Vol. 2 — For High School Coaches
One of the cues I keep close every season is the old saying, “KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID.”
No matter how many times I read that, or how many times I try to remind myself of it, I still try and complicate things; and I think as coaches we are wired to try and complicate things…but the truth is…we really just need to KEEP IT SIMPLE.
So, what do I mean by that?
1. Know what you are trying to accomplish…and by that I mean within the scope of a full season, within the scope of the training week, and within the scope of the training session. If you know EVERY DAY, what it is you are trying to accomplish, and where you are heading in the season, then it is a lot easier to keep it simple.
2. Focus on SIMPLE THINGS. I feel like when I get caught up in the terminology of something, or in the science of something, that’s when I start trying to get fancy and complicate it. But, when I keep it simple…”Hey, we are trying to get fit right now, it’s early in the season…” That’s when I seem to keep things simple and that usually leads to some consistency. For me simple things end up being very important things…building aerobic fitness, working on speed, and getting into some race pace workouts. When you look at those three things, they are pretty simple tasks, but also all you really need to build a great runner…KEEP IT SIMPLE.
3. BE CONSISTENT. This is the one thing that a lot of people miss. I love the simplicity in consistency…and I know that’s a mouthful, but showing up every day and changing things and doing different types of programs and pulling from this and from that and having no real consistency in what you are doing will stand out to your athletes…and athletes have a hard time following that. BE CONSISTENT with what you are doing and with what you believe. I promise you, that’s a lot more important than finding some new and innovative training plan or workout.
Coaches, as you go into your season, or as you go into the planning phase for the upcoming season, remember, KEEP IT SIMPLE.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at thedailyrun@gmail.com.
Phillips Running 