Jeff Arbogast's "Championship Cross Country" Tapes Review
by Tony Bozarth

Jeff Arbogast’s three tape series of “Championship Cross Country” is an outstanding look at how a national level high school cross country team operates their program. It’s perhaps the best video series I’ve seen regarding developing a total cross country season, and continuing that training for cross country season to cross country season.

“Championship Cross Country Concepts” is a tape designed to show the basic philosophy behind Bingham High School’s distance program. It is an excellent tape for a coach wishing to develop a season and year long plan. Coach Arbogast explains the concepts he uses, included a dividing of the year into four training cycles, including the use of Summer Base, Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track. He also explains how each season can be used to develop a total distance runner and program. In a nice touch he also explains how other sports can be used to develop a distance runner, which could by ideal for those coaches who share athletes among various sports during the year.

Coach Arbogast also outlines season long, month long and weekly training plans. He explains various workouts and how to fit those workouts into these plans. The program is logical, but not dogmatic, which allows the high school coach to use these concepts within the program they have developed. The tape is excellent for coaches and parents or athletes wanting to understand the basic and more advanced concepts behind training.

“Weights, Core and Peripheral Concepts” is an excellent tape that examines strength training and also advanced recovery and nutritional and hydration concerns. It helps a coach advance beyond that stage of simply assigning hard workouts, to examining how to use those workouts to best advance their athletes with proper recovery. The Core Strength session is very well done, with specific examples of exercises. The weight work section is also well done, with a specific workout plan outlined, including lifts, reps and recovery guidelines. Of particular help is the scientific background presented on why to incorporate these principles into your program, and the proper way to outline your own specific program. Again, this is an excellent tape for coaches and parents and athletes wanting more detailed and advanced training information.

“Cross Country Form and Tactics” is a tape outlining proper running technique and tactics to use in a race. We actually use this tape with our runners, comparing their filmed technique with both the good and bad form demonstrated on the tape. The tape is an excellent review for veteran runners and coaches at the beginning of the season, and a great introduction with younger runners of techniques they can use in races. This film would be excellent for coaches, parents and runners at all levels of development, and particularly for young runners

Each of the tapes is an excellent teaching tool, examining cross country in a specific content area.  Taken as a whole set, they are an outstanding guide to building a high level program, or just what the title states: “Championship Cross Country”.

Each Video is $35 Plus $5 Shipping Cost
There is a $5 discount per video if you buy two or more videos!