- than other daily activities. Based on the profile analysis, the pionship a. Strongly Agree h. USATF National Indoor 3K Champion- common underlying factors in this b. Agree ship c. Neutral research investigation narrowed i. USATF National 5K Championship d. Disagree down to “Awareness” and “Lack j. USATF National 10K Championship e. Strongly Disagree k. USATF National 20K Championship of Marketing” in U.S. race walking. f. I don’t know l. USATF National 50K Championship This represents crucial components

TRACK COACH — 6988 11. I took competition much more seriously d. Disagree 26. My peers didn’t really care about how I when compared to an opponent or to a e. Strongly Disagree performed in race-walking. standard. f. I don’t know a. Strongly Agree a. Strongly Agree b. Agree b. Agree 19. I performed up to my maximum capability c. Neutral c. Neutral in race walking (as cited in Altahayneh, d. Disagree d. Disagree 96). e. Strongly Disagree e. Strongly Disagree a. Strongly Agree f. I don’t know f. I don’t know b. Agree c. Neutral 27. My family supported my participation in 12. My desire for success was higher than d. Disagree race walking. my fear for failure. e. Strongly Disagree a. Strongly Agree a. Strongly Agree f. I don’t know b. Agree b. Agree c. Neutral c. Neutral 20. It seemed no matter what I did, I didn’t d. Disagree d. Disagree perform as well as I could (as cited in e. Strongly Disagree e. Strongly Disagree Altahayneh, 96). f. I don’t know f. I don’t know a. Strongly Agree b. Agree 28. After competition, I received proper feed- 13. The effort I had spent in race walking c. Neutral back from others. would’ve been better spent doing other d. Disagree a. Strongly Agree things (as cited in Altahayneh, 96). e. Strongly Disagree b. Agree a. Strongly Agree f. I don’t know c. Neutral b. Agree d. Disagree c. Neutral 21. I had difficulties in race walking due to e. Strongly Disagree d. Disagree financial issues. f. I don’t know e. Strongly Disagree a. Strongly Agree f. I don’t know b. Agree 29. I have experienced ridicule/mockery for c. Neutral my participation in race walking. 14. Did you feel passionate about race walking d. Disagree a. Strongly Agree throughout your career? e. Strongly Disagree b. Agree a. Strongly Agree f. I don’t know c. Neutral b. Agree d. Disagree c. Neutral 22. I had difficulties with personal relationships e. Strongly Disagree d. Disagree while in race walking. f. I don’t know e. Strongly Disagree a. Strongly Agree f. I don’t know b. Agree 30. I felt as though I was treated as an athlete c. Neutral and not as a complete person. (as cited 15. I was a successful race walker d. Disagree in Altahayneh, 48). a. Strongly Agree e. Strongly Disagree a. Strongly Agree b. Agree f. I don’t know b. Agree c. Neutral c. Neutral d. Disagree 23. I felt lonely while participating and training d. Disagree e. Strongly Disagree in race walking. e. Strongly Disagree f. I don’t know a. Strongly Agree f. I don’t know b. Agree 16. My participation in race-walking enhanced c. Neutral 31. I had negative thoughts towards race my self-image. d. Disagree walking a. Strongly Agree e. Strongly Disagree a. Strongly Agree b. Agree f. I don’t know b. Agree c. Neutral c. Neutral d. Disagree 24. Was the sport of race walking well- d. Disagree e. Strongly Disagree marketed in the U.S. during your time of e. Strongly Disagree f. I don’t know competition? f. I don’t know a. Strongly Agree 17. I thought of myself as a failure in race- b. Agree 32. I feel embarrassed about being a partici- walking. c. Neutral pant in race walking. a. Strongly Agree d. Disagree a. Strongly Agree b. Agree e. Strongly Disagree b. Agree c. Neutral f. I don’t know c. Neutral d. Disagree d. Disagree e. Strongly Disagree 25. Do you think that race-walking is well- e. Strongly Disagree f. I don’t know marketed today in the U.S.? f. I don’t know a. Strongly Agree 18. I felt prideful during my race walking b. Agree participation. c. Neutral 33. I have felt so tired from training that I had a. Strongly Agree d. Disagree trouble finding energy to do other things b. Agree e. Strongly Disagree during training season c. Neutral f. I don’t know a. Strongly Agree

