Essentials of a Successful XC Program

1. Essentials of a Successful XC Program What I have learned from my Coaching and Athletic Career

2. What Are the Essentials • Good leadership from top to bottom • Long and short term vision for your program • Let your team know your expectations • Strong support group • Keeping the team connected • Creating a buzz around your program • Finding that 1% • Dedicated athletes • Well thought out training plan

3. Leadership From Top to Bottom • To sustain a successful program you should have good leadership throughout your program. • Who are the potential leaders? -coach -Athletes on team -Principal, president, A.D.

4. The Coach • The most important leader! Program can be good without other leaders, but not without a coach who can lead. • Should be good communicator/listener. • Should be able to motivate your team. • Should be able to adapt your leadership to your current team/situation. What worked in the past may not work in the future.

5. Team Leader • I prefer to only have 1 leader per gender during the XC season. • Should be someone who is tough minded and believes in your philosophy as a coach. • Should be someone you trust and communicates well. • You can filter information to the team through this athlete. • Leader can provide you with valuable information about the team. • I meet with my team leader once per week during the season.

6. A.D’s, Presidents, Principals • They might not ever have contact with your team but you must know their goals/expectations for your program. • What’s important? Participant numbers, GPA, Conference Champs, State Champs, National Champs, etc.

7. Coach’s Vision • Where is your team now and where do you want to be in 3-5 years. • Be prepared to adapt your vision. • How can you make this vision a reality? • Just because it doesn’t happen doesn’t mean it was a failure.

8. Your Expectations • It’s important for your team to know your expectation. • Make sure and have meetings where you discuss these expectations. • Expectations should be the same for all athletes.

9. Your support group • Who should be in your support group? People you trust and whose opinion you value. Other coaches, your significant other, past coaches, close friends, family members, etc. • Use them to bounce ideas off: Can discuss workouts or just talk about issues you are currently facing. It’s always nice to get another persons opinion, assuming you trust their opinion. • Important to have someone in your support group who has been where you want to go. • Don’t just include people who always agree with you.

10. Keeping your team connected • The closer your team, the better your team will be, especially during times of adversity. • Things you can do to create strong team bond: pre-season camp, movie/dinner night, team goal setting sessions, team relays, etc. • Try to get them to train together over the summer months.

12. Keeping the Injured Athlete Connected • Extremely important but very hard to do! • They are usually not working out at all or they are doing some sort of cross-training separate from the team. • Try to have them present at all the teams workouts (let their presence be known). • Have them address the team and tell the other members the are still working hard and still have the teams goals in mind. • Have them time workouts or bike along with the team if possible.

13. Creating a buzz around your program • Give athletes a reason to join your XC team. • Make sure practices are upbeat. • Athletes want to be a part of a successful program that works hard. • Once you get things rolling it makes your life a lot easier. • When talking with athletes let them know of College scholarship opportunities.

14. Finding that 1% • 1% difference takes a 16:10 5k to 16:00 and 18:11 to 18:00. • Add this time gap over 5 athletes and that’s a lot of points. • Every athlete has the ability to give 1% more and it’s our job to figure out how. • How do we get this out of our athletes? • Become better motivators • Find better ways to communicate with them • Better race tactics • Better/smarter training plan

15. Dedicated Athletes • Athletes that are willing to follow your leadership and buy into your vision. • Athletes who eat healthy and get 7-9 hours of sleep. • Have balance in their lives. Balance social, academic, and athletic requirements. • Take care of their bodies when injured. • Show patience in their training and racing. • If they do not do the above then we can’t coach them properly. When I write a training plan I’m assuming they will do the above.

16. The Training Plan • Before you write each seasons plan you should think about the athletes you have and the races your team will run. • What are their strengths/weaknesses? • How can I get the most out of their strength and also improve their weaknesses? • What are the important courses that you will race on like (hilly, flat, grass, dirt, etc.).