Hello Everyone,     

     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.

Jim Aikens

Throws Coach Burlington Central H.S.

Grand Valley State Throws & Weight training Clinic & Indoor National Discus Competition. December 16th & 17th

Grand Valley State Track & Field Camps

Elite Weight Training Seminar

Olympic Weight Lifting, Triphasic Training and Special Strength applications from USA Weight Lifting Coach Dane Miller, World Class Hammer Thrower Sean Donnelly and Olympic Shot Putter Justin Rodhe.

December 16th

Who: High School, College, Post Collegiate Athletes & Coaches Check-In: 2:45 PM Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Cost: $150 Location: Odie Weight Room/Football Stadium Limited Spots Available: First Come, First Serve. Coaches Welcome to Register as well. Registration inculdes 1 shirt per person and 1 meal per day.

Throwing Specials:
Sunday AM+PM+Discus = $125
Lifting Seminar+PM = $175
Lifting Seminar+AM = $225
Lifting+AM+PM+Competitions = $250

Running Specials:
BIG Hurdles+BIG Sprints+Discus = $125
Lifting Seminar+BIG Sprints = $175
Lifting Seminar+BIG Hurdles = $225
Lifting+BIG Hurdles+Big Sprints+Competitions = $250

Group Rates (3+) Available, Contact Coach Denard at denards@gvsu.edu

December 17th

Check-In: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Cost: $100 Location: Kelly Family Sports Center Limited Spots Available: First Come, First Serve. Coaches welcome to register as well. **Includes Camp T-Shirt and One Meal**

Specials:
Sunday AM+PM+Discus = $125
Lifting Seminar+PM = $175
Lifting Seminar+AM = $225
Lifting+AM+PM+Competitions = $250

Group Rates (3+) Available, Contact Coach Denard at denards@gvsu.edu

A-Z THROWERS CLINIC FOR BOTH ATHLETES & COACHES

JANUARY 28^TH @ WHEATON NORTH H.S.

TO REGISTER FOR THE CLINIC CLICK THE A-Z CLINIC LINK: A-Z Clinic.

The A-Z Throws Clinic, formerly held at Harper College, will take place at Wheaton North High School on Sunday, January 28, 2018.

The clinic will feature expert instruction in the glide shot, the rotational shot, and the discus.

All high school throwers, male and female, are welcome as are coaches who would like to observe the clinic.

Here is the clinic schedule:

9:30-10:00 Check-in

10:00-11:00 Shot Put (athletes may choose glide or rotational)

11:10-12:10 Discus

12:20-1:20 Athlete’s choice. Throwers can choose to spend this time receiving additional instruction in the glide shot, rotational shot, or discus.

The cost of the clinic for athletes and coaches is $50.00 for those who pay in advance, $60.00 for those who pay at the door.

Note: The price of the clinic includes a very stylish t-shirt, but in order to be guaranteed a shirt, payment must be received by January 15.

TO REGISTER FOR THE CLINIC CLICK THE A-Z CLINIC LINK: A-Z Clinic.

Questions? Contact Dan McQuaid at daniel.mcquaid@cusd200.org

It won’t be long until the track season starts and I wanted to let you guys know about the Throws presenters at the ITCCCA Clinic on January 5^th & 6^th. Pre registration ends December 29^th, register before you go on holiday break!

THIS YEARS ITCCCA CLINIC SPEAKERS

ITCCCA Sign Up:  http://itccca.com/january-clinic/

Gia Lewis-Smallwood American Record Holder in the Discus

Olympian Gia Lewis-Smallwood is the current American record holder in the discus with a throw of 226 feet 11 inches.  She is also the reigning four-time U.S. Champion in the discus. This Olympian has earned berths on four Team USA World Championship teams (Daegu, South Korea 2011, Moscow, Russia 2013, Beijing, China 2015, and London, England 2017). Gia also competed in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Unfortunately a serious injury kept her from competing in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.   She also competed in the 2015 Pan-Am Games where she earned a bronze medal.  We are very honored to have Gia come share her experiences and expertise with us.

Gia’s talks are titled:                       *Reflections of a Professional Discus Thrower

                                                                *Let’s have a Discus Discussion

Erik Johnson from ARETE THROWS NATION

Coach Johnson was an NCAA All American and a 1996 Olympic Trials Finalist in the discus. Coach Johnson has continued to compete and coach earning a Bronze medal in the 2011 World Masters Championship. Erik Johnson competed at UCLA and learned his trade under legendary coach Art Venegas. Coach Johnson is a Throws & Strength Coach Specialist, and owner of the #1 Throws Center in Orange County, CA and Phoenix, AZ- ARETE THROWS NATION. Coach Johnson has been coaching for over 20 years and during that time has successfully developed hundreds of throwers to achieve their goals: he has also coached over 88 athletes to winning League, Division, State, and National Championships, and currently coaches pro thrower, Jason Harrell, who just placed 4th at the 2016 Olympic Trials and Chase Ealey US women’s shot put.. Coach has developed the Throwing Chain Reaction™ (TCR) system of teaching the throws which involves what he calls the “Six Pillars of the Throw”. This system breaks the throws down to workable and teachable units which has proven to be very successful for Coach Johnson and hundreds of coaches around the world.

Erik talks are titled:          *Three keys to Unlocking Glide Shot Potential

                                                *Using the TCR™ for a 17 Foot Rotational Shot Put PR

                                                *The Art of Drill Prescription & Progressions

*How the Posture Dictates the Throw: Identifying obvious Variables that prohibit improvement and big throws!

                                               Samantha Serrano

Coach Serrano is a product of the Hoffman High School Throws machine under legendary coach Keith Peak, and later under Mary Wallace at Illinois State University where she was an All-American in the weight throw in 2000. She is a former ISU school record holder in the shot, hammer, and weight throws, and Missouri Valley Conference champion in the shotput and weight throws. This Coach Serrano’s 16th year coaching track and field at Conant High School.  Her athletes have 22 state qualifying performances resulting in 7 state medals.

Coach Serrano is a big believer in muscle memory skill drills that help build specific strength for individual events. Over time, her coaching has evolved from coaching my student-athletes from part-to whole, and now coaching whole to-part.  She teaches the kids what the major movements are first (what the finished product will look like), and then break down the movements into segmented skill drills to help build specific strength to improve on the whole.

Samantha’s talk is titled:                               Specific Strength Skills Drills for the H.S. Thrower

Jim Aikens

Coach Aikens has been coaching the throws since 1984. He has been the head coach at William Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois since 1990. During this time Jim’s throwers have won four state championships and 16 other state medals. Jim has served as the director of Junior Athletics for USA Track & Field in the state of Illinois and holds USA Track & Field Level 1 and Level 2 certification. He is a Level One USATF Lead Instructor and is a USATF Nationally Certified Official in the throws. He has also served as President for the Illinois Track and Cross-Country Coaches Association and is a member of their Hall of Fame. Jim is currently the Illinois representative for the National Throws Coaches Association. Many of his throwers have earned conference, sectional, state, and national honors. Coach Aikens teams have won eight conference championships, sectional championships, and four top 8 finishes at the Illinois state meet. Coach Aikens has published several articles about the Throws and training for the throws and is a much sought after speaking clinician. Jim is also the author of the Championship Video Throws series.

Jim’s talk is titled:                             Planning & Organizing your Throws Practices for Beginning Coaches