TRACK COACH — 6989 b. Agree a. Strongly Agree B. Hanley, A. Bissas, & A. Drake. (2013). Kine- c. Neutral b. Agree matic Characteristics of Elite Men’s 50km Race d. Disagree c. Neutral Walking, European Journal of Sport Science. 13(3). 272-279. e. Strongly Disagree d. Disagree Hughes, P. B. (2014). Association Between Athlete f. I don’t know e. Strongly Disagree Burnout and Athletic Injury (Doctoral dissertation, f. I don’t know The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). 34. I have felt physically worn-out out from Jowett, S., & Cockerill, I. (2001). Olympic Medallists’ the demands of the race walking 41. Ultimately, why did you retire from race Perspective of the Athlete Coach Relationship. a. Strongly Agree walking? [Mark all that apply] Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 313-331. b. Agree a. Low motivation doi:10.1016/S1469-0292(02)00011-0 Kellmann, M., & Gunther, K. (n.d.). Changes in c. Neutral b. Low passion Stress and Recovery in Elite Rowers During d. Disagree c. Poor self-confidence Preparation for the Olympic Games. Retrieved e. Strongly Disagree d. Poor performance September 14, 2015. f. I don’t know e. Poor environment Kotecha, J. (2016). Patient Confidence and Quality f. Too many negative feelings of Life in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and 35. I have felt mentally worn-out out from the g. Poor coaching Sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis Vasculitis and Diffuse demands of race walking h. I simply felt it was my time to leave the Lung Diseases, 33(4), 341-348. Retrieved February 4, 2017. a. Strongly Agree sport Kjormo, O., & Halvari, H. (2002). Relation of Burnout b. Agree with Lack of Time for Being with Significant c. Neutral Others, Role Conflict, Cohesion, and Self- d. Disagree References confidence Among Norwegian Olympic Athletes’ e. Strongly Disagree In Perceptual & Motor Skills (3rd ed., Vol.94). f. I don’t know Altahayneh, Z. L. (2003). The Effects of Coaches’ Ammons Scientific. Behaviors and Burnout on the Satisfaction and Lemyre, P., Hall, H., & Roberts, G. (2007). A Social Cognitive Approach to Burnout in Elite Athletes. 36. What were your thoughts and feelings Burnout of Athletes. Retrieved from https://fsu. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science towards race walking when you decided digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu:168048/ datastream/PDF/view. in Sports, 18(2), 221-234. doi:10.1111/j.1600- to end training and participation? Coakley, J. (1992). Burnout Among Adolescent 0838.2007.00671.x a. Overwhelmed Athletes: A personal Failure Or Social Prob- Lemyre, P., Roberts, R., & Stray-Gundersen, J. b. Withdrawn lem? Sociology of Sport Journal. 9, 271-285. (2007, August 2). Motivation, Overtraining, and c. Embarrassed Retrieved From http://journals.humankinetics. Burnout: Can Self-determined Motivation Pre- d. Grateful com/AcuCustom/Sitename/Documents/Docu- dict Overtraining and Burnout in Elite Athletes? Retrieved September 14, 2015. e. Satisfied mentItem/9575.pdf Lonsdale, C., & Hodge, K. (2011). Temporal Burnout f. Accomplished Charland, L. C. (1998). Appreciation and Emotion: Theoretical Reflections on the MacArthur Treat- of Motivational Quality and Athlete Burnout in ment Competence Study. Kennedy Institute of Elite Sport, Medicine & Science in Sports & 37. Do you think that the U.S. Olympic Team Ethics Journal 8(4), 359-376. The Johns Hopkins Exercise, 43(5), 913-921. Trials Qualifying standard time for the University Press. Retrieved January 27, 2017, Lonsdale, C., Hodge, K., & Rose, E. (2009). Athlete Men’s 20K race walk time of 1:36:00 from Project MUSE database. Burnout in Elite Sport: A Self Determination Per- should have been lowered? Dann, S. (2010). Redefining Social Sarketing with spective. , Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 27(8), 758-795. a. Strongly Agree Contemporary Commercial Marketing Defini- Merikle, P. M. (1984). Toward a Definition of Aware- b. Agree tions. Journal of Business Research, 63(2), 147-153. