Hello and welcome to our build-up to the season. From here on out, thru November I will be posting things on this site on a regular basis. So it will be a good idea to check occasionally to stay up on what is going on.
Here are several things that you need to know now: fundraisers, summer workouts, and the season schedule.
FUNDRAISERS
First up is the Bayshore marathon aid station. You’ll get a phone call about helping out. It is on Saturday May 23rd. Workers need to be at the station by 6:30 am and it finishes up around 1:00 pm. Early I know, but with that and 3 support vehicles this year that we will supply, we should make $1,000 or more that day. We need it too, since our transportation budget has apparently been slashed. SOo please support this, it’s for you team members.
During the Cherry Fest. I am setting us up to sell rubber ducks! Can you believe it? When this idea was presented to me, I was cool to it. Then I was told that for every $5 per duck sold the organization that is selling them receives $4 of the sale! Not many opportunities like that available. So I figured that we can sell them around home for a week ahead of time, then organize teams of guys to sell them downtown. It should be a fun way to make some $ for the team. (these are the ducks for the rubber duck race, put on by the optimist club)
Of course we will have the car wash again this year. We do well with that, and it’s a good service to provide. We’ll have a team / parent meeting on Mon. July 13, and you’ll receive a call about that as well. Then at this point I expect to hold the car wash Sat. July 25 th. That keeps us out of the “dead time” where we coaches aren’t supposed to have any contact.
EARLY TEAM MEETING
We will be having the team meetings on June 4. I expect too set up the Middle school meeting the same day as the High school, but haven’t been able to finalize it yet. You’ll be notified about these as well.
The Middle School meeting should be held in the gym balcony as we have the last few years. It’s during the resource hour, about 2:00 until school gets out. (2:42?) PLEASE PASS THIS INFO. ALONG TO ANY 7th & ESPECIALLY 8th GRADERS THAT YOU KNOW WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN XC. THEY DON’T GET A DIRECT PHONE CALL, SO WE RELY ON THE TEAM TO SPREAD THE NEWS & RECRUIT.
The High school meeting will also be on June 4th and it will begin just after school lets out. It will end usually by 3:45 or so. Sometimes there is a lot of conversation that keeps some of us around longer. We have important preparatory topics to cover, so it’s important to have team members there. Most sports should be done by then, there might be one or two conflicts. Plan to be there, (team) we have a couple of changes for this year, and I want to be certain that you understand what is coming up.
SUMMER TRAINING
A quick note; same time, same place as usual. What I’ve decided won’t be the usual is that I am going to be at most of the morning practices. Sometimes I may go out on my own for my workout, but I’ll be there when the team finishes up. Then the secondary workout will begin. I have a new program that I want to provide for this summer. 3 days of strength, & 2 days of yoga, pliometrics, stretching or other fun variety. It isn’t easy. It will get you fit. So I encourage each of you to make as many summer practices as you can. Come mid August, you’ll be glad you did.
Mon. – Fri. at 8:00 am, Veterans’ park. Division & Bay st., by the tennis courts. STARTING THE MONDAY AFTER SCHOOL GETS OUT.
I am encouraging everyone to get a yoga DVD or some sort of program to follow several times a week, We need to get this lack of flexibility under control. Tight muscles are weak muscles, and weakness doesn’t take you very far or fast.
PREVENT INJURY THIS YEAR; BE FIT, ABLE, AND LOOSE.
QUICK SCHEDULE:
Team meeting – Hickory hills gate 8:30 am – 10? prepare for next day.
WEDS. AUGUST 12th SEASON BEGINS > going to camp thru Sun. 16th
Thurs. Sept. 3 Titan Challenge Invite – HOME Hickory Meadows new course 6?
Sat Sept 12, Fremont Hill & Bale, am
Tues. Sept 22, BNC #1 Home 4:00 (Hickory course)
Sat Sept. 26, Jackson Invite – am & Petoskey invite am
Sat. Oct. 3, Carson City Crystal Invite, am (partial team)
Tues. Oct. 6, BNC #2 Petoskey, 4:00
Sat. Oct. 10, Portage Invite, pm (partial team)
Tues. Oct. 20, BNC Champs. - Gaylord 4:00
Sat. Oct. 24, Elk Rapids Invite, am + POTLUCK GATHERING @ EDMAR DR.!
Tues. Oct. 27, Gaylord Rotary Invite, All but varsity, 4:00
Sat. Oct. 31, Regional champs.
Sat. Nov. 7, State champs.
Well, there you have it. You are up to date. For the moment.
Just one more note to calm some who may not understand: About the idea of dividing the team: My plan is to have the camp time be a tryout period. Everyone will “make” the team. (no cuts) Performance during the camp will determine whether you are on the “A” team or the “B” team after camp. Who makes the top 20 to 25 or so for the A team can change during the season, as team members show that they deserve to move up. (or down) Workouts will start out as usual, everyone together, then split up after the warm up. A 3rd coach will take the B team and a different workout will often be done. Close to what the A team does but not quite the same. When the 3rd coach is not at practice; (we are not allowed to pay enough to justify 5 to 6 days a week) the assistant or head coach will work with the B team.
With over 35 guys on the team we have not been able to be effective enough in teaching and drilling important factors of training and racing. With an additional coach we can be more effective. By dividing the team for part of the workouts, your son will actually have more contact time with coaches. Allowing for more effective training. He will still have plenty of opportunity to have fun with the team, and the coaching can be more effective.
After I explained this at the banquet, I had hoped that it would be understood. Aside form 1 race becoming a partial team outing, nothing is lost, more is gained, and incentive is created. Want to be on the A team? Better get training.
Remember that most other sports have a better coach / athlete ratio than we have had for the last several years. 2 coaches for 43 guys is not good, then often 1 per 43? Not good at all. 3 for 35 – 45 sounds much better to me. Still below the ratio in other sports at that.
