Goucher College is proud to host the Summer Coaches Symposium, featuring acclaimed Track and Field Coach Harry Marra. Marra was the coach of world record holder and two time Olympic Gold medalist Ashton Eaton. Marra was named the Nike Coach of the Year in 2012 and the IAAF/World Athletics Coach of the Year in 2016. In addition to coaching Eaton, Marra’s resume also includes coaching Brianne Theisen-Eaton (World Indoor Gold Medalist and Olympic Bronze Medalist) and six other men who cracked the illustrious 8000 point barrier in the decathlon. Marra has also been the Head Coach for the U.S. National team from 1990-2000 and Head Coach at San Francisco State (1981-1993). His accolades and experience continue forever. He brings a wealth of knowledge to this clinic. Marra returns to his local stomping grounds, as he is also an alum of Mount St. Mary’s.
Clinic Information
Dates:Â June 4-5
Where:Â Goucher College
Cost:Â $199/coaches and parents; $149/high school athletes
Registration:Â Contact Goucher College Head Coach Erick Camodeca erick.camodeca@goucher.edu
Nick Agoris nick@bigatrackandfield.com
Q&A
Chasing The Standard: You will be the featured coach at the Summer Coaches Symposium June 4-5 at Goucher College. What clinics will you be leading there? What is your focus during these sessions?
Coach Marra:Â In this clinic, we will be focused on long jump, high jump, sprint mechanics, block starts, pole vault, general training concepts, and how to analyze video.
This will be a “LBW†clinic…learn by watching…You as a coach will watch me coach an athlete in the long jump (and other events) for 45 minutes. You’ll take notes, jot down questions, and then immediately after, I will sit with you and answer/discuss any questions.
What separates this clinic from a typical practice an athlete has during the week?
You as a coach will not only be told the correct technical components of each skill, but you will also be instructed into how to teach that skill correctly. No one in the world does this at clinics. I do!!! All the knowledge in the world is absolutely useless if you can’t communicate the concepts to those you are instructing and coaching.
When you work with athletes, what are you trying to get across to them?
We are looking for simplified concepts and cues in order to ensure technical success in the skill/event.
You’ve worked with high level athletes, notably Ashton Eaton. What qualities, aside from physical attributes, do you see in athletes who reach the higher levels?
The only difference between an average athlete and a highly successful one boils down to one word…COMMITMENT. The average athlete tries to improve, but the elite athlete makes a COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE. That is a world of difference. I will explain fully at the clinic.
This upcoming clinic in June is for both athletes and coaches. What do you recommend to coaches to improve their skill set and stay up to date on new ideas? How do you define a good coach?
Do your homework. Prepare your lesson plans. Arrive at practice 1 hour early. Toss your ego out the door. Be confident in making daily adaptations to your scheduled plans of practice that day. Be able to back up every technical instruction with a simple law of human movement. Employ the KISS system in all coaching and teaching. Do all of the above and more and you’ll be a good coach.
Friday June 3rd, 2022
7:00 PM – Coaches Social (Must RSVP)
Saturday June 4th, 2022Â
8:00 AM – Check In
9:00 AM – Sprint Mechanics
10:15 AM – Block Start Technique
11:30 AM – Q&A with Coach Marra
1:00 PM – Lunch
2:00 PM – Long Jump Runway Approach & Take Off
3:00 PM – Q&A with Coach Marra
Sunday June 5th, 2022Â
9:00 AM – Check In
10:00 AM – Pole Vault Approach & Take Off
11:15 AM – Q&A with Coach Marra
12:15 PM – Lunch
1:00 PM – High Jump Approach & Take Off
2:00 PM – Q&A with Coach Marra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg-Ihl7hOYU