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2009.02.013 ness. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, c. Neutral Durand-Bush, N., & Salmela, J. (2010). The Develop- 22(5), 449-450. d. Disagree ment and Maintenance of Expert Athletic Perfor- Pierre-Nicolas, L. , Roberts, G., & Stray-Gundersen, e. Strongly Disagree mance: Perceptions of World and Olympic Cham- J. (2007). Motivation, Overtraining, and Burn- f. I don’t know pions Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14(3), out: Can Self-determined Motivation Predict 154-171. doi:10.1080/10413200290103473 Overtraining and Burnout in Elite Athletes [Abstract]. European Journal of Sport Medicine, 38. Do you think that the U.S. Olympic Team Gould, D. & Whitley M.A. (2015). Various Factors 7(2), 115-126. Trials Qualifying standard time for the Cause Burnout in College Athletes: A summary of the article “Sources and Consequences of Salili, F., & Mak, P.H.T. (1988). Subjective Meaning of Men’s 50K race walk of 5:15:00 should Athletic Burnout Among College Athletes.” Success in High and Low Achievers. International have been lowered? Journal of Intercollegiate Sport, 1(1). Retrieved Journal of Intercultural Relations, 12, 125-138. a. Strongly Agree from http://www.humankinetics.com/news-and- Starkstein, S. E., & Leentjens, A. F. (2008). The b. Agree excerpts/news and-excerpts/various-factors- Nosological Position of Apathy in Clinical c. Neutral cause-burnout-among-college-athletes Practice. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 79(10), 1088-1092. d. Disagree Gould, D., Dieffenbach, K., & Moffett, A. (2010). e. Strongly Disagree Psychological Characteristics and Their De- velopment in Olympic Champions. Journal of f. I don’t know Applied Sport Psychology, 14(3), 172-204. Address correspondence to: doi:10.1080/10413200290103482 Juan Gonzalez, Ph.D., CSCS 39. Do you think that the U.S. Olympic Team Greenleaf, C., Gould, D., & Dieffenbach, K. (2010). Trials Qualifying standard time for the Factors Influencing Olympic Performance: Inter- Department of Health and Human Women’s 20K race walk time of 1:48:00 views with Atlanta and NAgano US Olympians. Performance Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 13(2), should be lowered? College of Health Affairs a. Strongly Agree 154-184. :10.1080/104132001753149874 Gustafsson, H., Hassmén, P., & Podlog, L. (2010). The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley b. Agree Exploring the Relationship Between Hope and c. Neutral Burnout in Competitive Sport. Journal of Sports 1201 W. University Dr. d. Disagree Sciences, 28(14), 1495-1504. doi:10.1080/026 Edinburg, Texas 78541 e. Strongly Disagree 40414.2010.521943 (956) 665-2309 f. I don’t know Haglind, D. (2004). Coping with Success and Failure— A Qualitative Study on Athletes and Coaches (956) 665-3502 (fax) 40. Do you see the sport of race walking in Track and Field. (Essay in Sport Psychology Email: [email protected] 41-60p.) School of Social and Health Sciences. improving in the future for the U.S.? Halmstad University.

