As you may have heard Burlington Central High School is hosting National Indoor Champion Chase Ealey and the rest of the Throws Lab staff will be there as well. Check out the attached flyer and feel free to copy it and give it to your throwers and fellow coaches. This is for athlete and coaches. I suggest you sign up sooner rather than later since there are a limited number of spots. The link to the registration site is below.
I hope the end of everyone’s track season went well. I have a couple of items you may be interested in.
1. ITCCCA is in need of a male 150’+ discus thrower to work with legendary throws coach Bob Nihells at the Learn By Doing clinic being held on June 30th & July 1st. The clinic would be free for this young man and he is needed only on July 1st. Coach Nihells will work with this young man while coaches observe. We have all the other levels for both guys & girls covered. Check out the link of the clinic for details: http://itccca.com/learn-by-doing-clinic-june-30-july-1-2019/
If you have a thrower who is interested please contact me. ASAP, first come first serve. My cell is 847-414-8415.
2. I posted on Twitter a few weeks ago that I was looking for possible summer meets. I was looking for meets that my kids could just go do and not have to worry about joining a USATF or AAU organization. I have attached 3 calendar’s that contain the meets that I found through a lot of your help. I thought it would be easier if they were all in one place. I did not include USATF or AAU meets in the calendar. You can find that information easily enough on their website.
3. There is an outdoor space in Aurora, Illinois that kids and coaches can go throw this summer. They can also learn to throw the hammer or javelin. Check out the website of Hammerman Throws: https://hammermanusa.com
They are also have a summer throws meet series this summer.
5. If you have any meets or clinics that you would like to publicize with other throws coaches please contact me and I will get it out in the next email.
Beginning this summer, Hammerman Field will host a series of throws only meets. Hammerman is an expansive throws only facility that started operation last year. This could easily become a throws destination in the near future. There are very few private facilities like this in the US.
Come see Hammerman Field this summer and keep your throwing skills sharp.
I hope your season is going well and your kids are getting better everyday. In the past, I have had many of you ask me for drills and ideas to help improve your athletes technique. In that vein, a Coaching Education company called Coach Tube has asked me to create a course consisting of some of my rotational drills. So I figured I would give it a try. If you think it is worth it purchase the course. If not, that’s totally fine. I put 17 different rotational drills that I like to use into the course. Each drill has a video showing an athlete performing that drill and includes an explanation of what the drill is supposed to improve and what to emphasize when doing the drill.
Let me know what you think and if you have any questions.
I hope all who attended this years ITCCCA Clinic enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. For those of you who missed it you missed a good one. Ryan Whiting did an amazing job presenting his progression on how he teaches the rotational shot and discus. His learn by doing sessions were excellent. You can check out Ryan’s website at https://www.deserthighperformance.com/ Feel free to contact Ryan if you have further questions about his presentation.
Nick Garcia from Notre Dame High School in California gave some great insights to training throwers. Nick’s presentations were really helpful in gaining some great insights into training. Be sure to check out Coach Garcia’s website for more information regarding his training at http://www.hmmrmedia.com/. Be sure to contact Nick if you have further questions regarding his presentations.
Scott Bennett gave a great presentation on a simplified way to teach rotational throwing. He is currently with Madison Throws club in Middleton, Wisc. Check him out on Instagram at @coachbennett88. Be sure to contact Coach Bennett if you have further questions regarding his presentation at bennettscott2@gmail.com.
All the speakers were talking about the benefits of throwing heavy implements. If you attended the clinic or even if you didn’t, Justin Rodhe https://www.rodhesport.com/pages/about-us, who represented Canada in the 2012 Olympics and was a 21+ meter shot putter, sells some tremendous products for throwing such as throwing straps and throwing gloves that help support the wrist when throwing heavy. Attached is a flyer that gives you a 20% discount with the code on the flyer. Be sure to check it out. Rodhe Sport Brochure
Finally don’t forget the A-Z Throwers Clinic is coming up fast! It will be held this year on Sunday, January 27th at Wheaton North High School. Again this year there are about 20 area coaches who have volunteered their time to work with your throwers. It is a hands on learn by doing experience with a 1 coach to 5 kids ratio. Coaches are welcome also and encouraged to ask questions and take video. Get signed up at http://itccca.com/clinics/a-z-throwers-clinic/
Looking forward to the start of another great season! Good Luck and if any of you have anything I can help you with please do not hesitate to contact me.
