How to Coach High School Track

High school students join the track team for a number of reasons. Some track athletes use the daily workouts to prepare for fall sports, while others love to compete against other high school athletes in their favorite events. You need to coach high school track athletes to perform at a high level by harnessing these unique motivations.

Things You'll Need

  • Student trainers
  • Former track athletes
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Instructions

  1. Organize a Diverse High School Track Team

    • 1

      Change your relay teams during the preseason to find the right chemistry. Relay teams need to be on the same page at the relay point and must have comparable speed to keep the team in every race. For example, switch in every 400-meter runner you have, and rearrange the relay order before settling on your primary team.

    • 2

      Utilize sports terminology when you coach multi-sport athletes. You can tell a hurdler that the finish line is like the end zone, going as far as putting a football in his hands during practice. This technique helps athletes adjust to a different endeavor with familiar terms.

    • 3

      Find student trainers with an interest in athletics to help keep your track team healthy. Students with an interest in sports training or the medical field can help players deal with muscle pain following each practice.

    • 4

      Formulate an off-season workout program that helps track athletes deal with adverse conditions. Training sessions during the winter and summer help you coach players on ways to focus on technique instead of the weather.

    • 5

      Locate former track athletes at your high school to help coach your team. Parents or community members with experience in track can help take pressure off of your small staff during months of training and meets.

    • 6

      Read online news and updates about high school track teams in your region. Your local newspaper likely provides just limited coverage of high school sports, so you'll need to get information on potential competitors at the state track meet. High school sports websites, like DyeStat.com, allow you to check news from all 50 states with the click of a button (see Resources below).