TRACK COACH — 6990 A FRESH APPROACH TO SPRINT TRAINING

Are traditional sprint training methods flawed? British coach John Shepherd raises some valid arguments. Adapted from The Coach, Issue #39, Winter 2007

By JOHN SHEPHERD

Recently it has been suggested 2. Optimally stimulate the central fitness. The more efficient an ath- that the “slow to fast” methodol- nervous system (CNS) lete’s body is at processing oxygen ogy of training a sprint athlete is 3. Reduce injuries—very often the quicker he/she will be able to flawed. After all coach and athlete athletes pick up injuries, par- recover between efforts. In the past it may spend all the training year ticularly to the hamstrings, when was reasoned that developing good getting the latter into peak speed attempting to sprint after months aerobic condition in a sprint athlete capability in August only to make of much slower work would boost speed development. them “slower” from October to June 4. Allow for more speed peaks Thus it was not unknown for sprint- (assuming a single periodized year). 5. Minimize the negative effects ers to go on 20-40 minute runs at Why not, goes the short-to-long or of detraining fast-twitch muscle the beginning of the training year. fast-to-faster approach, maintain as fiber much of this speed at the end of The logic of this approach however, the training year as possible and The short-to-long/fast-to-faster ap- is somewhat derailed when one con- build more of it onto this, ready for proach to sprint training can be siders the actual aerobic/anaerobic speedier performances the next? seen to reflect the undulating peri- content of the sprint events. For Coaches such as Charlie Francis odization theory of training planning example the 200m is at best 5% (see box), were at the forefront of (UP)—of which more later. aerobic and 95% anaerobic. Most of such a shift in thinking. This ap- the work done by these athletes is proach emphasizes sprint speed all How much of an anaerobic. Too much of an emphasis year round and builds more specific aerobic base does on aerobic work will blunt speed. speed on more specific speed. This a sprint athlete This results from an unnecessary is seen to: really need? increase in the oxygen processing capabilities of slow-twitch muscle 1. Maximize speed development Aerobic fitness underpins the de- fiber and a “blunting” of the speed physically velopment of most other types of and power generation capabilities

TRACK COACH — 6991 Table 1: Sprint speeds as a percentage of maximum speed

Name of speed Description and comment Typical workout Tempo runs 75-85% of max speed, run over 100-300m 6 x 200m at 75% effort concentrating on form. 5 minutes recovery between (Francis recommended weekly distances of 2000-2400m) runs

Speed endurance—long Sprints designed to improve the sprinter’s ability to maintain 2 x 120m 100% sprints—full recovery sprints flat out speed. This type of training is very intense and 2 x 250m 100% efforts—full recovery should be used with caution, due to its stress on the CNS. Regeneration of the athlete is be paramount

95% effort speed These runs are performed just below flat out. They will 3 x 120m with 7 minutes recovery groove in flawless technique without overstressing the between runs athlete and in particular their CNS

Out and out speed—short These runs are performed at 100% effort; they are intense 2 x 4 x 40m sprints from block start— and will stress the CNS full recovery between runs

Overspeed These runs are performed at 105% of top speed using 4 x 30m downhill runs with full recovery downhill methods or bungees to achieve this. High level of CNS strain of type II a and type II b fast-twitch aerobic conditioning emphasis and with his sprint training) to ensure fiber muscle fiber (1&2). Francis identifies an 8-12 week that the athlete does not become development phase at the begin- overtrained or injured. In contrast prolonged training with a ning of the training year for them. specific speed emphasis will change Both these durations should allow Particular attention is placed on the fiber type in the direction you want sufficient time to plan a double or effects training may be having on the for increased speed. Sprint athletes even a triple periodization sprint sprinter’s central nervous system. obviously require a proliferation of program, using much more specific In the light of this it is crucial that fast-twitch fibers and the short-to- training (of which more later). In coaches realize that no two athletes long approach never loses sight of terms of building a base of sprint will have exactly the same training this. It will maximize the opportunity running fitness tempo running is needs and that a one size fits all for changing fiber type to express recommended (again, of which approach will not work. Individual- speed—a top class sprinter’s leg more later). ized training programs will need to muscles will posses 70-80% of be produced (although this may be fast-twitch fibers. Maintaining speed difficult for coaches working with in-season for speed numerous athletes). So how much aerobic athletes training is necessary Intensity not volume in a speed/sprint Undulating periodization offers the is the key to improved training program? sprinter and coach probably the sprint performance most effective way to maximize the Charlie Francis recommended that manifestation of speed. UP basically Although nearly all athletes increase for training the mature 100/200 mixes and matches all the relevant the volume of their training as they and 400m runner the development training ingredients needed to condi- progress year to year, for sprint of base fitness, with an aerobic tion the sprinter together. Strength, athletes it is the training variable element requiring relatively little at- power, agility, endurance, speed, intensity that must have the as- tention. He advocated only a short technique work and flexibility are cendancy. Intensity should increase 6-week period where this condi- all carefully overlapped and fused with a potential reduction in volume. tioning element is given any kind together to keep and develop the Sprinting faster and faster over the of ascendancy at the beginning of sprinter’s speed. This requires care- athlete’s competitive lifetime is the the training year. Training immature ful and consistent athlete appraisal obvious goal. The coach needs athletes (0-4 years of consistent on the part of the coach (this is to carefully monitor the volume of sprint training) will require a greater something that Francis emphasizes intense work being performed by

