Championship Productions Blog

Archive for 'Track & Field' Category

Top-Notch Throwing Progressions for the Javelin!

By nate.landas - Last updated: Friday, April 19, 2013

Watch and learn how you can improve your javelin throws with former All-American and current Texas A&M Assistant Coach, Juan De La Garza. Coach Garza walks you through a javelin progression that is used for a throwing warm up. These exercises help reinforce the proper body position leading into throwing the implement as well as developing the impulse step.

See several exceptional drills in this segment and check out the slow motion replays to really get an idea of the techniques used here.

Check out this world class DVD, Texas A&M Track & Field Series – Drills and Progressions for Championship Javelin, to view another excellent instructional clip. See what other Javelin Throw DVDs we have in our expansive Track & Field DVD collection.

Filed in Track & Field • Tags: AAU Track & Field, Javelin Throw, Juan De La Garza

Innovative Ways to Gain Distance for Your Discus Throws!

By nate.landas - Last updated: Friday, April 19, 2013

Learn creative ways of using items such as sand bags and brooms to help teach the rotation of the movement. Texas A&M Throws Coach, Juan De La Garza, will break down each portion of the spin and improve your discus form. This workout is fun and promotes proper discus throwing mechanics.

These drills will help give you a point of reference in your rotational movement.

Check out this world class DVD, Texas A&M Track & Field Series – Drills and Progressions for Championship Discus, to view another excellent instructional clip. See what other Discus DVDs we have in our expansive Track & Field DVD collection.

Filed in Track & Field • Tags: AAU Track & Field, Discus, Juan De La Garza

Exceptional Take Off Drills to Increase Your High Jump!

By nate.landas - Last updated: Friday, April 19, 2013

Texas A&M Assistant Track Coach, Jim VanHootegem, has been a member of five NCAA Championship coaching staffs. Here he walks you through unique takeoff drills that are great for beginner to more experienced jumpers. The takeoff progressions helps develop coordination, elastic strength, posture, and ground force production as well as plyometric development for the moment of takeoff.

You will see demonstration of rocking chair drills in the clip above.

Check out this world class DVD, Texas A&M Track & Field Series – Drills and Progressions for Championship High Jump, to view another excellent instructional clip. See what other High Jump DVDs we have in our expansive Track & Field DVD collection.

Filed in Track & Field • Tags: AAU Track & Field, High Jump, Jim Vanhootegem

Refine Your Take-Off Mechanics to Maximize Your Distance!

By nate.landas - Last updated: Friday, March 22, 2013

For long and triple jumpers, early season can be a challenge, as weather may limit the number of days they can actually jump outdoors. Texas A & M jumps Coach Jim VanHootegem, introduces a take-off drill that would be appropriate both in and outdoors for working on take-off mechanics. Called “The Rocking Chair Walk,” this drill works specifically on the mechanics of the foot on the take-off.
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Main coaching points would be to ensure ankle stability throughout the movement. This allows the center of gravity to settle. As the foot rolls over onto the ball of the foot, the athlete drives upward with the foot and fully extends it out. As the drill progresses in difficulty, you can add a skipping motion into it, and eventually move to a high skip off the drill. Be sure to emphasize that the foot stays low as the hips move high. As you move to the high skip drill, you should feel a complete extension of the leg at take-off.

View an additional clip from Texas A&M Track & Field Series – Drills and Progressions for Championship Horizontal Jumps. See what other Long Jump DVDs and Triple Jump DVDs we have in our world class Track & Field DVD collection!

Filed in Track & Field • Tags: AAU Track & Field, Jim Vanhootegem, Jumps

Develop Proper Sprint Mechanics to Run Faster!

By nate.landas - Last updated: Friday, March 22, 2013

Texas A&M Head Coach, Pat Henry, is a recognized master at coaching the sprints. One of the things that makes a master coach is the ability to take a complex action, such as moving your body at maximum speed, and breaking that action down. It also is the sign of a master coach to be able to teach those points in a clear manner to other coaches and athletes. Many coaches are familiar with the “high knee” or “A-march” drill, but may not be aware of its importance for building correct sprint mechanics. For Coach Henry, in his own words…”This is where we start..” This drill develops the mechanics and posture needed for sprinting. Take a look at some special coaching points below the video:

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1) The athlete needs to have an “ankle cocked” position. The “ankle cocked” position allows rebound and spring and proper form. “Toe –up” and “Ankle-Up” and even “Dorsi-flexed” are all cues to get the athlete to get the proper position. The foot should land under the knee, not be reaching forward.

2) Separation of the arms is important. By this Coach Henry means that the arms should be driving both forward and back. As a coach from the side you should be able to see both elbows as the athlete drives, one reaching forward, the other driving back. The arms are active, and from the front the motion you see should be backwards and forward, with little if any cross body action.

3) The athlete should be tall as they run. The body from the hips up is erect, with no or little lean forward and none backwards. A good coaching point in this series is that “the athlete should be two inches taller as they run.” Basically the extension of the legs into full position gives you this “tallness” in running.

View an additional clip from Texas A&M Track & Field Series – Drills and Progressions for Championship Sprints, Starts and Relays. See what other Sprints DVDs we have in our world class Track & Field DVD collection!