1. PAGES 1-35 - Texas Track & Field Coaches Association

I’ve been coaching track and field for 27 years and
have been the Boys Head Coach for the past 20
years. I was very fortunate to have great coaches
as my mentors in high school and college. The
former Head Coach of my program stayed on as a
coach when I took over the program, giving me
encouragement and insight. Wheaton North has
2100 students. I continually have 100 plus boys
out for track each year. We compete for spring
athletes between five other boys sports and the
never-ending club sports. This is what I do to promote
our program at Wheaton North High School.
YOU’RE INVITED!
Dan McQuaid
WHAT: Track and Field informational meeting
WHEN: This Thursday November 18th at 2:30 in the Auditorium
WHO WILL BE THERE: All the athletes who want to regain the DVC title
WHAT IF I CANNOT MAKE THE MEETING: See Coach Helberg (room 810)
WHAT SHOULD I BRING: A friend if you have one!
RECRUITING
Let’s face it, we need to recruit kids. When baseball has tryouts,
hundreds of kids show up without any recruiting. I once
saw a cross country t-shirt saying “our sport is your sport’s
punishment”. I liked the shirt but, I thought, maybe that’s how
athletes view track and field. I wanted to change that attitude. I
never wanted an athlete to feel I didn’t want him in my program.
•Send every freshman an invite to your informational meeting
•Send every returning athlete an invite to your informational meeting
•Talk to an athlete who quit last season to see if he wanted
to return.
•Send every wrestler/basketball player an invite to your program
when their season ends. Personally talk to the really good ones!
•Get names from soccer and football coaches, then personally talk
to those players.
•Get names of athletes who have been cut from baseball and
volleyball
•Get middle school names
•Have current members help recruit
•Get a bulletin board to post pictures and information about
your program
ALWAYS BE POSITIVE
It’s too easy to find the negative in any situation. Don’t fall
into that trap and dwell on the negatives. Always look for the
positive in your situations (especially when it’s not easy).
Whenever you need to correct an athlete, start off with something
they’re doing correctly/well, then zero in on what needs
to be corrected. Finish up with another positive. The athlete
will be more willing to adapt when you approach them in a
positive manner.
•The athletes will reflect you and your staff’s personality
•Get excited about every athlete’s PR
•Develop trust, so that the athlete is not afraid to fail if he
tries something different
•If your #1 athlete cannot compete, exude the attitude that
now another athlete gets a chance to develop in this situation.
COACHES
I have been blessed with outstanding coaches on my staff.
All of them have been clinic speakers and/or award-winning
coaches. There are five paid coaches for the 100 plus boys, plus
I have up to five additional volunteer coaches.
•All of the coaches on your staff MUST have the same philosophy,
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