TRACK COACH — 6992 Table 2: Developing speed endurance using the short-to0-long approach. Adapted from Dintiman, Sports Speed (3rd edition) page 151/152

Week 1 Workout Routine and distance Repetitions Rest interval

Jog 15 yd., stride 15 yd (75% speed)., jog 15yd, No rest between reps; the 15 yd 1 1 5 walk 15 yd. walk acts as the recovery phase

Jog 20 yd, stride 20 yd (90% speed), jog 20 yd, 2 3 5 As above walk 20 yd.

3 9 Jog 25 yd, stride 25, sprint 25 yd, walk 25 yd. 7 As above

4 11 Sprint 20 yd, jog 20 yd, sprint 20 yd, walk 20 yd. 7 As above

5 14 Sprint 20 yd 10 Walk 10-30 sec. 300 yd sprint 1 3-4 min. Run on the spot to exhaustion 2 1 min.

6 15 Sprint 40 yd 8 Walk 10-30 sec. 300 yd sprint 2 2-3 min. Distance hop to exhaustion 1 each leg 1 min.

7 19 Sprint 20 yd, jog 20 yd, sprint 20 yd, walk 20 yd. 15 Walk is the recovery phase 300 yd sprint 3 2.5 min.

8 21 440 yd sprint 4 4-5 min. the athlete and the recovery that peak, for example, start reaction, single leg squats, to “deliver” the is needed to allow progression and acceleration, absolute speed, speed strength gained from more general reduce injury. The short-to-long ap- endurance, strength and power. weight exercises, such as the squat proach allows the athlete to never into sprint performance. Rather he be too far away from absolute sprint The importance of saw sprinting itself as the ultimate condition at any time in the train- power “channeler” (plus plyometrics). ing year. Power is crucial for the sprinter; Sprint speeds This is why for sprint athletes, the short-to-long method keeps as conditioning double and even triple periodization power on the boil throughout the ingredients is possible. The latter would allow a conditioning program. Francis, for sprint athlete to peak for the indoor example, ensured that comple- In order to develop optimum sprint- season, mid-outdoor season and mentary training takes place at all ers coaches need to carefully blend late-outdoor season for Olympic or time. For example, he advocated sprint speeds. In terms of absolute World Championships, for example. maximum strength work in the gym speed it’s recommended that run- during tempo running phases and ning intensities never fall below Note: Each peak should elicit a even workouts. He would not com- 75% of maximum speed. Speeds higher level of performance than bine flat out sprint work with near slower than this will not have a the previous one—the long-to-short maximum weight lifting, due to the sufficiently strong stimulatory effect approach is seen to fail to provide a contraindications of the two training on fast-twitch muscle fiber. Many real opportunity to achieve 2/3 opti- methods and the strain this could coaches fail to divide up, in terms mum speed peaks. This is because place on the central nervous system. of their effects, the percentages of it is argued that too much time will speed that can be generated be- be lost returning to previous speed Interestingly Francis did not advo- tween 75 and 105% of maximum levels rather than, building new cate a weight training “channeling” speed (105% refers to the speed superior ones. An exacting sprint phase. This would normally use that can be generated through the coach will, for example, attempt to sport-specific weight training ex- use of overspeed techniques, such blend all the ingredients of perfect ercises, performed with increasing as downhill running and the use of sprint performance into the third speed, such as strep up drives and bungees. Various terms have been

TRACK COACH — 6993 applied to sprint running speeds, a rationale for developing speed speed endurance regimen. I have such as tempo runs, speed endur- endurance—some of the types of provided some sample workouts ance, lactate endurance maximum sprint sessions have been outlined from this program (Table 2) so that speed runs and so on. Table 1 in Table 1. How much of an empha- you can see how it is in keeping defines the key types. sis the coach places on this will be with the short-to-long theory of dependent on the training maturity speed development. It will appear Speed endurance of the athlete, the time of the train- very different to many of the speed training ing and competitive year and the endurance programs that many specific peaking requirements of coaches use. You’ll see, or rather I have devoted a small section to the sprinter and whether he/she is you won’t see sets of 200m efforts the development of speed endur- a 100,200 or 400m specialist. as a starter, although longer reps ance as this speed type is crucial do appear toward the end of the the long sprints. George Dintiman has been one of program. Note: the use of short the world’s leading speed training distances to achieve the speed to The short-to-long approach has experts. He devised an 8-week run faster over the longer distances is at the end of the program.

