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Students
Let's Get Started
The future decathlete is probably already a member of a track team, perhaps a community club or a high school or college team. He already has some experience with some events and an interest in others. The potential athlete may be introduced to the decathlete by his coach who senses that he has some talent to meet the demands of multi-events. If this is your introduction to the decathlon, consider yourself fortunate. The advantages of being introduced to the decathlon this way are numerous: a track and equipment provided by the club or school, an interested mentor to enter you in meets, and perhaps teammates to train with.
Unfortunately, it's not always that easy. "Decathlon talent" is not easily observable. Coaches may be too busy or uninterested. School facilities and equipment may be unavailable.
Fortunately, school authorities and coaches are rarely antagonistic. You're unlikely to have former NCAA decathlon champ Ed Miller's experience while he was preparing for the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials. With the meet only a week off, he was arrested for hopping a fence at a local college track to work out. Dissatisfied with his explanation, authorities handcuffed, fingerprinted and booked him. You probably won't have to go that far in defense of your devotion to the decathlon, but you can admire Miller's commitment. Miller has since become a decathlon coach.
If your coach, parents, or friends don't introduce the decathlon to you, then introduce it to them. If you are a member of the local track team, ask the coach for advice in preparing for the decathlon. If you are not part of a track and field program, contact the local coach, a parent, or a former decathlete.
Without being a pest, ask if he or she would take some time to help you with a few events. Don't ask your contact to coach you full-time; that's unrealistic. Just ask if he would be willing to observe you doing a few events, at a time that is convenient for him. If you are dealing with the local school coach, suggest convenient times like before or after formal practice sessions. The coach may allow you the use of equipment like shots, discs, vaulting poles or hurdles. Be polite and solicit information
Many athletes don't know what a decathlon is until they find themselves competing in one. Enter a meet. Go and compete even if you have not prepared for some of the events. You'll meet other novices. You'll network. You'll get an idea about your own level of competency and how much training is necessary for success. You'll talk about the next meet. You'll be hooked.
Excerpted from A Basic Guide to Decathlon by
the U.S. Olympic Committee.
© 1996 by Griffin Publishing Group
This
publication is a creative work fully protected by all applicable rights. All
rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including fax, photocopy,
recording, or any information storage or retrieval system by anyone except the
purchaser for his or her own use.
The material used in this publication is
the sole responsibility of Griffin Publishing Group.
The U.S. Olympic Committee
A Basic Guide to Decathlon
Paperback $8.95
© 1996, Griffin Publishing; ISBN:
1882180682
128 pages
For information
on purchasing the book from bookstores or here online, please go to the Web page for A Basic Guide to Decathlon (Griffin Publishing).
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