You had an amazing end of season qualifying both boys and girls team for the Nike Nationals. Want to talk about how that went for you?The boys and girls did so well, and they continue to do so year after year, it has to be a program thing. So what is it about what they are doing at Mountain Vista that is making both the boys and girls so good.
The challenge for many coaches is finishing up at State on an emotional high, qualifying for nationals then running well at nationals. So can you talk about how you planned that physically and emotionally?
Do you think the 3 weeks is a little more of an advantage than the teams that need to go two weeks later?
Southwest was extremely difficult, especially on the boy's side. Your goal was Nationals before the season when you saw how tough the SW was did any goals or plans change?
So many good coaches out there and good programs. On the mental side, once you get there it seems it is easier to get back, is that a psychological aspect of it? Do you notice a change in the kids in their confidence once they have been there?
Year after year it seems the same coaches and teams are showing up. Is it the kids or is it the coaches who are instilling the belief that they can get there?
If you want more training, check out the earlier episode we did with Jonathan Dalby.
Now that nationals are done, what do you do now to transfer the kids out of cross country and really start thinking about track season?
What happens once early January comes with training?
How similar is Jan/Feb to your July/August
Many kids live the team aspect of cross country over track. So many coaches continue to pound that type of work. How do you get the athletes to buy into the need to work on the speed which may be their weakness?
One of the big difference between XC and Track is the team aspect. More people think of track as an individual sport. How do you tackle this?
Do you lose some of the XC kids in the spring or do you retain them?
You said when they are older they may specialize in the 800 or one event, but how many of your kids specialize in one event vs a variety of events?
If the mile is the base, what are some good mile specific workouts?
During the track season if you have a meet on the weekend, how often do you hit on race paced work during the week?
For your top kids are they doubling much, and if not on race day what other work are they getting in?
You have no problem admitting from your mistakes. What is something you did wrong in the past during track season and realize it was a mistake?
You have a long invitational meet, do you have everyone show up the same time and do you have them stay or do you let them cut out early?
How does your XC squad look for 2018?
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Ben Rosario
Dean Ouellette
Jonathan Dably
John O’Malley is the longtime coach of Sandburg High School where he has sent two teams and a few individuals to the NXN Championship race.
John took over the program in 2003 and we talk about some of the changes and challenges he has gone through.
John coaches more than 50 boys, we talk about the staff he uses to manage that team size and how Good To Great has helped him build the coaching staff.
Culture is a big piece of the success of Sandburg High School. John talks in detail about building the culture and what that means?
John talks about recruiting and growing the team?
Before we get into training, great coaches develop their own system that works for them, but they all have influences too that have shaped them. Who are some of your coaching influences?
You throw some interesting things into your training. In the course of sound training, how do you switch things up that is specific to your team?What are some of the things you give the kids as they plan the race to set them up for success?
You are doing a lot to set your kids up for success. I’ve heard you stress before that your feet move fast every day, what does that look like for you, how are you working this into your program and is this from week one of summer running?
We talk about Dylan Jacobs who is running at NXN and Footlocker Finals.