Charlie Francis—sprint guru or sprint devil? Conclusions

Charlie Francis coached the then fastest man in the world Ben Johnson The short-to-long approach never to the world record and Olympic title in Seoul in 1988. Johnson as loses sight of the need to move at we know was subsequently stripped of this and other titles for failing maximum speed. It is totally focused a drugs test for anabolic steroids. Francis had his “methods’; let’s on developing this quality. It strips put aside those of a more dubious nature, and consider his sprint out all the intensities and exercises training techniques/methods. It would be erroneous for us to assume and energy pathway training that are that his athletes won only because they were drug fuelled (weren’t seen to be detrimental to achieving others?). Perhaps we are also being hypocritical to see Francis as this goal. And crucially, it is very a pariah, when one considers the State sponsored doping of East- carefully constructed to allow the ern Bloc athletes in the period in which Francis was developing his athlete and crucially his CNS to coaching experience and methods. I believe that the Francis sprint optimally adapt. training methods did add that “something extra” to the performances of those he coached, notably the short-to-long approach. Among his References

sprint athlete accomplishments was the fact that at the 1984 Olym- Sports Med. 2001;31(15):1063-82 pics of the 14 Canadian medals, eight were won by Francis-coached Sports Med. 1990 Dec;10(6):365-89 Dintimen G—Sports Speed (third edition) Human athletes. Not surprisingly, his techniques and thoughts are still worth Kinetics 2002 considering today. Francis C - The Charlie Francis Training System 1991 (e-book) available from CharlieFrancis. com

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TRACK COACH — 6994 From the Editor Continued from page 6970 event, but not if you view the walk stride results in “lifting,” a technique as a speed-power event. violation and grounds for disqualifi- Honestly, I never race walked my- cation. For a walker to improve he self. As a Long Island kid, I watched Speed and power events are tra- must improve his stride frequency, as some of the guys I raced against ditionally explosive efforts of short like the challenge facing the short opted for the walk. I never paid duration—the jumps, sprints and hurdlers. much attention to what they did or throws. While there might not be how they did it. the pure power in the walk there And therein lies the problem. Since certainly is the speed, speed- most coaches see the walk as an When I became a coach I quickly endurance. Granted that may seem aerobic endurance event they train found out that there was a lot to to be an odd statement to make to develop aerobic qualities with learn about track & field. I wore but not if you consider how fast the their talent pool of “slow” distance the cover off Doherty’s Omnibook. walker’s legs move. runners. If one does not have the But there was no walk info in there. ability for a quick leg turnover it Somewhere I came across how The fastest people in track & field could lead to 55 years of nothing. the East Germans hammered their in terms of strides per second are walkers with physical fitness. Their the 100m sprinters. Those athletes Years ago, I had a telling conversa- walkers looked like moving fire hy- have a turnover rate approach- tion with a racewalk parent/coach drants. Muscular, squat, relentless ing five strides per second which of a “national champion.” When I and successful. translates to close to 300 strides asked what stride rate per minute per minute. A walker who can walk they shot for he said he never con- Once the technique was established a six-minute mile has a stride rate sidered that. I explained the import we emphasized the fitness angle. pattern of around 260 strides per of the stride frequency in the walk. We did circuit training like madmen. minute. In fact the walkers who can He reiterated that his son was a I set the goal for the walkers to be break 1:20 for a 20K have a greater “national champion.” I don’t think the most physically fit members of leg turnover in terms of strides per he saw my point. the team. They dragged old car tires minute than a 20-flat 200m sprinter. up and down the football field. Dig Unbelievable, right? It seems the guy who interrupted the heel and pull. It paid off. me during my walk presentation One must remember we are dis- felt I “didn’t know anything about SPEED-POWER cussing strides per minute. Granted the walk.” Maybe. It makes for a the sprinters are moving with a funny story now. And if he was right, It might seem odd to strive for de- greater velocity due to their longer at least we have that in common. velopment like this for an endurance stride length. For a walker a longer Fifty-five years and counting.

