The 2016 FACA Track & Field Clinic kicks off Thursday at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort. The event will feature some of the top coaches and minds in the sport giving presentations, as well as hands on advice along with Olympian Christian Taylor in Saturday's FACA + session. We caught up with Bolles head coach and FACA Track & Field Chairman Dan Dearing about what coaches and athletes can expect from this year's clinic.
Flrunners.com: What are you expecting for this year's clinic?
Dan Dearing: With this being my first year running the clinic, I really don't know what to expect. I'm sure things will come up that I wasn't expecting, but I think that we have done everything possible to prepare for the weekend. I feel much the same way I do before hosting a big invitational track meet. I feel like it should go well, but you never know until it happens and starts rolling. I am expecting that we are going to learn a lot as well as have a great experience with our fellow coaches. This year's lineup of presenters are all very well accomplished teachers of the sport.
FLR: What can attendees look forward to?
DD: I think this clinic really is a destination weekend, no matter what events you coach. There will be multiple Olympic Gold Medalists presenting, some fantastic teachers of the sport and some of the most accomplished coaches in the country. All of the speakers are great.
To discuss just a few; for those who are sprint oriented, if you have never heard Latif Thomas speak, bring your notebook and some extra pencils and be ready to learn from someone who understands both the science of the sport and coaching high school athletes. The exact same is true for the distance coaches as Roy Benson and Scott Christensen are the standard by which all other distance teachers should be judged by. They will wow you with science, but also teach you how it applies to your high school athletes. Latif and Scott are giving 7 talks each and I promise you will want more when it's all over.
Jerry Clayton (head coach at Michigan) is one of the most accomplished throws coaches in the country and we were very fortunate to snag him as his schedule is very busy. He is actually flying out Friday afternoon to meet up with his team for a meet on Saturday, but will be giving some great talks on Thursday and Friday before he goes.
Also, what could be better than learning the triple jump from the best triple jumper in the world and the American Record holder? Getting Olympic Gold Medalist CHRISTIAN TAYLOR to come to the clinic was something that I still can't believe we were able to pull off. A lot of thanks to Christian and to fellow Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Mesler for helping make that happen.
What I really like about the other speakers, Dr. Drew Hardyk (jumps), Todd Henson (PV and Hurdles), Gary England (throws for FACA+) and Steve Mesler, is that although they are all incredibly accomplished in their fields, they will all be new faces at the FACA clinic and most of us will certainly learn new things from them.
FLR: This is your first as chairman what do you want to accomplish?
DD: I'm really just trying not to mess it up. I inherited an incredibly healthy clinic. David Halliday served as chairman for 8 years before me and really is the reason why the clinic has grown as much as it has. I hope that when everyone leaves the clinic, they feel like they had a good time, learned something and will be better coaches for having been there.
FLR: This is also the first year for the FACA+ Clinic. For those who might know what is it? What does it cost and how does one sign up?
DD: The thought process behind FACA+ was simple. We are flying in some of the best track coaches and teachers in the country to Daytona to work with our coaches Thursday - Saturday. Why not have them stay an extra day and have our coaches AND ATHLETES get a chance to work with them and learn in a "hand's on" environment? So we created FACA+ this year. It goes from 1:00 - 6:00 Saturday and 9:00 - 4:00 Sunday. Athletes can attend for $75 total for both days. Coaches can attend for $50. Athletes and coaches can register at Embry Riddle on Saturday at 12:00 and pay then. They can also register ahead of time by going to the clinic website. www.FACATrackClinic.com.
FLR: Why the decision to add this and how does it enhance the overall program?
DD: All of the great teachers who spent the previous 3 days teaching in the classroom, will be teaching it out on the track at Embry Riddle and you can bring your whole team if you want. For beginners, they will learn everything from the basics up through very detailed training concepts, as well as receive feedback on their mechanics from some great coaches. For the advanced athlete, a fresh set of eyes from an experienced coach may be that one little extra thing your athlete needs to make it to the next level.
Distance runners get to spend 2 days with a coach who has coached 4 high school athletes who went on to become sub 4:00milers (and is the director of endurance training for all of USTFCCA). Sprinters/hurdlers will work with some of the best technical coaches I've ever heard speak in my 17 years of coaching. Jumpers will get to go through a workout and receive feedback from Olympic Gold Medalist Christian Taylor! Pole Vaulters will work with a coach who has coached an Olympic Silver Medalist in the PV. Throwers will work with a big time NCAA coach (20+ years at major programs) and former NCAA Shot Put champion. I think any thrower who misses out on this will be disappointed.
Complete FACA Clinic Schedule
FACA+ Clinic Schedule
Stay tuned to flrunners.com for a complete recap, photos, and video interviews of the weekend's events!