I don’t know if it’s the same elsewhere, but in Kansas the winter off-season between cross country and track is actually a full month longer than the summer off-season between track and cross country. Our biggest challenge always seems to be keeping kids active. The best of intentions in November can easily give way to excuses (weather, school, lack of motivation) in December.
I strongly encourage my athletes to participate in a winter sport. There is no substitute for committing yourself to the set-in-stone schedule of the in-season sport. Too often I’ve seen athletes swear they’ll be in the weight room all winter only to see five days a week go down to four, then quickly to three to two to one to none. I don’t care if they’ll never see the court during a basketball game, the work they’ll get every day in practice is light-years ahead of what most would do on their own.
A dedicated distance runner could be an exception, if they really will put in the mileage and won’t be timid about winter weather. But, again, basketball or wrestling practice everyday gives them a lot more base work than running once a week would.
Time can get away from the coach as well. While the off-season is long, the multitude of holiday milestones can help it sail by. Try to find a clinic in January or February. It’s a great way to get you back in to that track mindset. I was lucky enough to be in Grinnell, Iowa a few weeks ago for a clinic with Will Freeman, Vern Gambetta, and Dr. Joe Vigil. As expected, it was an information overload. The biggest thing I took away from it was just to use your common sense. Don’t do something just to do it. Ask how it’s going to make your athletes better in their events. And never stop learning! Dr. Vigil has been coaching track since 1954 yet he wakes up every day at 4:00am and reads training and sport science articles and studies from all over the world.