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TRACK COACH — 6995 Level 1—Calendar of Schools

The Level 1 course is the cornerstone of the USATF Coaching Education Program. It establishes a common ground amongst coaches by developing a language specific to the track and field coaching community. The program covers all events in a straightforward manner by emphasizing fundamentals, rules, safety/risk manage- ment, and instruction techniques. Click the link below to access registration information for each school. http://www.usatf.org/Resources-for---/Coaches/Coaching-Education/Calendar-of-Schools.aspx

Date Location May 20-21 Allen High School - Dallas, TX May 27-28 Cerritos College - Norwalk, CA June 2-4 Atlantic Sports Health - Morristown, NJ June 3-4 National Training Center – Clermont, FL June 3-4 Houston Baptist University - Houston, TX June 10-11 Benedictine University - Lisle, IL June 17-18 Wellesley College - Wellesley, MA June 18-20 UNC Greensboro - Greensboro, NC June 19-20 Stillwater High School - Stillwater, MN June 24-25 Broken Arrow High School – Broken Arrow, OK July 7-9 University of Albany - Albany, NY July 7-9 East Tennessee State University - Johnson City, TN July 14-16 Nassau Community College - Garden City, NY July 21-23 Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, MD July 21-23 Savannah State University - Savannah, GA Aug. 4-6 Bishop Gorman High School - Las Vegas, NV Aug. 4-6 Yale University - New Haven, CT Aug. 5-6 Central College - Pella, IA Aug. 11-13 Providence Day School - Charlotte, NC Aug. 12-13 Highline College - Des Moines, WA Sept. 29-Oct. 1 Community College of Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA Oct. 13-15 Marian University - Indianapolis, IN Nov. 4-5 Nazareth College - Rochester, NY Nov. 11-12 Cardinal Stritch University - Milwaukee, WI Nov. 17-19 Eastern Michigan University - Ypsilanti, MI Nov. 18-19 Tennessee State University - Nashville, TN Nov. 18-19 Wellesley College - Wellesley, MA Nov. 25-26 Residence Inn KC Airport - Kansas City, MO Nov. 25-26 UNLV - Las Vegas, NV Dec. 1-3 IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL Dec. 8-10 Westerville South High School - Westerville, OH Dec. 9-10 Houston Baptist University - Houston, TX Dec. 15-17 Public School 9 - New York, NY Dec. 16-17 Allen High School - Dallas, TX

TRACK COACH — 6996 Applications Available for 2017 Level 2 School

Applications for the July 17-22, 2017 Level 2 School at Cal State Fullerton are now being accepted. Coaches can earn USATF Level 2 certification in Endurance, Sprints, Jumps, Youth, Combined or Throws events during the intense, week-long program. The program provides an advanced, in-depth education in one event group and teaches the science behind the sport through advanced sport science concepts and training principles. The Level 2 Program is guaranteed to challenge and advance your knowledge of the sport.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early as enrollment is limited by event group. For more information on Level 2 certification and eligibility requirements click the link below. http://www.usatf.org/Resources-for---/Coaches/Coaching-Education/-groups-coaches-education-level2-asp.aspx

Cross Country Specialist Course Returns June 16-17, Villanova University, PA

USATF Coaching Education offers a 12-hour course featuring technical classes, laboratory training sessions, cross country specialty drills, periodization training for the cross country season, team building strategies, and long term athlete development for the endurance runner. Legend and world-class distance coach, Dr. Joe Vigil, has developed the content for the course along with veteran distance coach and coach educator, Scott Christensen. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn from these lead instructors! Coaches will participate in interactive discussion sessions in addition to the classroom and laboratory time.

