How to Teach Track & Field Events

When coaching track and field athletes, it is important to concentrate on building up their mental and physical endurance before moving on to the technicalities of their specific events. Endurance training requires both cardiovascular and weight-resistance exercise and should be consistently implemented in order for the athletes to reap the desired benefits.

Things You'll Need

  • Athletic footwear
  • Running track
  • Jumping pits
  • High jump bar
  • High jump mat
  • Hurdles
  • Shot put
  • Discus
  • Javelin
  • Athletic tape
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Instructions

  1. How to Train Track and Field Athletes

    • 1

      Start all athletes --- both track and field --- on a consistent endurance training regimen. Athletes should begin by running 3-4 times a week, including 15 minutes of stretching, 15--30 minutes of jogging (depending on the event the athlete is ultimately training for), and 5 minutes of post-run stretching. Athletes should also be doing weight-resistance exercises 2--3 times a week, using either free weights or weight machines.

    • 2

      After a couple of weeks, athletes should begin to build up their endurance for cardiovascular exercise and weight training. They need to increase their running to 5--6 days a week (with more extensive and intense work for track athletes) and their weight-training regimen to 3 solid routines per week (with more extensive and intense training for field athletes, who will need to focus more on certain areas of strength). Athletes should introduce speed workouts into their runs.

    • 3

      After a few weeks of endurance training, athletes should begin to train in their specific events, using equipment specific to their events (javelin, jumping pits, shot put, etc.) Coaches should run through safety measures and basic information about each event and its equipment with the athletes before these practices begin.

    • 4

      Athletes should then learn about technique in their chosen event(s): stances, form, and execution. Runners should learn about proper race starts, stride, and kicks. Jumpers should learn about proper running starts, steps (which they can learn by placing athletic tape on the board where their foot should hit before jumping), and form. Throwers should learn about proper stances, form, and follow-through. Drills can help reinforce what athletes have learned.

    • 5

      Finally, athletes should increase training and begin to compete in their specific event(s) while also continuing their endurance training to maintain a high level of fitness.