Coaching Youth Track and Field » (1st Edition)

Coaching Youth Track & Field was written by the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) in conjunction with Matt Lydum and other experts from Hershey's Track and Field Games and USA Track & Field.

Matt Lydum is actively involved in the sport of track and field at the national and international levels. He has served as USOC delegate to the International Olympic Academy and on the USA coaching staff for the World Championships in Youth Athletics. As a coaching educator, he has certified hundreds of high school coaches in the Great Lakes region and around the country and coordinates the Instructor Training Course for USA Track & Field.

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the national governing body for track and field, long-distance running, and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the number-one high school and junior high school participatory sport, and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. Nearly 100,000 Americans are members of USATF. The mission of USATF is to foster sustained competitive excellence, interest, and participation in the sports of track & field, long-distance running, and race walking.

Hershey's Track & Field program promotes youth physical fitness and is the largest program of its kind in the United States and Canada with more than 400,000 participants. Hershey's Track & Field Games encourage children ages 14 and under to participate in track and field events. Regardless of a child's ability, each child is treated like a winner.

ASEP has been developing and delivering coaching education courses since 1981. As the nation's leading coaching education program, ASEP works with national, state, and local youth sport organizations to develop educational programs for coaches, officials, administrators, and parents. These programs incorporate ASEP's philosophy of “Athletes first, winning second.”

Coaching Youth Track & Field stresses fun, safety, and effective instruction, helping you create an environment that promotes learning, encourages a love of the sport, and motivates your athletes to come out year after year.

Numerous coaching books present the skills, drills, and activities of track and field. But here s a book that teaches you how to convey those skills to your athletes in an engaging and positive manner.

Written by the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) in conjunction with Matt Lydum and other experts from Hershey s Track & Field Games and USA Track & Field (USATF), Coaching Youth Track & Field is the only resource available today aimed at coaches of athletes ages 14 and under. Coaching Youth Track & Field includes the following:

• Activities specifically designed for young track and field athletes
• Fundamentals of all of the events in track and field (USATF and Hershey s Track and Field Games)

Coaching Youth Track & Field s 73 activities and 32 age-specific coaching tips are sure to jump-start your planning and practices and help you overcome any hurdle encountered during the season. Plus, sequenced and specific chapters help you learn, retain, and reference in a flash.

Endorsed by USATF and named the official handbook of Hershey s Track & Field Games, this book a must-read as you prepare to meet the challenges and enjoy the rewards of coaching young athletes.

Welcome to Coaching!
Welcome From Hershey and USA Track & Field

1 Stepping Into Coaching
2 Communicating as a Coach
3 Understanding Rules and Equipment
4 Providing for Athletes' Safety
5 Making Practices Fun and Practical
6 Teaching and Shaping Skills
7 Coaching the Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays
8 Coaching the Distances
9 Coaching the Jumps
10 Coaching the Throws
11 Coaching Combined Events and Cross Country
12 Coaching on Meet Day
13 Developing Season and Practice Plans

Appendix A: Related Checklists and Forms Appendix B: Track and Field Terms About ASEP