A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
W
ith the Championship segment of the 2018 Cross Country season upon us, it’s also nearly time for our annual business meeting and USTFCCCA Convention. I hope you have already made plans to join us for another outstanding few days of professional development, networking opportunities, and deliberative action within each of our divisions and sports. If you haven’t yet planned to attend, please visit the USTFCCCA website to learn more about the upcoming USTFCCCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas on December 17-20. One of my favorite elements of our convention each year is the induction of another group of legendary coaches into our Hall of Fame. This year’s class of Dr. Artis Davenport, Karen Dennis, Ron Mann, Damon Martin, John McNichols, and Dan Pfaff is truly outstanding. They are truly models of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to excellence for each of us to aspire to in our coaching careers. This year is a very special year for us in awarding the 2018 men’s and women’s winners of The Bowerman. This year is the tenth anniversary of The Bowerman, and we are looking forward to an incredible evening on Thursday, December 20 surrounding that event. We also will recognize the National High School Cross Country and Track & Field Coaches of the Year, and we will honor our NCAA and NAIA programs that earned Program of the Year for their excellence across the sports of Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field, and Outdoor Track & Field. As many of you know, our Convention is about so much more than awards and recognition. The Convention is also where we hold our annual business meetings, both as an association and as individual divisions and sports within the USTFCCCA. The deliberative process is an important one, one in which we bring our own knowledge and perspectives to bear on important issues, and also listen to and learn from the knowledge and perspectives of our coaching colleagues. The goal is that we find common ground on which to come together for the betterment of our sports, our student-athletes, and our profession, working together and seeking consensus on sometimes-difficult issues. We also have the opportunity at Convention to interact with the many vendors who support our Association and our sports throughout the year. Whether you’re considering upgrades or improvements to your facilities, equipment, uniforms, training aids, or awards, USTFCCCA sponsors and supporters will be glad to talk to you about how they can meet the needs of your team. I hope you will take some time during the Convention to stop by these vendor booths and learn more about their products and services. As I do at this time each year, I want to ask each of you to get involved in our coaches association. If you’re not yet involved, consider serving on one of our committees. If you are already serving on a committee, consider whether you might serve as an Officer. We have numerous ways for coaches in every division to become more involved in the leadership of our Association, not just at the Convention but throughout the year, and I encourage you to consider how you might best be of service to our sports. The success of this Association, and of our profession as a whole, truly depends on commitment from each of us. Best wishes to you in the Championships segment of the Cross Country season or in your preparations for the Indoor Track & Field season! Be sure to stay plugged in to the USTFCCCA website for the latest news on the Cross Country season and our postseason awards. I look forward to seeing many of you in San Antonio in December!
DENNIS SHAVER President, USTFCCCA Dennis Shaver is the head men’s and women’s track and field coach at Louisiana State University. Dennis can be reached at shaver@lsu.edu
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techniques november 2018
Publisher Sam Seemes Executive Editor Mike Corn DIRECTOR OF MEDIA, BROADCASTING AND ANALYTICS Tom Lewis Membership Services Kristina Taylor communications Tyler Mayforth, Matthew Schaefer Photographer Kirby Lee editorial Board Tommy Badon, Todd Lane, Boo Schexnayder, Derek Yush ART DIRECTOR Tiffani Reding Amedeo
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Techniques (ISSN 1939-3849) is published quarterly in February, May, August and November by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without the permission of the publisher. techniques is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The opinions expressed in techniques are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the magazines’ managers or owners. Periodical Postage Paid at New Orleans La and Additional Entry Offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: USTFCCCA, PO Box 55969, Metairie, LA 70055-5969. If you would like to advertise your business in techniques, please contact Mike Corn at (504) 599-8900 or mike@ustfccca.org.