• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Click here to download the  free ebook of Alberto Juantorena’s  detailed training workouts leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Sport Psychology
  • Archives
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Basket

Ato Boldon’s – How to Coach the USA 4x100m Relay Pool

You are here: Home / Coaching / Ato Boldon’s – How to Coach the USA 4x100m Relay Pool
20
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

April 6, 2011 by Jimson Lee Leave a Comment

Last Updated on May 2, 2016 by Jimson Lee

How do select and train your 4x100m Relay Pool?

How do you make sure the baton gets around the track?

Jamaica is in for a tough decision with 7 guys to choose from.

Ato Boldon - How to Coach the USA 4x100m Relay Pool

Photo Credits: https://47photoblog.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/full-circle/

First, they will have their hands full trying to choose the 3rd man for their open 100 meter team.  They can choose from Lerone Clarke, Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Mario Forsythe, and Yohan Blake.  Along with Bolt and Powell, you have to choose 4 more guys (6 in all) to name the 4×100m team in 2011 World Championships at Daegu.  This will be the team to beat.

Then you have to choose 4 to run the semi finals and, barring a disaster, 4 to run the finals.

Some Coaches will play around with the math in order to get all 6 members a chance for the medals, but you have qualify out of the semi finals, and you have to get the stick across the finish line in the finals!

Endless possibilities…

As long as ego doesn’t get in the way. Jamaica should win as long as everyone stay healthy.

USA!  USA!  USA!

But what about the Americans, who used to dominate this event?

Wallace Spearmon recently tweeted on his Twitter account:

The rules I’d make for the US 4×100 wouldn’t be popular but the team would be in it every year and no more 20 year old PR.

Last week’s tweet from Ato Bolden’s Top 10 Advice from a Retired Track Athlete was interesting, so here he responded with his 6 rules on how the USA should handle the 4×100 meter Relay:

  1. Rule 1 running the 4×100 is a privilege not a right. No camp, no run, no likea the rules, sita in the stands.
  2. Rule 2 Pat Henry is in charge.
  3. Rule 3 is managers/agents stay the $%&* out of practice/discussions. What YOUR client “wants to run” means nothing.
  4. Rule 4 for the next 3 years no collegians and no newbies. Look at the drops/miscues since 1988 and the experience level of those involved
  5. Rule 5: camp is 3 deep at every leg, and no switching. You train/practice with different runners, but everyone is grouped by the leg you run.
  6. Rule 6: see rule #3. Start there and the US may not win the next 3 years but the stick will actually travel 400m around an oval.

I agree with everything he is saying with the exception of Rule #5.  Can you really expect to field 12 men, 3 per leg, and then choose 6, where only 4 can run (hopefully twice)?  Maybe have a camp of 8 then choose 6?  If that is the case, do all 100m finalist from the National Trials get invited to the camp?  How about the 200m specialist, as they make great 3rd legs?  The 110m hurdles? (anyone remember Canada’s Charles Allen 2004 Summer Olympics?)

See also  Pajulahti Speed Endurance Conference, Nov 22-24, 2013

I also agree with Wallace Spearmon and the USA record  for the 4x100m relay should be easily broken with a healthy 4 sub-10 sprinters and 3 crisp clean passes.

Let the Games Begin!

Category iconCoaching,  Track & Field Tag iconYohan Blake

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Recommended

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbs-aWxyLk

Shop Our Store

  • Bud Winter (9)
  • Championship Productions (6)
  • Clyde Hart (2)
  • Derek Hansen (1)
  • Electrical Muscle Stimulation (2)
  • Jim Hiserman (6)
  • Jimson Lee (4)
  • Uncategorised (0)

Articles by Category

Products

  • Jim Hiserman - Developing 800m Runners: Identifying, Categorizing and Developing 400m-800m Type Athletes $42.99 $39.99
  • Private Coaching - Monthly Plan $600.00 $525.00
  • Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2 Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2: A Systematic Approach to Developing Individual Success within a Dynamic Team Culture $34.95 $29.95
  • Feed-the-Cats-Clinic-3-Pack-701 'Feed the Cats' Clinic 3-Pack $64.99
  • Tony Holler's Feed the Cats": A Complete Sprint Training Program Tony Holler's "Feed the Cats" Complete Sprint Training Program $49.99
  • Bud Winter and Speed City presents Arthur Lydiard 509x716 Bud Winter & Arthur Lydiard MP3 [Download only] $9.99

RECENT POSTS

  • Here is our 400m Discussion Recording… over 2 Hours Long
  • The Best Free Coaching Book – post Beijing 2022 Olympics
  • The Ultimate 400m Track Webinar for Coaches & Athletes
  • NACAC Athletics Coaching Science Series 2022
  • Top Six 400m Predictor Workouts (Number 4 is my Favourite)
  • Best 6 Podcasts for 2021 (and Beyond)
  • Why Karsten Warholm’s 45.94 400mH WR is my Highlight of 2021
  • Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 23]
  • Pressure in Sports – Reflections from Tokyo 2020 Olympics
  • 2021 International Festival of Athletics Coaching [Nov 5-7]

Copyright © 2022. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd. Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy