Field Coaches Research Articles

Taking Strides Toward Prevention-Based Deterrence: USATF Coaches Perceptions of PED Use and Drug Testing

As national anti-doping organizations (NADOs) adopt preventative measures to complement detection-based deterrence methods, understanding coaches’ attitudes toward drugs in sport will take on a new importance. This study was conducted to measure coaches’ attitudes in the sport of track and field toward performance enhancing drug (PED) use and drug testing. A total of 254 track and field coaches (Age: 33.4 yrs ±9.7) completed a 51-item survey. Coaches who were certified reported they felt more knowledgeable about PED use (rs = .168, p = .004) and that they had learned about PED use and testing through the USA Track and Field (USATF) coaches education program (rs = .220, p < .001). USATF certified coaches also reported a stronger perception that the coach plays a key role in PED deterrence (rs = .158, p = .006). These findings suggest that national sport governing bodies (NGBs) like USATF have taken significant steps to educate prospective coaches on the topic of PED’s and drug testing and these measures have positively impacted coaches.

Focus of Attention and Verbal Instructions: Strategies of Elite Track and Field Coaches and Athletes

t is well documented that directing attention externally enhances motor skill learning and performance under controlled experimental conditions. What is not well understood is how verbal instructions (VI) and feedback provided by coaches in authentic environments influences athletes’ focus of attention. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the type of VI and feedback provided by experienced coaches during practice, and how this information influenced elite athletes’ focus of attention during competition. Participants were athletes competing at the USA Track and Field Outdoor National Championships. Participants completed a survey inquiring about the VI and feedback provided during practice and what they focused on while competing. The data revealed that 84.6% of the participants reported that coaches provided instructions during practice that promoted an internal focus of attention. Participants also reported they utilize internal focus cues 69% of the time during competition. These results suggest that this sample of coaches provided instructions that focused athletes’ attention internally. This practice strategy is inconsistent with motor learning research, which shows learning and performance are enhanced when using an external focus of attention during motor skill execution. Recommendations are made to improve coaching education curriculums, bridging the gap between science and application.

The conservative vision of the amateur ideal and its paradoxical whitening power: the story of Valerie Jerome in 1950s and 1960s Canadian track and field

Valerie Jerome was a member of Canada's team at the 1959 Pan American Games where as a 15-year-old she placed 4th in the 100m. She was also a member of Canada's 1960 Olympic and 1966 Commonwealth Games teams. After leaving competitive sport, Valerie continued to serve as a track and field coach and official, serving as Chief Judge for Horizontal Jumps at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and Jumps Referee for the 1978 and 1994 Commonwealth Games and World Indoor (1993) and Outdoor (2001) Championships. She is also a fixture in Vancouver civil society, serving on such diverse boards of directors as the Achilles Athletics Foundation, the Goh Ballet Academy, Vancouver Youth Theatre and the British Columbia (BC) Association of Black Educators. She has been nominated seven times to run for public office beginning with her 1978 candidacy for The Electors Action Movement through to her 1996 candidacy for the Green Party of BC.

Discriminating Skilled Coaching Groups: Quantitative Examination of Developmental Experiences and Activities

Literature suggests that the pathway to coaching excellence involves progression through incremental skilled coaching groups over extended durations. Critical in this development is the immersion of developing coaches in various domains of engagement and learning over time. Using a retrospective survey, this study quantified the cumulative activities, experiences, and interactions that competitive-stream Canadian track and field coaches experienced in formal coaching education, active coaching experience, mentoring, and former athletic experience domains. Analyses identified critical experiences that discriminated between four incremental skill groups: local club (n = 24), senior club (n = 19), provincial (n =10), and national coaches (n = 18). Results demonstrated that certain measures in each of the domains discriminated between the groups, including years of coaching, interactive hours working with athletes, having more assisting coaches whom one has mentored, and having taken more post-secondary coaching courses. These variables, along with former athletic experience prerequisites, were attached to a preliminary between-group developmental framework.

