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COACHING STAFF PHILOSOPHY

1.        CONTROL - We believe everything that happens is allowed and directed by God. So we want each student athlete to realize that there are many things that they have no control over such as injury, weather, opponents, health and family issues. If they worry about issues outside of their control they waste their energy on the things they can control…In other words …Concentrate on the areas you do have control over! By not worrying, a student athlete then has the freedom to fully develop those abilities/talents that God has given them.     "The ultimate tragedy is that many people go to their graves with their music still in them." -- Oliver Wendal Holmes

2.        CONTACT - We feel God has established the authority of parents/teachers/coaches for directing the life of the student athletes.   This authority creates an "umbrella of protection" which provides an environment for optimum development wherever it is applied. Our staff takes that authority seriously by imparting to our athletes the advantage of accountability through close supervision. Safety and respect for authority is a by-product.              "Children, obey your parents…and a long life will follow" -- The Old Testament

3.        CONTENTMENT - Happiness comes in attaining goals. Goals help to measure progress as long as they are valuable and realistic. Striving towards a goal(s) enhances motivation and gives a sense of direction and focus. Goal oriented people are fulfilled people.                     "I press on toward the goal…Run in a way that you can win" - The New Testament

4.        COMMITMENT - The degree of success is determined by the amount of work one is willing to do. There is no shortcut to success. "Lazy people want much but get little while the diligent are prospering. Hard work brings prosperity; playing around brings poverty." We are committed to developing a strong work ethic in our athletes.                               "80% of success is showing up" - Woody Allen
        Emil Zatopak- Won three gold medals in the 1952 Olympics…. Held almost every world         record over 5,000m…. Trained for 6 ½ hours each day…"I run until I hurt. That's when I         begin my training program. I've learned that if I can just get beyond fatigue there is a         reserve of power that I had never dreamed I had, and I go on to run my best races."

5.        CHARACTER (moral strength) - We want our student athletes to go away with more than just medals and awards. The evidence of success is not winning…. it is what kind of friend/teammate you are…what kind of son, brother, father, husband you are. That is how success is measured. The ultimate goal of our program is to teach our student athletes the process leading to successful adulthood through the avenue of distance running.

        Furthermore, instead of manhood being defined by financial success, athletic ability, and         sexual conquest "masculinity ought to be defined in terms of relationships (love) AND         having some kind of cause in their lives bigger than themselves (serving.)… The code of         conduct for manhood: accepting responsibility, leading courageously, enacting justice on         behalf of others". ----Joe Ehrmann---from the book "Season of Life."