Boemker Speaks Kids

Welcome to kidsrunning.com Hello World, I'm sure my future articles will be on more running specific topics, but I thought the following article would be a good way to introduce myself to everyone as a contributor to the new www.kidsrunning.com site. I'll start by saying what my articles won't promise. You won't be getting: 1. The five workouts that will guarantee you win the state championship. 2. How to be the first teenager to run a two hour marathon. 3. Why running over 100 miles a week is the only way to be a successful miler. However, you will be getting some simple common sense advice and observations from someone who has been involved in sports as an athlete, coach, and official for forty years. And, please, if I start sounding too much like a prophet or guru, bring me back to earth. So, here I go with, hopefully, some comments that get you thinking ... Variety is the spice of life. What does that mean? It means too many kids are being asked to make decisions about what they want to do much sooner than necessary or even wise. But beware. It's hard if you're a parent who was a talented runner not to want your son or daughter to carry on or reclaim the family's athletic honor. It's hard if you're a coach not to want your star athletes competing all year long by the time they reach 10 so that the team will win and they will get those scholarships or get to the Olympics. It's even hard being that young athlete who has to try to make so many people happy (your parents by getting your name in the paper, your coach when the other coaches envy him, or your teammates when they always look to you to make the difference). You just want to enjoy being young and they want more for you but it's really more from you. Let's all take a step back and sometimes take a break from the same activity or people everyday. Twelve months a year in the same sport isn't healthy and is likely to burn a child's enthusiasm out by the first year or two in high school. Let's look for other sports and activities that use different muscles, work on different skills, provide team and social opportunities, and give the young athlete time to grow in that old cliche, mind, body and spirit. And most importantly let's define a successful athlete as one who has a smile on his or her face. I'll finish with a story. A number of years ago, I was coaching a club and getting ready for the Junior Olympics in cross country. We had very successful teams in a number of age groups and thought a number of them would again qualify for the National Championship. The added incentive that year was that the Nationals were near Disneyland. As we were practicing for the Regional qualifier, I was getting a little annoyed that the 10 and under girls seemed to be fooling around a lot. I called the group together, told them that I thought they could be very good and win the Regionals but, because of the way they were practicing, they might not do it. I told them to get together and decide if they wanted to play or practice. (Our two hard practice days were Tuesday and Thursday.) I watched from a distance as these 8, 9, and 10 years olds furiously discussed the issue. When they came back I asked who wanted to tell me what they decided. All the hands went up and I picked Julie Frederick. Her answer, "We want to PLAY on Tuesday and PRACTICE on Thursday." They went on to place second at the Regionals by one point but did qualify for Nationals, did get a lot out of running that year, AND did get to go to Disneyland. I got a lesson I haven't forgotten. Things only work if there's time to play and time to practice. I look forward to writing you again. Yours in running, Ron Boemker

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