Coaching in the Club

When I joined the club in 1957, coaching was a problem but like many another club at the time the guys who had run for years and who were now thought to be past it, were to be seen at the track at night giving the benefit of their experience to the up-and-coming athletes. Wilma Paton went on about the lack of specific coaching for the women (justifiably). The club then called a meeting to discuss the coaching problem in the Hunter and Currie rooms in Whitecrook and as a result David Bowman, Frank Kielty, David McGhee (a high jumper) and myself all volunteered and went on the appropriate course at Jordanhill in 1960. I was asked to work with the girls and encouraged the parents to help: Maria Taylor's Mum Mitzi came along, Moira Peel's parents Bob and Ishbel came along as well and Helen Donald, Ian's wife also helped out. As in all clubs, the situation arose again in the 1970's and the coaches then were Derek McGinley for the U13's, John Tonner for the U15's and myself for the U17's. Then in the 1980's and 90's Derek and I were the main men but we gradually built a team. Mark and Donald Govan's DadScott came in to coach high jump, Lynn Hardware's Mum Emily came to coach Long Jump, former middle distance runner Bobby Bell came back to coach the Throwers and Bill Hislop worked with the sprinters.
Right now, we have a facility on our doorstep that we will have to use. BUT - if we are to use it profitably we need the structure in advance so that we 'hit the ground running'. Right now, we should be making contact with Donna Campbell (long jump) and asking her to stand by for action when the track is available' Paul Doherty should be being cultivated and encouraged to keep himself available; add in Donald for the sprints, Phil with the endurance runners and Peter Halpin and you have a superb team.
So the club should be building the team.
An afterthought - get the endurance runners down from the Antonine to train from the School. The number of seniors who come into coaching just by being there when they are needed or feel like it is high in every club. If your intention is to coach at some point, the sooner you start mixing with the young'uns the better. You can't just plummet in from the Antonine when you feel like it and expect the Juniors to take to you immediately
C'mon - build the team. That means parents, senior members and former members as well!