Coaching and Care of Athletes

COACHING AND CARE OF ATHLETES There are many common faults shown by sprinters which the coach will do well to understand, in order that he may correct them as soon as he notices them, thereby considerably accelerating the progress of his pupils. The first problems the coach will be called upon to face, in all probability, are in relation to the starting positions. He should remember that if the holes are improperly sited there is bound to be trouble. If they are too far from the starting-line, then the athlete's legs will be too straight, and he will not be able to get sufficient driving-power into his start. The position is less serious when the holes are too close to the starting-line, but, all the same, the athlete who assumes a cramped position is bound to lose leverage. Another point is that the lateral distance between the starting-holes should not be more than 8 ins. If the holes are too widely spaced, then the sprinter is almost bound to wobble as he leaves the holes. The next question to be considered is the position of the runner's arms when he is on the mark. The coach should see that he does not bend his elbows and that the fingers and thumbs provide proper tripods; he should also make certain that the athlete's rear foot is directly in line behind its own knee. When the elbows are bent or the hands are placed too far apart the position of the chest is lower than it should be, and an extra effort will be required to bring the runner into the proper position for leaving the holes at the crack of the starting-pistol. Driving-power may also be lost if the sprinter raises -his hips too high in the "Set" position. The coach must watch also to see if the runner moves his weight forward on to his fingers and front foot in a proper manner when the order "Get set" is given. If the athlete drops his head his driving-force will go into the ground, instead of upward and forward. If, on the other hand, he bends his head too far back in the "Set" position he is likely to cramp his breathing. From time to time the coach should test his athletes in the "Set" position, to make sure that the trunk-lean, and therefore the body-weight, is not too far forward, or they will have an unbalanced position, from which it is impossible to hold the "Set" position long enough or to get a perfect start. Then there is the important point about stepping into the holes. The coach must make this a matter of routine, on the lines I have already laid down. When the athlete gets into his running there will be still more 186