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Football can have year-round weight lifting and spring passing leagues, but our sport is denied a true season that most states recognize. This ignorant decision puts our kids behind in their development as athletes and shows the complete incompetence of the South Carolina High School League. Way to screw the T&F/XC athletes SCHSL!

I am not surprised or alarmed that indoor track was a no go.Even after Ed Boehmkes logical and compelling letter the AD at my school still voted no.He voted no after I told him I expected to not be paid for this winter season.He voted no after I made a proposal that showed how we could fund an indoor track program.He voted no after I showed him proof that it would help kids who don't wrestle or play basketball have an outlet during the winter.He voted no even though facts show that kids tend to get in more trouble during the winter and that indoor track could help cut this number down.He volted no even though I said a no vote from you would affect the vote in areas who want and could afford to do indoor track.I sent my AD and principle the letter from Ed Boehmke which eloquently stated how we could implement indoor track and they both replied with questions that were answered in the letter...they did not read it.Only after I re-sent the letter(to their embarassement)did they even have a clue.If its "all about the kids" why would anybody vote no.There are only 12-15 spots on basketball teams and only males wrestle.What about the other kids???If this state is that poor we shouldn't be doing interscholastic sports at all!

@mdog You are write because a 56 400 can not compete with my teammate Curtis Walker or his cousin for that matter. Nor can a 25 in the 200.

More than likely, most of the teams with the best varsity runners will be the same teams with good jv runners. So in the end, the teams competing for a varsity championship would be the same teams competing for a jv championship. So again, what does that prove? The point of a championship is to showcase the best runners in the state, not the best of the rest. Jv meets are great ways to allow some of the younger or less talented runners to be competitive in a meet, but once the championship part of the season rolls around, the best runners should be the ones competing. Anyway, it is disappointing to see that they voted down indoor track yet again. I think it would be good for the state and it could allow for the development of more runners if we were allowed to compete during the indoor season. I don't think that times would be slowrr during the outdoor season. If that were the case then every state with an indoor season would be slower than south Carolina, and we know that isn't the season. You may have a point on injuries, but even so a good coach should be able to adjust training accordingly. Besides, the best runners in the state probably run during most of the off season anyway.

This discussion strand is supposed to be about Indoor/Winter Track not JV Meets. Coming from a state where Indoor track has been held almost forever I can say that with good coaching there should not be more injuries; also performances outdoors/spring would probably improve.

leapsoverhedges

After doing all that training it can be deflating when you have no chance to race competitively at your peak.

@leapsoverhedges then you should train the runners who arent going to make it to state to peak at region or whenever their last race would be. Its not that hard.

[quote=Cazel]Also, Indoor would be good but not all runners would compete as your body isn't built to run year round, it might only lead to more injury. quote]

@Cazel Running year round doesnt lead to more injuries if you know how to train right. Also, if you run in college you will start competing in mid september and compete until May. Unless youre good then you will be competing until June.

@ChesneeXCrunner Your body needs time between seasons to recover. Jumping between three seasons is very unhealthy.

@Cazel In college you will normally get a week off from racing in between seasons and that week still consists of plenty of running. you do get a break during the summer from racing but you still have to train.

The article has been updated with comments from a Pa. coach that has been valuable in growing indoor in that state and Spring Valley hall of fame coach John Jones shared thoughts on the next step his school is taking and the impact this is making on the state.

John Jones has the right method to deal with this.
Form a club team at every school which wishes to participate in indoor and then hold an abbreviated season ending with a club championship, just as lacrosse did and swimming before that.
If the indoor events are different than outdoor (even use indoor implements) then it's clearly a different sport and shouldn't be considered outdoor track.

Of course, this is eventually heading to court. It's just going to take one parent to realize their child is being deprived of scholarship opportunities -- and the unequal treatment of this sport compared to others in the state -- and the matter will be in front of a judge.

Just need a parent who is rich, mad or is an attorney to file suit.

@OnceARunnr It would bring a lot of attention to Track and Field as well. Could be a great thing or an awful thing for the sport.