Each coach completing the class will be awarded a USATF Cross Country Specialist Certificate. All coaches are eligible. There are no prerequisites, but there is a limited capacity for the course. Registrants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Click the link below for more information; registration will open soon. https://www.usatf.org/Resources-for---/Coaches/Coaching-Education/Special-Programs/2017/Cross-Country- Specialist-Course.aspx

TRACK COACH — 6997 USATF Campus Offers Online Professional Development

The online learning platform available to all coaches, athletes, and educators with an interest in better under- standing human performance. Users can access valuable information about the sport of track and field to use towards certifications or continuing education hours; any combination of two courses is eligible for one CEU in partnership with Indiana University.

What does USATF Campus offer?

• Access to courses for athletes and coaches which are applicable to all sports; plus specialized track and field courses

• Professional development which is affordable and convenient

• Evidence based information from leading sport scientists and coaches

• Training tips, and words of wisdom from Legend Coaches

Current Courses Available: Basic Principles of Endurance Training (2 hrs.): A course by Legend Coach, Dr. Joe Vigil provides the philoso- phy and winning strategies of a world class endurance coach who has produced American record holders, and Olympic Medalists, while educating the average weekend runner and scholastic coach all over the world. Included are Dr. Vigil’s sample training programs.

Sport Science College: Under the direction of Dr. Christine Brooks, well known USATF Coaching Education sport science direc- tor and accomplished exercise physiologist and training theory expert, two courses exploring the sci- ence of the human performance in sport are currently available. More courses are coming soon!

Physiological Development Through the Athlete’s Lifespan (3hrs): This course examines the physiological concepts as they apply to an athlete’s development. Topics included are the multidimensional nature of coaching, the motor performance abilities relevant in most sports, the impact of growth and development, the gene versus practice controversy, and brief overview of the body structure throughout the athlete’s sport development. Basic principles that a coach must know to understand the individuality of training.

Energy Systems and Motor Performance Abilities in Athletes (3hrs): This course presents a relevant under- standing of the athlete’s development and essential physiology concepts. It explains in coaching language where energy comes from and how it is used in performance. “What every coach must understand in order to write a training program!”

Training Science (3hrs): In this course you are introduced to the fundamentals of training science. This knowledge underlies your ability to design the type of training that will most effectively improve an athlete’s

TRACK COACH — 6998 performance. Essential concepts such as homeostasis, core training principles, magnitude and timing of the training stimulus, periodization theory, tapering, load quantification and designing the annual training plan are all discussed.

Acute Fatigue Due to Training and Competition (3hrs): Fatigue is something we all experience. It is char- acterized by tiredness and the want for rest. Whether the athlete likes it or not, fatigue serves a protective function. It is both cognitive and physical in nature. In this course, you are introduced to the science of acute fatigue due to training and competition. With rest, acute fatigue dissipates and the body becomes stronger. You will learn about important fatigue theories, and the factors believed to contribute to fatigue such as low fuel supplies, acidity and body temperature.

Sport Specific Strength and Power (3hrs): In this course, we discuss the science of sport specific strength and power development, and training theory concepts as they pertain to the development of strength and power.

All courses are available at: http://courses.usatf.org/

Reminder Renew USATF Coaches Registry Status for 2017

Coaches are reminded to renew their status on the USATF Coaches Registry to maintain eligibility for obtaining a credential at USATF Indoor and Outdoor Championships and select USATF Coaching Education Programs, including the Level 2 School, coaching enhancement grants and the Emerging Elite Coaches Clinic. Please verify your status on the USATF Coaches Registry by accessing the published list. http://www.usatf.org/Resources-for---/Coaches/Coaches-Registry/Coaches-Registry.aspx

A summary of registered coach requirements and steps is listed below. Do not delay renewal or sub- mission of the required background screen, as processing may take up to two weeks. No appli- cations for the Coaches Registry will be processed during the credentialing process at USATF Championship meets.

1. Be a current USATF member 2. Pass the USATF background screen 3. Complete USOC SafeSport course 4. Accept and adhere to the SafeSport Handbook 5. List current coaching affiliation in the application process

Click the link below to begin the USATF Coaches Registry application process.

http://www.usatf.org/Resources-for---/Coaches/Coaches-Registry/Registered-Coaches-Program.aspx

TRACK COACH — 6999 www.trackandfieldnews.com

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