Notes from the President:
Volume V – September 17, 2008
I hope this newsletter finds all of us track and cross country coaches are going crazy trying to keep up with meets, practices, lineups, etc. Not to mention all the back to school things that drive us crazy as well. Welcome to the “Asylum” Before we know it….entries will be due for the IHSAA State Tournament Series. Here are a few notes for you as I serve in my second year as your president of the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (IATCCC) to further help inform you of your association and the events that impact our great sport.
Voting Polls for Cross Country
Please visit our web site to find the current state
rankings. Your input is welcome for our
compilers. Please contact them if you
have a team in your area who is not being recognized in our polls. That is exactly why it is called a coaches
poll, the input comes from you the coach.
Rudy Skorupa does the poll. The
links are on the web site. Thanks in advance.
www.iatccc.org
Academic
Coaches…I had more phone calls from this last fall than any
other topic. The information is on the
IATCCC web site along with all of the deadlines. If your kid does not get on the academic all
state list because you did not send it in, then I am going to tell those moms
and dads to call you, the coach. Did not get the job done. If you do send stuff in, please document this
electronically. If we make the mistake,
then please let us know. But I will say
this…every mistake last fall was from coaches not meeting deadlines.
Hot Weather & Cross Country
I hope we are beyond this, but I think we escaped some of the dangerous weather that hit us last year. We are not out of the woods yet. Be very careful. If the heat index is in the 90’s or higher, then your athletes are at risk. If the heat index is over 100, then they are in danger. It is your job as the professional to ensure the safety of your student-athletes. Please don’t be remiss in this responsibility. Hydration is huge for our young people. Please take care of our kids.
Respect in Sports
This past summer I learned of a great program called Respect in Sports. It is a great sport for the beginning coach and the lay coach as well. I found the program to very good even for myself, a 32 year veteran. Respect in Sports covers a range of topics from how to address the kaleidoscope of situations that we all experience working with teenagers. My friend, Kent Burns developed the program and it is available on-line through the American Red Cross. Go to www.redcrossonlinetraining.org or go to www.respectinsportusa.com for more information. Certification is only $40 and it is good for four years. I strongly urge you to go on-line and get certified.
Survey
You might get a survey really soon about cross country. Please jump right on it and answer the survey so that information may be compiled. Your voice, and your vote does count. That sounds like a political ad, but it is true.
Clinic Opportunities
The IATCCC Annual fall Cross Country Clinic will be held on November 7-8 at Noblesville H.S. The Annual National Throws Clinic will also be on the same weekend at Portage H.S. Great opportunities for coaches at both!
NCAA Cross Country
The NCAA Great Lakes Regional Cross Country Meet will be
held at Purdue on November 15th and the NCAA Finals will be at
Have a great fall,
Dennis McNulty
IATCCC President