Slide 1: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete
Slide 2: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete   Cross Country can be a very long season (3-6 months) During trying weather conditions (hot, cold, rain, snow) 10/12/07 2
Slide 3: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete  This is one coach’s way to make it fun for both himself and his athletes. 10/12/07 3
Slide 4: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete         Presenter: Rich Weinhandl Head CC coach at Marengo High School Boys and Girls teams, with no assistant Started coaching at MCHS in 1990 First “team” consisted of 2 boys and 1 girl Certified Track Official since 1975 Before HS coach: Youth sponsor at church Youth coach at park district 4 10/12/07
Slide 5: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete What is needed to coach today:  Passion and a youthful spirit  Our athletes need to see that you have a passion for your sport  Love to teach your sport  Love to have fun  You’re not afraid to act like a kid  If it is dull for you, it will be dull for them 10/12/07 5
Slide 6: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete Some of the things we have done at MCHS  Retreats to Silver Birch Ranch and Camp Timber lee  Rock Climbing Wall  Whitewater rafting  Hiked the Black Harbor River with its many waterfalls 10/12/07 6
Slide 7: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete         Water skiing and tubing Canoe the Kishwaukee River Laser tag Bowling Run/Swim at team mates homes Bike / Run Relay Pizza and pasta parties Community Service Projects 7 10/12/07
Slide 8: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete Every Monday we end practice with a game  Egg Toss  Water Balloon Toss - hands  Water Balloon Toss - towels  Water Balloon Relay  Color Game 10/12/07 8
Slide 9: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete Sometimes the game takes up the whole practice  Iron Man / Iron Woman Contest  Scavenger Hunt  Cruisin Game 10/12/07 9
Slide 10: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete       Water Balloon Toss Game - Towel Pair up, 2 to a team 1 beach size towel per team (extras good) Mark off boundary (15’x15’ recommended) Rules One pair flings the balloon above the height of tallest person Must be forward Must be inbounds 10 10/12/07
Slide 11: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete   Water Balloon Toss – Towel The opposing team catches it using their towel and attempts to fling in back Game keeps going until one team fails to catch it or balloon is flung out of bounds or one team is disqualified Videoing this game is a must! 10/12/07 11
Slide 12: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete     Water Balloon Relay Large balloons filled to capacity !! Rules Entire team forms a circle One person chosen to have a huge balloon placed over their head The team must pass another huge balloon around the circle in a set time 12 10/12/07
Slide 13: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete  Water Balloon Relay If they beat the time limit, the balloon over their team mate’s head is popped (usually it is a rookie!) Great for those really hot days !! 10/12/07 13
Slide 14: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete     Color Game 15 – 20 traffic cones, the more increases the challenge Enough Index cards so that each team will have a complete “set” of colors when game is finish. A set equals the number of traffic cones used in the game. Rules Form equal size, equal ability teams Each team comes up with name and cheer (award bonus points) 14 10/12/07
Slide 15: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete    Color Game Traffic cones are place throughout the school yard or cc course Under each cone place index cards for one color and enough cards for the number of teams Each team will have a unique color sequence revealed to them one color at a time as the game progresses 15 10/12/07
Slide 16: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete    Color Game Each team starts the game knowing the first color in their assigned sequence The team must stay together throughout the game and their speed is determined by the slowest runner The team must find the cone with the color under it and bring it back to coach 16 10/12/07
Slide 17: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete    Color Game Coach then gives the next color and the team goes out looking for the next cone. Variation: Take the whole squad out at one time and allow them to look under each cone. They have to rely only on their memory. Use a megaphone to give a play by play of who is in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. 17 10/12/07
Slide 18: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete     Crusin Game Digital camera for each team Equal size, equal ability teams Long list of business or locations in and around town with points assigned to each place with higher pts for farther places Rules Each team has 15 min. to study the list and come up with a plan / strategy 18 10/12/07
Slide 19: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete   Crusin Game Each team must prove that they have visited each business or location on the list by taking a creative digital picture of the team with the business or location in the picture. Game has a 1 hour time limit and teams are penalized for each minute late. 10/12/07 19
Slide 20: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete Crusin Game     Ways to make this game a blast: Give each team the list one week before the game Hype it up each day at practice as the event nears Give a “Tip of the Day” to help them strategize Keep those digital pictures, you’ll soon see why. 10/12/07 20
Slide 21: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete  Other games Iron Man / Iron Woman Take several of your favorite games and take a day during the summer to play them, awarding points and ending with a picnic, or Over the course of a season of games, end up with a “face-off” between winners. 21 10/12/07
Slide 22: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete       Highlight Video Many ways to do it. I use Pinnacle Studio software, digital camcorder, photos that the kids provide. Presented at the awards banquet Each athlete is given a DVD copy Great keepsake for years to come They show their friends, great tool for recruitment !! Also provides good memories and motivation for coach too ! 10/12/07 22
Slide 23: Making Cross Country Fun For Both Coach and Athlete  If you need help with any game mentioned here or assistance getting started on producing your own Highlight video: Rich Weinhandl 607 Maple Street Marengo, IL 60152 815-568-6087 hm 815-334-4707 wk rhwein@co.mchenry.il.us 10/12/07 23