Integrity of track and field ‘dwindling and moving backward’

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Editor’s note: The following editorial was received from the Iowa Association of Track Coaches April 28.

Editor:

As an association we have been through many ups and downs in the past year. We know we live in uncertain times and many challenges that have come our way have not been in our control. Our goal is to find impactful ways to express our ideas and concerns about changes in track and field, while being the best advocates for our athletes and this great sport that we love.

Losing our high school track and field season in 2020 was devastating for all coaches and athletes. While we know there are bigger issues in the world, we mourned the loss of what would have been a terrific season. As coaches, we tried to focus our attention on factors within our control and use positive energy toward the 2021 season.

With deepest disappointment we learned that our 2021 season would begin two weeks later than usual and our season would be shortened. This change was discussed at our IATC meeting in November of 2020 and many coaches were unaware about the shortened schedule, which caused high feelings of frustration. As with any new change, coaches brainstormed ideas to adapt to the new situation. Our advisory committee proposed 7 coach/athlete contact days for preseason and were denied this request. The feelings of frustration continued to grow as we tried to find a compromise, and one was not found. In May, the board of directors for the IATC conducted a survey that was sent out to all Iowa high school track and field coaches. The survey asked two questions:

1. Are you in favor of losing two weeks to the track and field season?

2. Given the shortening of the season by two weeks, would you be in favor of allowing seven optional contact days in the month of February?

220 coaches from across the state responded to the survey and the answers were documented and reported back to the IGHSAU/IHSAA at the IATC spring meeting. Eighty-nine percent of high school coaches were not in favor of losing two weeks to the season, and 97 percent of coaches were in favor of allowing seven optional contact practices prior to the March 1 start date. The decisions made by the IGHSAU/IHSAA are obviously not supported by statistical data from the coaches.

We hit the ground running on March 1 and have been able to reflect and evaluate how the loss of two weeks in February has affected our season. First, we have noticed that while the missing two weeks was intended to give athletes a break, club activities have strongly continued and pulled our athletes to work with these organizations. Some coaches have noticed those athletes deciding to stay with club sports only, and not to pursue track and field, which is resulting in lower numbers of participants at their schools. To this point, many feel if the season would have had the additional two weeks, we would have been able to give attention to these athletes and get them to stick with track and field.

Second, some coaches have noticed an increase of injuries among athletes. Instead of having two weeks to progressively introduce drills and training techniques, programs felt rushed and athletes were pushed too quickly, so they could be prepared for early season competitions. Tied to this topic, we have noticed lower performance numbers. For example, because of the late start, many coaches have noticed that qualification stats for the Drake Relays this year are lower. We were grateful to have the opportunity to compete at the Drake Relays this year in the high school division, however, the lack of communication about coaching wristbands and procedures for attending caused high levels of stress for athletes, coaches, and parents.

Additionally, we know the softball and baseball seasons have been given an earlier start date, which for some track and field programs is even before we compete in our conference meet. Balancing committed athletes to both activities during the most important part of our track and field season adds to the levels of frustration and stress. All of these factors together make many coaches feel the integrity of our sport is dwindling and the program as a whole is moving backward instead of forward.

As an association we want to share our concerns promptly when they arise. As we want to keep the integrity of our programs moving forward, we want our state track meet to have the same schedule as it has had in years past. We propose that qualifying athletes would be allowed two spectators per day to the state meet, and they can leave when the session or team has finished competing for the day. We have high concerns that the new proposed schedule greatly reduces rest and recovery time between events. No other state championship event schedule was changed other than cross country, which did not impact the performance of the athlete.

Our goal is to express these concerns with the highest level of importance, and do everything in our power to see change for the betterment of our athletes. Please help voice your shared concerns by emailing and communicating with the board of control.

IATC Board of Directors,

Jared Fletcher Carlisle

Greg Thompson Panorama

Greg Williams Monticello

Mike Parker Iowa City West

Ben Duea Ames

Abby Schmitz Waukee

Peggy McGuire Iowa City West

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