June 1, 2006

Cowley set to host USATF Level 1 Track Coaching School 

Cowley College will host a USA Track & Field Coaching Education Level 1 school Friday through Sunday. Tiger assistant track and field coach Ryan Turner will serve as the school director.

Currently 55 track coaches from eight different states and three different countries will be attending.

“This is a much larger turnout then we expected,” Turner said. “I definitely think it reflects the recent surge in interest in track and field education in the mid-west as well as across the United States."

Instructors of the USATF curriculum are, Randy Adair of Highland Park High School (Texas), Wayne Armbrust of Columbia, Mo., Dennis Licklider of Jefferson City High School, and Oklahoma State University’s John Bauman.

"We are excited to have so many coaches from such diverse areas on our campus to talk about track and field for the next three days,” Turner said.

The program is intended as a starting point for coaches. One of the Level 1 program objectives is to put all coaches on common ground (i.e., speaking the same language). The Level 1 program covers all events in a rudimentary manner by emphasizing fundamentals, rules, safety/risk management, and instruction techniques.

Level 1 schools are two-and-a-half-day courses where 21.5 hours are spent on track and field and sport science. The course consists of classroom instruction as well as hands on training. Attendance at all sessions is required.

After the school, participants must complete and return a take-home exam.

The cost for registration is $150. The fee includes a Level I curriculum, along with an exam and notebook cover. Lodging is also being offered in Cowley’s dorms with a cost of $15 for two nights.

For more information, or to register for the school, contact Turner at (620) 222-8798 or at (620) 442-2056.