Worried....?

Question

Last XC season, when I was a sophomore, our team finished fifth in the state. Our team was 8 seniors, and a bunch (about 15) of sophomores. The 8 seniors were basically our team. There were 1 or 2 sophs that contributed, but the seniors were the backbone of the team. This year, we have no seniors, and about 15 juniors. We'd be lucky to win our league, let alone a fifth-place finish at states.

As a coach, how would you react to a somewhat mediocre team, after coming in fifth at states the year before?

Answer 1

...

After finishing fifth, and returning no starters, well, how I would react as a coach is, "This is a building season!  We've got the talent - let's get as much experience as we can in the invitationals, conference meet, meets leading up to the state, and work just to get downstate this year.  Let that be our goal!

"Because, next year, look out!  We will be tough and ready! to place high once again!"

**However, I think you are really asking a different question behind this question.  Isn't your real question, "How will MY coach react to having a somewhat mediocre team?"

Sure, you would hope that your coach would see the potential, and delight in it.  But I sense that you are concerned that perhaps your coach might be more than a little discouraged with the group this season.

Likely, if your coach has any running background (and it appears he/she does - fifth place doesn't "just happen"), your coach knows that there are up and down years, and sometimes even an up year goes south if a few key runners come down with injuries.

I hope that you can talk to your coach about your concerns.  If you can, then now is the time to discuss this, just as the summer background training season begins.

If you can't discuss this with your coach, well, maybe that's an indicator of how your coach will be feeling about the team this year.

Regards,

Phil

Answer 2

the same thing happened to my xc team my sophmore year we came in second in the league finishing with a 8-1 record due to mostly the seniors, then the next year, we thought of it as a rebuilding year with only a few seniors who contributed. we ended up going 5-4 yet the juniors kept imroving. Then over that summer we trained hard and finished the season 9-0 and 4th in the state. So relax don't worry about it, it is a rebuilding year.

Answer 3

All that a coach can do is work with the athletes they are given or can find and try to help them improve their individual performances. It is this way regardless of their age or level of success in competition.

Yes, your coach and those team mates that witnessed the excitement of your last season will miss that element this year. The good news is that the sophomores that didn't get to get to contribute last year will now have their chance. There may be some surprises there.

If your coach is experienced he or she knows that there are seasons to reap and there seasons to sow - if you don't sow you will never reap.

Answer 4

They got to start somewhere, motivation and hard work goes a long way.  

As a coach, you need to enforce some energy to aim higher.  They might surprise you and place better when your were a sophomore.

Answer 5

its ok as long as u put it out there that this year your trying to rebuild the team