Cross Country Coach Pens Book - Listen to a champion     9/04

Even though the Advisor was a football, basketball, baseball guy in high school and a football and baseball man in college, I was always up for a good long run – usually over hill and dale. You can also see that the Advisor switches from the first and third person with no regard for grammar either, but that is his style.

 Maybe it stems from growing up in the country and hanging out with the x-country nut cases, Richie and Bryan. Or possibly it comes from filming a MA state meet for a TV show that had me running in the woods with a camcorder trying to follow local Cambridge MA running legend Jessie Cody as he coached his Ringe and Latin harriers to an Eastern MA title.  Or maybe it was actually training for and completing a marathon that gave Advisor respect for runners.  Regardless, I enjoy the sport and like promoting it.

That said, I am pleased to post this release from Human Kinetics. Check it out runners and coaches there are some good quotes in this release!

Joe Newton, author of Coaching Cross Country Successfully, sets his sights on 24th state championship

September 1, 2004
Jennifer Altstadt

In his 48 years of coaching at York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois, Joe Newton has built a running dynasty. Known as the Long Green Line, the York boys' cross country team currently stands as one of the top programs in the nation as it heads into the 2004-2005 season, ranked #1 in both the state and the nation.

This season, which kicks off September 16th in a dual meet with Downer's Grove North, Newton welcomes back 4 of his 7 state meet runners from 2003-2004. His goal is simple: win the state, win the nationals, and produce seven all-state runners. He has also given the Long Green Line a target of besting the all time 24-point record his team set two years ago at state. With 19 national championships, 23 state championships, and 113 conference titles to his credit, Newton’s team goals are certainly within reach along with his individual goal of leading York to 25 state titles before even thinking about retirement.

Newton's first title came in 1962 and his last occurred in 2003-- a strong testament to his staying power as a coach. His philosophy has withstood the test of time and is one that he shares in his book Coaching Cross Country Successfully, "It's not just about winning...It's about being part of a tradition where discipline, effort, skill, and teamwork are of the utmost importance," said Newton. "Most important, the athletes take the lessons from their cross country careers and apply them to their schoolwork and jobs to achieve a similar high level of success. That's what really matters in the long run."

Through Newton's remarkable tenure at York, he has inspired thousands of kids with his infectious enthusiasm and strong sense of tradition. The number of athletes who dedicate themselves to earning a slot on the York squad each year confirms his influence, as he launches this season with more than 200 runners. Additionally, athletes from across the Chicago area flock to Newton's annual summer program for the chance to train under the most successful high school cross country coach in the United States. During the summer of 2004 he oversaw an unprecedented 218 kids.

Newton's teachings have, in fact, made lasting impressions on his athletes with 35 former students going on to become coaches themselves. One of them, Marius Bakken, came to York as a foreign exchange student from Norway and has since competed in three Olympics, including a trip to Athens this year. Donald Sage, the 5th fastest high school mile runner in history, and Kyle Erickson also advanced to this year's Olympic trials. Perhaps Mark L. Schmelzel, MD, sums up Newton’s influence best, "I know that the championships are very exciting, but more important to me are the lessons that you (Newton) taught us about life itself."

Newton has also received recognition from his peers, being named National High School Cross Country Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association in 1975 and by the National Federation of High School Administrators in 1994. In addition, he has been named High School Cross Country Coach of the Year 16 times by the Northern Illinois Track Coaches Association and 15 times by the Illinois High School Coaches Association. In 1988, Newton was chosen as one of the coaches of the U.S. men's track and field Olympic team in Seoul, South Korea, making him the first high school coach to ever receive this honor.

Excerpts:

Foreword: Sam Bell

One look at Joe Newton’s record and it’s easy to see why he’s achieved near-legendary status as a cross country coach. During 48 years at York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois, he has dominated like no other cross country coach ever has, leading his teams to 19 national titles and 23 state titles. At home, his squads have been nearly invincible, winning 98% of their meets.

Now in Coaching Cross Country Successfully, Newton shares the secrets to his unmatched success. With this complete guide, you’ll get a firsthand account of how to teach, train, and motivate like the master. You’ll learn not only how Newton built his running dynasty but also how you can apply his principles of discipline, dedication, and teamwork to create your own winning cross country program.

Combining straightforward instruction with dozens of personal anecdotes, Newton shows you how to:

• recruit athletes within your school,
• teach the basics of distance-running technique,
• develop winning race strategies,
• prepare for meets, and
• evaluate runners and your running program.

You’ll also find dozens of time-tested workouts and a copy of Newton’s 12-week practice schedule for title-winning performance.

In addition, Coaching Cross Country Successfully provides you with a look at Newton’s mastery of the intangibles of running a cross country program. Learn how he uses his enthusiasm and communication skills to motivate his athletes and build support for his program within the school and community. Best of all, Newton tells you how to do these same things in your program.

Coaching Cross Country Successfully is part of the Coaching Successfully series, a resource in the American Sport Education Program’s SportCoach curriculum.

 Table of Contents

Part I: Coaching Foundation
Chapter 1. Developing a Coaching Philosophy
Chapter 2. Communicating Your Approach
Chapter 3. Motivating Runners
Chapter 4. Building a Cross Country Program

Part II: Planning and Training
Chapter 5. Planning for the Season
Chapter 6. Preparing for Practices

Part III: Teaching Techniques and Tactics
Chapter 7. Teaching Proper Running Form
Chapter 8. Improving Runners’ Performance
Chapter 9. Developing a Race Strategy

Part IV: Coaching for Competitions
Chapter 10. Preparing for Meets
Chapter 11. Coaching Meets

Part V: Coaching Evaluation
Chapter 12. Evaluating Runners’ Performances
Chapter 13. Evaluating Your Program