"Show Me Wax On, Wax Off"

"Running 'fast' is not the same as sprinting well."~Words of insight delivered to the athletes on our team by one of my fellow coaches

Only four weeks in and I've already picked up quite a bit of interesting coaching info(some of which is still percolating in my skull)... This is my second season of coaching track and my first coaching with (under) a veteran track and field coach. For some of our athletes, even those who have been "running" for a number of years, it also their first time really working with an experienced "Track and Field Man.

I certainly feel as though there is quite a bit out there (or here at practice)that can be utilized to further increase my knowledge base and in the end can better be imparted to those athletes I work with.

Our sprinters, in particular, and I (as someone who has never competitively sprinted) have had a slight learning curve with which to deal. Much of the workouts that have been developed by my colleague stress structure and form, and while the drills are intentional, to the unfamiliar they can seem disjointed or unrelated, when combined and ingrained, should help the sprinter develop a form which is conducive to better time.

At practice it struck me what our strategy had really been from day one and the analogy helped me better "get it."

I liken the tactic to what our friend Mr. Miyagi did in The Karate Kid with Daniel-son... seemingly simple little motions and drills combined to build the desired total motion or form (as well as to condition).