Track Coach (formerly Track Technique) is the official technical (some articles) quarterly of USA Track and Field and has been the sport's major publication since 1960. It was founded by Fred Wilt in an effort to make technical and practical information available to American coaches. Wilf Paish, from the United Kingdom, an International Athletics Consultant, considers Track Coach "...the only publication of its kind which seems to achieve the right balance of articles directed at skill and training methods together with regular research items and those written by 'armchair' coaches." Currently edited by Russ Ebbets, who is trying to include a wide variety of articles with appeal to many levels, this quarters publication includes the following: Athlete Profile: The Emergence of Ryan Hall by Irv Ray, California Baptist University. An article on the development of an excellent high school runner. High Jump: Technical Aspects by Steve Patrick, Track and Field Coach, SUNY Cobleskill. Editor's note: A clear, easy-to-follow discussion of the approach, takeoff, and bar clearance, the three basic components of the HJ. Quis Custodiat Ipsos Custodes? (Who educates the educators?) by Wilf Paish. Editors note: If you thought that Coaching Education in Britain is a model for the world, here is a dissenting opinion from an observer who likes to shake things up a bit. Non-British readers will find his remarks, which bear in large degree upon the coach's management of time, apply to most coaching situations. Muscle Fiber Types and Training by Jason R. Karp, MS. Editor's note: The author describes the three types of muscle fiber and discusses their implications for the training of athletes. An interview with Ruth Wysocki by the editor, Russ Ebbets. The editor asks one of America's outstanding middle distance runners for her perspectives on her own development, mistakes, role models, philosophy, difficulties for women athletes, how to improve our national effort, goals and progression, tips for traveling and competing in Europe, peaking patterns and others. You Need a Needs Analysis by John Cissick. Editor's note: "Needs Analysis" refers to the work that is done before writing out an athlete's annual plan. This is the period of time when a coach systematically decides what the athlete need to develop and prioritizes those qualities for the upcoming plan. This article will describe how to examine an event's needs and then how to figure out how the athlete measures up to those needs. A Psychological Application for Distance Runners, by Scott Christensen, Stillwater (MN) Senior High School. Editor's note: (The author) describes the DALDA, a stress awareness test he administered during distance champion Luke Watson's senior year. ...it can be a very useful tool for both the coach and athlete in assessing an athlete's mental and physical state at any given time, indicating which areas of stress require immediate attention. World Roundup, by Jess Jarver. Digests of articles from around the world. The digests this month include: Strength Development in endurance athletes. (Estonia) Riddles of the 100m Sprint (Russia) Are Sports Drinks Worth the Money? (Australia) Periodization of Technique Training. (in the Thrower, Great Britain) And six more.... Information on when and where to attend USATF Level II Coaches Schools. You can subscribe by writing Track and Field News, 2570 El Camino Real, Suite 606, Mountain View, CA 94040 USA. (650) 948-8188. FAX (650) 948-9445. www.trackandfieldnews.com <http://www.trackandfieldnews.com> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'm not associated with USATF or Track and Field News, but hope that this information will put some new and developing coaches and athletes in touch with another source of information. Also I'm sure many of you as coaches could share useful information about your athletes and track and field programs that would be useful to other coaches. Such articles can be submitted to the above address. One of Fred Wilt's best liked sections was a "How They Train". Share how one of your outstanding athletes trained for an event. Sharing this type of information will make everyone's program stronger and strengthen our national program in the long term. Craig
