Monthly Archives: January 2018

Newsletter

Jim Aikens Throws Newsletter #2

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This week starts the season for all of us. I don’t know about you guys but I’m ready to start coaching. below are a few items that you might find useful.

1. I said in the last newsletter that I was going to begin a blog that chronicles my 1st year of coaching the throws at (Burlington) Central High School. Well my 1st Blog is done. If you would like to read it go to: http://itccca.com/13989/2018/01/aikens-on-throws-preparing-for-the-season/  If you like it please feel free to share it via twitter or facebook.
2. From Dan McQuaid about the A-Z Throws Clinic next Sunday 1/28.
       Are you a high school thrower looking to sharpen your technique for the upcoming season? Are you a throws coach looking to pick up some tips on helping your athletes sharpen their technique?

Either way, I can’t think of a better place to be on Sunday, January 28th than Wheaton North High School, new home to the A-Z Throws Clinic.

Athletes will receive expert instruction in the shot put (glide or rotational) and discus.

And unlike many throws clinics where each instructor is responsible for a couple dozen athletes, the A-Z features small group instruction. We have 15 excellent coaches with many years of experience (Jim Aikens, for example, began his stellar career teaching the rotational technique to Union soldiers using cannonballs) so every athlete will get plenty of individual attention from a knowledgeable professional.

Follow this link for info about the clinic schedule and registration.

3. All the notes from the ITCCCA Clinic are up and available on the ITCCCA Website. This is a good resource I go back to quite often.

4. FYI state qualifying marks for 2018

Girls Shot: 1A= 35′ 8″ / 2A= 37′ 2″ / 3A=38′ 2″

Girls Disc: 1A= 108′ 8″ / 2A= 112′ 10″ / 3A= 117′ 6″

Boys Shot: 1A= 47′ 9″ / 2A= 49′ 6″ / 3A= 52′ 7″

Boys Disc: 1A= 141′ 6″ / 2A= 145′ 10″ / 3A= 154′ 7″

 Hope all of you get some use out of these emails.
Jim
Newsletter

Jim Aikens Throws Newsletter #1

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Fellow Throws Enthusiast,

Well, this past weekend was another successful ITCCCA Clinic. I enjoyed hearing the speakers and getting some new things to think about. If you haven’t yet check out the speakers notes go to http://itccca.com/  . I enjoyed the speakers but what I really enjoyed was seeing many of my coaching brethren and meeting new coaches. I wish I would have had more time to talk with everyone, that’s my favorite part of the clinic. The other great thing about the clinic is that it signals the beginning of the 2018 track season!!!!
A COUPLE OF ITEMS TO NOTE:
A-Z Throws Clinic at Wheaton North High School on Sunday January, 28th from 9 am to 1:30 pm. This is a great opportunity for Athletes and coaches. It is a Learn-By-Doing meet where your athletes will get a lot of throws and personalized coaching. The ratio is typically 1 coach to 5 athletes and we have coaches set aside to help explain drills and concepts to visiting coaches. It’s a great deal for $50 in advance, $60 the day of the event if spots are left. to sign up go to: http://itccca.com/13614/2017/11/a-z-throws-clinic-january-28-at-wheaton-north-high-school/
Illinois Throws Association website, you may want to check out the Illinois Throws Association website. Roger Einbecker ( Waubonsie Valley) has done a great job compiling the “All Time Top Throws” in the state of Illinois.  There are clinic and education opportunities also presented on this site as well as Job Postings for throws coaches. We have also started a twitter account associated with the website, @illinois_throws if your on twitter please follow us.  The entire purpose of the site and the twitter is to help promote the throws in the state of Illinois.  Please contact me if you have an event yo want to promote or some other way to promote throws in Illinois.
Look for my Blog As many of you know I have retired from teaching & coaching at Fremd H.S. in Palatine, IL.  I will be coaching much closer to home this year at Burlington Central High School.  I am looking forward to working with a great set of coaches that are committed to excellence. The thing is they don’t exactly have a great throwing tradition there. I am excited about trying to develop one at the school and have received a lot of support form everyone at the school. The reason I tell you this is that I have been asked about doing a blog regarding the trials & tribulations of developing a throws program at a new school.  I plan on putting up my workouts, technique topics, organization and anything else that you as a coach might find useful. In fact If any of you attended my presentation at the past ITCCCA clinic what I presented was my yearly plan for coaching my new set of throwers. You will be able to follow my blog through ITCCCA.COM.
USA Weightlifting High School Combine Program. This is going to be a really cool event for your kids. It takes place at West Aurora High School Field house on Saturday February 3rd, 2018 from 9 am to 5 pm.  Both male and female athletes get to perform a timed 30m sprints, vertical jumps, standing broad jumps, power cleans and overhead squats. This event is going to be sweet! go to http://www.krausathleticdevelopment.com/ for details.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope it was helpful.
As  Spock that great Vulcan thrower used to say, “Live Long & Throw Far“
Jim Aikens

 

Meets

USA Weightlifting Combine 2/3/2018 at West Aurora HS

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12-25 year olds, join us at West Aurora High School (1201 West New York Street, Aurora, IL 60506) February 3rd, 2018 when USA Weightlifting and Rogue Fitness put on a weightlifting specific combine. Above are the times and minors must be accompanied by an adult. The purpose – to identify young lifters in the United States and to create awareness of Olympic weightlifting as a sport in high schools and colleges. If you have questions, please call Suzy Sanchez (contact information is within the above flyer) or call/text Tom Kraus @ 630-772-0194.