Glenn Smith: Former Canadian National Track and Field Champion

Summary

 

Glenn Smith, a track and field coach and former Canadian national champion, joins the Class Athlete Podcast. He shares his background in track and field, including his training experiences and coaching career. Glenn emphasizes the importance of exposing children to various sports and allowing them to find their passion. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in youth track and field in Central Florida, highlighting the need for more track clubs and accessible facilities. The conversation also touches on coaching philosophy, creating a positive and fun environment, and preventing burnout in athletes. Glenn shares his personal best times in the 100 and 200 meters and the impact of technology on current records. The episode concludes with trivia questions about Olympic records in the 100 meters.

 

Keywords

track and field, coaching, youth sports, training, athlete development, coaching philosophy, burnout, Olympic records

 

Takeaways

• Expose children to a variety of sports to help them discover their interests and talents.
• Create a positive and fun environment in youth sports to foster enjoyment and engagement.
• Individualize coaching approaches to meet the needs and goals of each athlete.
• Balance training and rest periods to prevent burnout and optimize performance.
• Technology advancements can impact athletic records and performance.
• Get to know each athlete personally and show that you care about their well-being and progress.
• Youth track and field in Central Florida would benefit from more track clubs and accessible facilities.

Titles

• The Impact of Technology on Track and Field Records
• Exploring the World of Track and Field with Glenn Smith

Sound Bites

• "Expose them to a lot of different sports, find out what they're good at, what they enjoy."
• "Just showing that you care, it doesn't have to be that much."
• "Specializing in track and field is better to start a little bit older."

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Background

05:25Opportunities in Youth Track and Field

08:08Coaching Philosophy for Youth Sports

10:42The Importance of Movement and Concentration

15:14Coaching Individuals vs. Team Environment

18:08Specializing in Track and Field

20:09Personal Best Times in the 100 and 200 Meters

25:45Preventing Burnout in Track and Field

29:03Obsessiveness in Track and Field Athletes

31:14Trivia: Olympic Records in the 100 Meters