Blaze Coach’s Corner

Here you'll find information on fitness and nutrition, as well as training tips, instructional videos, and more.  It is the goal of Blaze to keep all athletes healthy, safe and injury-free throughout the season.  In order to do this, it is important that parents and athletes follow appropriate health and nutritional guidelines.  The material posted on this website and provided in the Blaze Member Handbook are provided for information purposes only. Please use good judgment and consider each athlete’s health, level of fitness, and special dietary needs before incorporating any new activities or foods into their normal training and competition regimen.   

        for All Athletes

   USATF Future Stars

An excellent source of information for young athletes can be found on the USATF Future Stars website.  The site has tons of great information and instructional videos. Each week, three new tips are posted that could help young athletes achieve their athletic potential!  Your BLAZE Coaches highly recommend it!

Pre-Season Conditioning for Track and Field: Ten Tips

Click here for "Pre-Season Conditioning for Track and Field: Ten Tips" by Chris Saunders - Workout and nutrition tips to help athletes prepare during the "off season" for training and competition. 

 for High Jumpers

Boo Schexnayder - High Jump Technique & Teaching

Published on Mar 9, 2012
This video is an introduction to Boo Schexnayder's 'High Jump Technique & Teaching' DVD. This short clip covers the importance of the high jump approach and what makes it different from other jumping events.
  
 
Discover Proper Takeoff Technique for the High Jump! - Track 2015 #46  
Published on Nov 30, 2015

One of the most crucial aspects of clearing the bar on the high jump is taking off from the correct location. Gary Pepin, University of Nebraska head track coach, shows you the optimal takeoff locations for both males and females before explaining the body position and angles that lead to great jumps.

 
Maximize Your High Jump by Perfecting Your Flight! - Track 2015 #31           
Published on Jul 28, 2015

One of the most important stages of the high jump is when the athlete takes flight. In this clip featuring Karen Gaita, assistant coach at East Stroudsburg State University, you’ll see how Coach Gaita trains high jumpers to raise their hips and lower their shoulders over the bar. 

 

 for Runners

Endurance: Run Farther, Faster, More Easily - Sport Science: Running

Published on Apr 25, 2013

No matter what distance you are training for, no matter what your goal is...all runners need one thing -- ENDURANCE. How endurance training increases your ability to resist and recover from fatigue.

 

The physics of running

Published on Jul 20, 201

Part of our video series on the science and technology of professional sport. Visit physicsworld.com for more videos, webinars and podcasts

The Science Behind Running!

by 

 for Parents

Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Resources for Parents

AAU has partnered with the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) to provide resources to help youth and high school sports coaches, parents, administrators and student-athletes create a positive, character-building youth sports culture, and in doing so develop BETTER ATHLETES, BETTER PEOPLE.

In this segment, we will feature a few of the 1,000+ free audio-video and printable tips and tools from the PCA Development Zone, www.PCADevZone.org,  We encourage BLAZE athletes and parents to take advantage the wealth of PCA resources made available FREE as a benefit of the AAU-PCA National Partnership, including: 

Momentum, PCA's bi-weekly newsletter filled with the latest news, views, videos, information and inspiration from the PCA movement to develop "Better Athletes, Better People" by providing a positive, character-building youth sports experience.

Talking Points, a series of weekly e-mails that provides key topics and points for coaches to discuss with their players, plus video commentary from PCA National Advisory Board Members, such as Doc Rivers, Phil Jackson, Shane Battier, Tara VanDerveer, Herm Edwards and Dusty Baker.

PCADevZone.org, a highly searchable website with 1,000+ audio-video and printable resources for youth and high school sports coaches, parents, administrators, student-athletes and game officials…all designed to get the most from your players while helping them get the most from their AAU youth sports experience.

 10 Tips For First-Time Sports Parents

As rewarding as sports parenting can be, it's not easy. Winning and losing and performing well and not-so-well are challenges your children will face in youth sports. You'll want to help them navigate those experiences and emotions, and this article can help you!

Among the items covered in these 10 tips: Keeping your eye on the "Big Picture;" How to choose the right sports environment for your child; What to say (and not say) after the competition; Guidelines for sideline behavior; and Pursuing positive relationships with your children's coaches.

 for Throwers

 Turbojav 1 Step with former World Champion Tom Petranoff

Turbojav Grips with former World Champion Tom Petranoff 

 for Sprinters

Better Sprinting 2 - Thigh Pop

Published on Nov 16, 2016
How to improve your acceleration and top speed sprinting. Coach John Shepherd looks at thoughts on real side and front side mechanics and analyses the thoughts and drills of Loren Seagrave. This video will benefit athletes and coaches.

Road to Rio: How to be fast, with Loren Seagrave

Published on Apr 12, 2016
Renowned IMG Academy speed coach Loren Seagrave shares tips on gaining speed for the Herald-Tribune's Road to Rio project.