Quiz the Coach - Track Season is Coming

Quiz the Kidzworld Coach for track and field help, skateboarding trick tips and other sports and fitness advice.

Meet the Coach!

Sprint training is a good way to prepare yourself for track and field season.

Kidzworld Coach

So ya dig sports but need some help with your game? Don't understand some of the rules of football, basketball or hockey? Got a gripe about P.E. class, skateboarders, cheerleading, coaches, or anything? Why not Quiz the Coach?

Hey Coach,
Track season is coming up soon and I am not really sure what event I should do. I want to sprint because long distance is tough for me because of my medium, but thick body frame. My dad thinks I should do shot or discus but we can't do both track and field events, so I want to do something for track. I would not be good for long distance and there isn't really any middle distance, but if I were to do sprinting I would need to lose a little weight and become much faster. I am not sure how to do that. What should I do?
SoccerKing1

Hey SoccerKing1,
Don't let your body size discourage you from entering the world of sprinting. Sprinters tend to have a tall and slender frame, ideal for generating a fast, powerful stride. But the world's fastest sprinters aren't born with the gift of speed - they learn how to run fast by training properly and having good coaching.

During sprinting, a human being does not hit his or her top speed until about 30-40 yards into a run. Here's one drill you can try which should improve your running speed:

After a 5-minute general warm-up (jogging), follow it with 2-3 sprints of 10-yards, then 20, then 30, then 40 then 50 yards. Then practice running as fast as possible for 80-100 yards. Five reps of this is plenty, as full-speed sprinting obviously gets very tiring. Make sure you walk back to the starting line and rest for a long enough period to be able to run with maximum speed during each rep.

You should also talk to your P.E. teacher or track coach about stretches and exercises that can improve your balance, flexibility and core body strength. This will help you improve your running form and develop the skill of running fast.

Do you need tips or advice on sports, fitness or health? Send it to the Kidzworld Coach. Keep in mind peeps, the Kidzworld Coach isn't a doctor or a professional athlete or anything like that. He's just a dude who digs sports, plays 'em and knows a lot about 'em. You should always talk to your 'rents, a doctor or your school gym teacher before starting a new sport or a new exercise.