Coaching and Care of Athletes

SPRINTING stronger and of greater amplitude, and is therefore better able to withstand strain. The corollary is that sprinters also should do plenty of stretching exercises in their preliminary-season-and early– season training. In planning the schedules for his sprinters in the preliminary · season the coach should take care that no starting with the gun is included, and that striding at full effort is also reserved for a later stage of tra,ining. It is important to remember that preliminary– season training should not be of a very violent nature, and that it is usually carried out in the early spring, when the weather is cold and probably damp. It is advisable, therefore, that in this pre– liminary season the athlete should do practically the whole of his training while wearing his sweat suit. It may even be necessary upon occasion for him to wear a knitted sweater over the top part of his normal sweat suit. Gloves may be worn, · and it is advisable to wear socks, as the ankles are susceptible to cold and the small muscles surrounding them are very easily pulled. Thus the space between the bottoms of the track trousers and the tops of the shoes should not be unnecessarily exposed in cold atmospheric conditions. In the early stages of preliminary training the coach, if he wishes to safeguard his athletes against shin-splints, should let them do their training on grass. If the grass is dry the men may do their very early-season running in rubber shoes; but if there is any chance of slipping, then they must wear proper athletic shoes. The spikes, however, should be short, and the heels of the athletes should be protected with heel-pads of Sorbo rubber. The principal object of the preliminary-season training is to teach the sprinter the fundamentals of getting into condition and, while one is conditioning him, to develop his muscles, and particularly those which he will use in sprinting. The body-weight should be taken and recorded daily, as suggested in an earlier chapter. It will be well to assume that the sprinter is going to take part in both the roo and the 220 yds. individual races, and will probably also run in relay races. Two alternatives offer themselves for consideration in connection with the preliminary-season train– ing. If the sprinter is going to train on only three days a week, then his first week's programme should be as follows: Monday. Walk I mile, trotting 50 yds. in every half-mile. Wednesday. Run 88o yds. at an easy jog-trot. Saturday. Walk I mile, trotting 50 yds. in every quarter-mile. r8g