sustainable success: building and marketing a high school xc program
DESCRIPTION
Understanding the competitive landscape for your team, while creating a feasible action plan to foster sustainable success.TRANSCRIPT
SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS: BUILDING AND MARKETING A XC PROGRAMNicholas MartinezLa Cueva XC
Presentation Highlights
Success is enabled by planning, compassionate coaches, hard working athletes, and understanding that there are no shortcuts.
Review of La Cueva XC Ideals Surrounding Yourself with Talent Communicating Transparency
Creating a Action Plan & Blueprint Marketing your Team
Building Goodwill and Awareness Attracting Future Team Members
Celebrating Team Success
Fundamental Goals
Improve Every Season Train Consistently & Reduce Injuries Train & Race with established goals &
strategies Collaborate with coaches & athletes Create incentives to overachieve Communicate Clearly Acknowledge our Best & Brightest
Coaches, Mentors, & Alumni: Surround yourself with talented support, always value and implement their input.
Support Crew
Coaching Staff & Support
Managing Large Teams
Create individual coaching responsibilities/duties
Delegate & Empower Understand your
limits Provide feedback Share best practices
3 coaches – 90 kids Varsity athletes (25)
Meet Report review Strategy cards Feedback
JV & C Team (65) Reinforce standards Support & Guidance
Guidelines Implementation
Celebrate Alumni
Establish your standards bearers
Explain their journeys
Invite them to return Introduce them to
current team Alums are teaching
tools!
Provide Inspiration Share their Stories
Regularly posted to communication channels to increase transparency. Archived results help athletes to gather data and measure their yearly improvement.
Team Info & Handouts
Team Communication
Team Website – www.bearscrosscountry.com
Facebook – La Cueva XC Instant communication & updates Bears of the Week
Meet Reports Performance reviews, meet results, workout
schedule Twitter
Instant picture updates Shared by School AD & Athletic Director
Training Philosophy
Athlete Nutrition
Parent Support & AssistanceParent Requests Booster Fee Breakdown
Meet Reports
Full Results Coaching Notes Meet Highlights Top Performers Upcoming
Schedule Workouts Meet Info Time Schedule
Our Weekly Workouts are developed by coaching staff as season progresses, addressing needs & competitive strategies as season unfolds.
Weekly Workout Breakdown
Daily Schedule
Mon – Speed Session Repeats Varsity location JV/C at school
Tue – Fitness Runs 3 – 5 laps (30–50min)
Wed – Long Run Foothills 50-80 min
Progression 3 week rotation Finish with uphill
strides
Thu – Flat, Fast & Easy 40 – 60 min Hard sprints mixed in
at halfway mark Controlled, steady
rhythm. (Group Effort)
Fri – Pre Race Easy 30 min Strides & Info Session
Sat – Race Day
Favorite Speed Sessions
Blend of Tempo, Fartlek, and Repeats
Parks (grass), Trails (hilly & dirt)
Primary speed workout on Monday
“Teaching Day”
3x 1600m, 3x 300m 4x 1200m 4x 800m, 4x 400m
Rest is normally half of repeat portion
Rest interval is most important
Rarely run above 90% effort…
Working Format Benchmark Workouts
The Long Run – Consistency Counts
Weekly long run (50-80 minutes) Always on dirt – Foothills or Bosque
Helps with injury prevention Beautiful scenery, connection to nature Tech not allowed, must engage with teammates/nature
Progression runs, Loops, & Timed runs AVG pace isn’t concern, neither is mileage Indicators are sensory data & effort-based runs 3 week rotating cycle of runs (never same run
week to week) Usually finish fast, always conclude with 60m
sprints
Tactics to incentivize participation and produce over-achievers
Motivation & Accountability
Bears of the Week
Formalized Goals
Goal Sheets Leadership Code of Honor
Standards
Team Bear Wear Look Good, Feel
Good Bears of the Week Team MVP Awards Team Captains Leadership
Opportunities
State Roster Seasonal Recap of
each athlete’s performances
Ranked by fastest AVG time
Identifies improvement & performance trends
Always final decision from coaches
Think of new & unique ideas to share your teams success!Your athletes are the ambassadors for your program!
Marketing Success
Team Pride
Invest in the Student Athletes
Differentiate your Team
Celebrate Together
Keys to Remember
Leverage your support Try new ideas Share best practices Ask for help, use it Keep what works Tinker to improve Don’t settle for old habits