Superwoman Gets a Reality Check

My friends called me Superwoman. began work on my Master's degree when pregnant with my fourth child, and got an internship on top of my full-time job when the baby was less than a year old. People looked at my clean house and four smiling children and proclaimed my status immortalized among Orion and Hercules. wanted to believe them. now shake my head and chuckle at that silly period of time when thought could be some kind of super hero. Before dropping my cape, stood proud atop my pile of obligations, fists on my hips, red satin cape billowing in the breeze and proclaimed, I can do it all! The reality check started on a Thursday morning in April and really hit home six days later during the long quiet hours lying in a hospital bed, out of the woods and rested, but before the doctor would consider sending me home. The first big epiphany while absentmindedly pushing cold potato buds around on my plate was that am actually not Superwoman. The second, even bigger stroke of genius was realizing that was OK. Prior to being defined as a mere mortal had a husband, four children, a dog, and was earning my Master's degree in the Continuing and College Education program at Western Washington University in beautiful Bellingham, Washington. Between my job as a Track and Field Coach at WWU and the internship, worked at least 70 hours each week. had headaches daily, worried about everything that was NOT doing at any given moment, and was ridiculously, stupidly tired. It all began innocently enough with a husband, kids and a job. The kids were clean, dressed, and fed. regularly did my hair and put on make up. spent time with my spouse. Going back to school was something I'd wanted to do for a long time. looked forward to the opportunities and responsibilities that came with a Master's degree. So told myself a few motivational cliches and there was, enjoying school and all it was adding to my life. An internship came out of the program and was still smiling, though it was strained, and my arms were beginning to shake from the weight of everything on my plate. A smart individual who values quality of life and love, when adding a heap of this or that to her plate would slide something else off. Not that proud super hero atop her mountain. just piled stuff on. Scoot over kids, there is a paper due tomorrow! Sorry Honey, Christmas is on the way so need to shop and wrap presents and bake cookies! Though was doing more and more, still expected 100% of myself for everything. Everything had to be done to the best of my ability as if it was the ONLY thing in my life. Anything less really stressed me out. If couldn't get all A's, keep a clean house, be the world's best mom and wife, and go above and beyond at work, was a failure. The first indication of my mortal limitations was time. No matter how much had to get done, there are only 24 hours in a day. That's it. That's all we get. tried repeatedly to stuff four extra hours between noon and 1:00pm, but only succeeded in chasing my tail and falling over from being so dizzy. As it tunas out, there is absolutely no way to work twelve hours, do homework for three, read and play with the kids, clean the house, run errands, eat, bathe, brush my teeth, make dinner, feed the dog, and get seven hours of sleep all in one day. It's just not going to happen. The second mortal barrier came with my kids, though they are absolutely the best. Their ages are eleven, nine, four, and one, and they are the most amazing people know. love them so much that if think about it too much it frightens me. As wonderful as they are, however, children do not make two jobs and school easy. Hardly a week goes by without a doctor or dentist appointment, school function, or birthday party. We have football, ballet, and baseball. Four kids mean eight ears to clean and 80 nails to clip. They outgrow clothes and need haircuts. They are always hungry. …

Acceptance of Helmet Use among National Collegiate Athletic Association Pole-Vaulting Coaches

In 2002, two high school athletes and one college athlete died as a result of head injuries sustained while pole-vaulting. In order to determine the opinions and practices of collegiate coaches on a variety of issues concerning polevaulters, including the use of helmets, an anonymous, web-based survey concerning pole-vaulting was sent to a stratified random sample of 50% of Division I, II, and III NCAA track and field coaches. Information collected from coaches included demographic data, coaching experience, coaching techniques, pole-vaulting equipment, and injury/safety information. One hundred and thirty-one (56%) completed surveys were returned from the estimated 233 schools with active pole-vaulting programs. None of the respondent coaches required vaulters to wear helmets during practice, although 59% (95% CI = 50% to 69%) would do so if helmets were designed specifically for pole-vaulting. Results from this survey of NCAA coaches suggest a general acceptance of the idea of helmet use, especially if helmets were to be designed specifically for pole-vaulting and if the practice of helmet use was initiated at the pre-college level. The lack of evidence demonstrating an improvement in safety was one of the most common reasons given for opposing the idea of helmet use

The Shoulder and Heavy Squatting

Pantego Christian Academy Arlington, Texas Jason D. Rash, BS, CSCS is currently an assistant football and track and field coach at Pantego Christian Academy. He also coaches the strength and conditioning phase of athletics at Pantego. In the classroom, he teaches chemistry and physical science.