THe fact that advocates for a jv race have somehow confused this forum with another topic is just a small example of why indoor track is meeting with so much resistance in this state.The very individuals who would benefit from indoor track are these same junior runners.If you have not actually coached,or ran indoor track please don't pollute this forum with foolish statements and conjectures like "indoor will make runners more tired or prone to injuries".These reckless remarks are the same ridiculous statements being made against indoor track.What excuse could the highschool league possibly give for denying a sport that would immediately benefit a sector of kids who are most at risk...??

If I must stay on topic, I think an indoor season is beneficial for field and sprints but not for distance. Those who follow the Daniel's formula, a 24 week period is needed for the schedule, 12 of which are pure base building. 24 x 2 is 48. There are 52 weeks in a year so this method allows for a double peak (end of outdoor and xc seasons) coupled with 2 rest weeks after each season. Indoor would be right in the middle of base building for distance which I have found to be most important in my experience. If kids would work on miles through winter (60 or 70 mpw for the best guys) then they would probably run faster than if there were an indoor season. Again, this is only from my experience.

@runfastpwnn00bz Having moved to S.C. from the Midwest several years ago, I feel the only thing missing here is the indoor track season. Because of the lack of indoor facilities in the state,there is time to train and compete during the winter. With limited competition no peaking is required but the training cannot ever be replaced.Indoor can only help improve the times here in S.C.

I find that with racing your mileage will naturally decrease. I can see there being some benefit to running an indoor race or two as time trials, but I don't see a need to race a full season while trying to average 70 mpw. Maybe, I am wrong, but this is just from what I have seen what does and doesn't work

Maybe I am wrong* ^ sorry

@runfastpwnn00bz Not that we're a premier running state, but three guys from my team went well under 17 during Cross Country and failed to qualify during track.

Yeah, I was referring to cross country when I said that. Track is a different issue. It is tough to qualify for, as it should be, as track is more individual than team in terms of qualifying and just feel in general. One thing I would like to see change would be to take 16 kids in the 1600 and 3200. I know this isn't possible with the lane events, but I don't like the idea of having secured points at state for getting last if that isn't necessary (such as 1600 and 3200.)

@runfastpwnn00bz One thing I also noticed is that a runner from Fort Dorchester ran nearly a minute behind the nearest person at state in the 3200. An extra 8 runners would have been great. Adding more depth would give more people a chanceto compete.

@runfastpwnn00bz.First off let me say that because you espouse the Daniels Formula doesn't mean its the only way to skin a cat..its your way.Secondly a true indoor season could be used in conjunction with the Daniels Formula in a well planned indoor season. Most of the top competetion will be occuring in the months of january and Feburary.I would hope that by this time in Sc you are well past phase1.You have the right to not participate if it affects your training system but what doesn't work for you may work for other coaches.I would be willing to bet there are a few nationally ranked runners who are running well indoor and outdoor who use the Daniels Formula.

@runfastpwnn00bz what do you think about indoor training for newer runners? its hard for some to make a big leap up into base miles, and they also lack legturnover/general speed. could an abbreviated indoor season be beneficial to their overall development?

@Cazel your three guys that were well under 17 also didnt log the miles they did prior to xc....

This has made track and field news top news part of website. Lets keep this on topic. The JV posts, if I got them all, have been removed. Keep the discussion on indoor and all sides of the situation.

John
scrunners.com managing editor
jolson@milesplit.us.

Well, I'm going to assume that anyone doing indoor track will also being participating in Footlocker regional. So if they were to take a week off (which I believe should be done after 48 weeks) that puts you at starting back around the 10th of December. After a 6 week initial build up one would be midway through January having done no workouts. And most elite programs will still be doing in the 70 mpw range for their upper guys in phase 2. This is only for those using Daniel's Formula. I know Daniel's is not the only way to run fast, but I have found that and Lydiard training to be the best ways to get the most amount of people running near full potential. And @Bensessions a newb will benefit from any sort of running, but I find standard training works best. But, a race once in January and once in February for the slower guys on your team would be a good mental boost showing them how rapidly they can improve while also keeping them honest with getting their miles in, and also should be fun for them.