The Art of Coaching Track and Field Athletes (2021)

Successfully coaching an athlete involves both science– and art-based approaches. Every coach will have a different philosophy on how to create individualized programs for optimizing performance. However, top coaches invariably seek to deploy the above two factors in a balanced manner. I have had the great pleasure to work and learn from Brett Willmott, coach of the Track and Field team here at SUNY Potsdam. Over the past weeks, I analyzed training regimens for SUNY Potsdam Men’s and Women’s Track and Field athletes both in and out of the weight room. I noted how athletes presented themselves on a high-intensity day compared to a day after a high-intensity day, and after a regeneration or recovery day, highlighting several outcomes. Evidence suggests that with a balance of art and science-based approach, athletes recover more efficiently, allowing them to produce more power and speed, improve their ability to learn, enhance their mood, an increase overall performance because of their ability to train consistently. I am excited to apply and share the knowledge I have learned from this experience into programming for my future athletes.  

• Student(s): Emily Metz
• Project Mentor(s): Brett Willmott
• L&RF 2021 Presentation-Emily Metz