Throws Coaches, A few items that may be of interest to you.
1. Glenbard South is looking for a women’s throws coach. contact Ryan Crissey at ryan_crissey@glenbard.org if you are interested or if you know someone who is interested.
2. Geneva is also looking for a women’s throws coach. contact Gale Gross at ggross@geneva304.org if you are interested or if you know someone who is interested.
3. Don’t forget the ITCCCA clinic is just around the corner. We have an outstanding group of speakers. Don’t wait to long to get signed up. Follow the links below to find out more about the speakers.
Scott Bennett:Coach Bennett has been coaching the field events for over 40 years. He has coached five Olympians (1 gold medalist), National Champions, Olympic Trial Winners, NCAA Champions and many many more. He has coached on the Division 1 and Division 3 levels as well as the high school level. Coach Bennett has a masters degree in Bio Mechanics which along with his trained eye to identify technical movements has enabled him to be a very successful Field Events Coach. Coach Bennett coached Olympian Andy Bloom who threw over 71 feet in the shot put and over 224 feet in the discus. He also coached one of the United States greatest female discus throwers Olympian Aretha Thurmond-Hill. Most recently Coach Bennett has worked with Curt Jensen who threw over 70 in the shot put in 2018 and coached Tim Glover over 84 meters in the javelin. Coach Bennett’s college athletes have included 7 men over 60 feet and 2 women over 57 feet as well as many other successful throwers. Coach Bennett has spoken at multiple state track clinics including Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri and several others. He has also spoken at multiple National Throws Coaches Associations Clinics along with presenting at the USATF development camps.. Coach Bennett has the unique ability to easily identify technical faults and can correct those faults with a simplified drill based approach.
4. The A-Z Throws Clinic is coming up on January 27th. This is a unique ‘Learn-By-Doing” format that will really benefit your kids. We have a number of coaches who will be working with your athletes. In most cases the athlete to coach ratio is 4 or 5 athletes to one coach. Follow the link below to sign up or for more information.
It won’t be long until the indoor track season is upon us. With that in mind there are a couple of key things that you as a throws coach might want to be aware of.
1. The annual ITCCCA Clinic will be on Friday & Saturday January 11th & 12th. The throws line up is AWESOME! This year Ryan Whiting a World Champion shot putter and multiple NCAA champion in the shot and discus will be presenting. Also presenting is Nick Garcia who is one of the most successful high school throws coaches in California. He has coached multiple champions in state and national championships. Finally Scott Bennett who has coached multiple champions including Andy Bloom and Aretha Hill will also be presenting. Get signed up for the clinic ASAP! it will b here before you know it. Go to http://itccca.com/january-clinic/ to get signed up.
2. The A-Z Throws Clinic will be held on January 27th at Wheaton North High School. This is the premier throws clinic in the state of Illinois. The coach to athlete ratio is the best you are going to find . It is 5 athletes to every coach. Some of the best throws coaches in Illinois work this event. Get yourselves and your kids signed up as soon as possible. Go to http://itccca.com/clinics/a-z-throwers-clinic/ to get signed up.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving but do not wait on these great opportunities!
I hope your season is going well so far. The indoor season in Illinois is drawing to a close and we get ready to move outside. Lets hope the weather cooperates.
I have a couple of things for you this week. Again, if you no longer wish to recieve this email just let me know.
1. Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, IL. is looking for a throws coach. If you or somone you know is interested please contact Contact Ted Golota. tgolota@lfanet.org
3. Many of you had a chance to view my webinar on Coaching High School Throwers Program. I hope you enjoyed it. I must admit it was a little weird presenting with not being able to see people for feedback. Anyways, some of you asked for the link to the webinar once it was on Youtube so here it is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELRCMJ1ynGI
4. My friend Dan McQuaid the throws coach at Wheaton North high school does a great job analyzing his throwers and comparing them to other throwers in order to help them improve. He post these on Youtube so his throwers can watch them. I subscribe to his channel and watch the videos also. They are an excellent source to help your coaching and I highly recomend that you subscribe to his Youtube channel also. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXqrqrywwm0qbaqTN8ZlEQ
Good Luck as you continue into your outdoor track & field season.
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.
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“
