Aug 14 AAF Clinic

Chuck Woolridge (College Park) - Helen Lehman-Winters (Univ San Francisco/former UCLA/Carondelet HS) - Ken Reeves (former Nordhoff HS)

Southern California coaches will have a great opportunity to hear from three of Northern California’s most successful cross country coaches at the final AAF Cross Country Summer Clinic to be held on Saturday, August 14th at Mt. SAC. This AAF clinic is absolutely free to all coaches and adults who would like to attend.

For the first time in Southern California, Chuck Woolridge of College Park High School-2003 Division II State Champions, Jim Tracy of University High School-2003 Division V State Champions, and Helen Lehman-Winters, former coach of Carondelet High School and new head coach at San Francisco University will present along with Bill Tokar, Ken Reeves, Jon Zimmerman, Tim O’Rourke and Sharon Zimmerman.

Woolridge, who just may be the hottest high school coach in the state after leading his College Park girls team to a victory over an awesome Sultana squad in last year’s state meet and then following that up with an equally impressive track season resulting in a National Championship in the 4 x mile relay, will explain the College Park Distance Training System along with outlining the specific training his squad did in 2003 that led it to the top spot in Fresno.

Tracy, who has built a juggernaut at University High School in San Francisco winning an unbelievable six State Championships and finishing runner-up three other times, will lay out the process he used to develop and monitor his distance training program, and in another session he will discuss the psychological basis for success which a coach and team must share.

Helen Lehman-Winters has been tremendously successful at every level. While at Carondelet High School in Concord, California she turned the Cougars into a perennial state power winning the 1995 DIII state championship. She also coached the 1996 Footlocker Champion, Kristen Gordon. She then took her talents to the university level working as an assistant for the UCLA Bruins until this past fall when she was named Head Track and Cross Country coach at USF. She will be dealing with two very important issues at this clinic. First, she will discuss special considerations in coaching female distance runners, and in a second session she will be discussing the transitioning of the distance runner from high school to college.

Bill Tokar and Ken Reeves will be also be doing two sessions in the Advanced Section of the clinic discussing what coaches need to do to get their teams to the podium at the State Meet and then once they get them there what to do to keep them there.

Jon Zimmerman will be discussing how to implement a strength program, and Sharon Zimmerman will present one session on the importance of nutrition in a training regimen and another on specific health issues relating to female distance runners.

Once again, there will also be a complete slate of Beginning Level sessions geared specifically to the new or inexperienced coach. This entire Beginning Level program, which has been recognized nationally as one of, if not the, finest of its kind, takes the beginning coach and gives him or her in one day the tools he or she must have to become a solid cross country coach.

If you are a new coach or you have picked up an assistant or you have some other parents or adults who would like to learn more about the sport, they should attend this Beginning Level section.

And, finally, don't discount the time you will be able to spend before and after each session, at lunch, and after the clinic, talking one on one or in small groups with all of these great coaches-it will make for a great day!

This great AAF Cross Country coaches clinic will be offered on Saturday, August 14, at Mt. SAC College, and it is not only free for all coaches and interested adults who would like to attend but if you pre-register by August 9, you will receive a free gift just for attending from Venue/SpringCo Sports.

You can pre-register at the AAF web site: www.aafla.org select "Coaching Education" and then "AAF Coaching Clinics"

Clinic Check-in will begin on the 14th at 7:30 AM and late comers may still register at the door. The first session will begin at 8:30 AM. All sessions will be held in the Student Life Building (Building 9C) on the main part of the Mt. SAC campus.

Please park in Student Parking Lot D-Student Parking Lot D is located just off Temple Ave. (Temple Ave is the main street that runs between the campus and track stadium) Off of Temple Ave. turn north into the campus on Mt. SAC Way-Parking Lot D will be on your right. Park anywhere in Parking Lot D-there are no parking permits required on Saturdays. Walk north into the campus and follow the AAF Clinic signs to the Student Life Building.

There will be two full tracks offered featuring at least one presentation from each track being offered at every session during the day.

Track 1:Beginning Track. This track is designed for the beginning or inexperienced coach. It is recommended for coaches with five years or less of experience. Topics include the basic physiology of training a high school distance runner, how to construct a season long training plan, how to recruit and build your team, and all the things you need to know as a head coach to stay one step ahead of the CIF, your AD, and the principal.

Track 2: Advanced Track: This track is designed for the experienced coach who understands the basic physiology of training distance runners and who already has organizational and recruiting skills. Speakers will be presenting sessions that are specific and assume a common level of knowledge.

Clinic Schedule:
Track 2-Advanced Track

8:40 - 9:40
Development of the College Park High School Distance Training Philosophy - Chuck Woolridge

9:50 - 10:50
College Park – Detailed Analysis of the 2003 State Championship Season Plan - Chuck Woolridge
Or
The Road to the Podium- Part I - Ken Reeves and Bill Tokar

11:00 - 12:00
Development and Monitoring of Coach Tracy’s Complete Distance Training Program - Jim Tracy
Or
The Road to the Podium- Part II - Bill Tokar and Ken Reeves

12:00 - 1:00---Lunch

1:00 - 2:00
Special Considerations in Coaching Female Distance Runners - Helen Lehman-Winters
Or
Strength Training Without A Weight Room - Jon Zimmerman

2:10 - 3:10
Psychological Basis for Success Which a Coach and Team Must Share - Jim Tracy
Or
Nutrition: The Cornerstone of a Sound Distance Training Philosophy - Sharon Zimmerman

3:20- 4:20
Transitioning the Distance Runner From High School To College - Helen Lehman-Winters
Unique Health Issues Affecting Female Runners - Sharom Zimmerman

4:20-Distribution on clinic certificate and free AAF Cross Country Coaching Manual

Track 1-Beginning Level
8:40 - 9:40---101 Specific Tips for Building and Maintaining A Successful Cross Country Program

9:50 - 10:50--Basic Principles of Warm-up & Cool Down-Including Specific Stretches and Drills

11:00 - 12:00---Basic Physiological Principles of Training The High School Distance Runner

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch Own

1:00 - 2:00---Rules, Dates, Signatures, Forms: Staying One Step Ahead Of Your AD, Principal & the CIF

2:10 - 3:10---How To Construct A Season Long Training Plan

3:20 - 4:20----Constructing "Your" Season Long Training Plan

4:20-Distribution on clinic certificate and free AAF Cross Country Coaching Manual

If you have any questions, please e-mail Tim O'Rourke at [email protected] or phone 626-890-1192.