Mastering the 400-Meter Dash: Insights, Training Progression & Workouts for High School Coaches: Clyde Hart & Derek Leininger

with Clyde Hart,
Baylor University Head Coach from 1963 -2019;
2017 USA Track & Field Legend Coach Award;
2009 World Athletic Coach of the Year Award;
2005 Big XII Women's Indoor Coach of the Year;
2x USA Track & Field Nike Coach of the Year (2004, 2006);
2x NCAA National Indoor Coach of the Year (1989, 1996);
2001 USTFCCCA Hall of Fame inductee;
4x Southwest Conference Indoor Coach of the Year;
member of the Baylor Wall of Honor, Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the USA Track & Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame;
Hart coached nine Olympians to 13 Olympic Gold medals, one silver and three bronze medals + this included winning the 400 meter in three straight Olympic games. While at Baylor, Hart coached 34 national champions (14 individual and 20 relays) and 566 All-Americans. Hart-coached athletes include Michael Johnson, Jeremy Wariner, Darold Williamson and Sanya Richards-Ross!

and with Derek Leininger, Ph.D.
Co-author of the book 'Breaking Down the Wall: Training the High School 400 Meter Runner' he co-wrote with Clyde Hart;
2010 coach of the Indiana State Champions in the boys 4x400 meter;
2009 coach of the Indiana State Runners-up in the boys 4x400 meter relay;

Coach Clyde Hart is widely considered the best 400 meter coach in the history of the event. Coach Derek Leininger, a former high school cross country and track coach, was greatly influenced by Coach Hart's 400-meter training and adapted Hart's training ideas to his high school team to experience successful results with his high school program.

Hart and Leininger collaborated on a book chronicling the training and insights specifically to help the high school-level 400-meter coach - 'Breaking Down the Wall: Training the High School 400 Meter Runner' that was released in the fall of 2023. Shortly after the release of the book, Coach Hart and Derek Leininger were featured speakers at the 55th annual Iowa Track & Field Coaches Clinic held in Ames, Iowa; this is one of the largest coaching clinics in the Midwest.

With two combined nearly one hour sessions, Hart and Leininger spent half discussing the insights and principles for coaching the 400-meter runner and then they moved to address more training-specific topics. These sessions have been edited together carefully with added graphics for maximum learning.

Key Highlights:

• Evolutionary Training Approach:
• Benefit from a deep understanding of Coach Hart's groundbreaking 400-meter training approach that revolutionized collegiate and international 400m running, yielding consistent dominance over decades.
• Learn how subtle adaptations tested by Derek Leininger, with help from Coach Hart, created a formula for success at the high school level.
• Balanced Training Philosophy:
• Learn a balanced approach to 400m training, tailored for all genders and ages, ensuring consistent high performances without peaking for just one race.
• Reload Performances:
• Acquire principles to reload runner performances, fostering consistent excellence throughout the season, as exemplified by athletes like Sanya Richards-Ross and Michael Johnson.
• Optimized Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs:
• Master the integration of warm-ups and cool-downs into training plans, understanding their integral role in maximizing performance potential.
• Methodology Clarification:
• Define and understand terms like speed endurance, tempo endurance, and strength endurance, optimizing training methodology for maximum effectiveness.
• Structured Interval Training:
• Implement specific interval training intervals such as the 450m, 350m, and 300m, tailored based on age and gender, to achieve optimal results.

Suitable for All Levels: This wonderful presentation provides valuable insights for all levels of coaching aiming to unlock the highest potential in 400m running. Learning from Clyde Hart - considered the greatest 400-meter coach in history, along with Coach Leininger's useful perspective to bring it to the high school level - created a 'dream collaboration' that coaches have long been hoping for!

Customer Review: 5 Out of 5 Stars! ''To learn 400m training from Clyde Hart is unbelievable. That alone would have made this video a 5 out of 5. But bringing these concepts to high school level training with Coach Leininger's perspective makes this a really special video. Will have to watch this a few more times as the season progresses. Loved this video!'

114 minutes.   2024.