USATF Level 1 Coaching Clinic

Hello from Orlando!

I actually arrived yesterday afternoon but I was so tired by the time I made it to my hotel for the evening, that I did not have the energy to blog last night. I am here in Orlando for the weekend attending the USA Track and Field Coaching Education Level 1 course at the University of Central Florida.

Over the course of two-and-a-half-days, we spend 21.5 hours learning everything in track and field from sports science, the different events, and how to coach these events.

It does not seem like the weekend would be awful but the hours are long and very mind draining. I am definitely learning a lot, but I get antsy from time to time because we spend long hours on one specific topic.

The course started yesterday and ran from 5:30-10pm (!), today from 8am-8pm, and tomorrow from 8am-4pm. Most of the time is spent in the classroom watching multiple PowerPoint presentations and taking notes. This course is very much like the ACSM-CPT workshop I took last June… lots of information in very little time. At least this time around I know more about anatomy and physiology and nutrition, which makes the material a lot less confusing.

Sitting back and learning the different coaching techniques remind me of my days of high school track. I did track and field for eight years (5th- 12th grade) and did a variety of events- 400m, 800m, 1600m, discus, shotput, and I believe the hurdles at one race. I found my niche in the throwing events (specifically the discus) and competed at the state track meet my junior and senior years of high school. I came out of nowhere my senior year and even placed 4th in my school class division for the discus (top 8 were on the podium).

Learning all of the different coaching techniques (especially for the throwing events) made me realize how much goes into coaching a successful athlete. Who knows, maybe once I get my Level 1 certification I will become a track and field coach to gain some coaching experience?

I plan to write a post in a week or two about some things I have learned this weekend. Even though many of the information I have learned is track and field specific, some of the information can be applied to longer distance running, especially in terms of how to structure a training plan based on intensity vs. volume.

I am hoping by the end of next month that I will be able to call myself an official USATF Level 1 Certified Track and Field Coach! I just have to pass the 200 question exam first…eek!

It has been a long day and I have an early wakeup call to get in my final long run before class at 8am. I can’t believe my half-marathon is next weekend!

Are you certified in anything- personal trainer, track and field coach, running coach, etc?