The Learning Curve at the UAGTCA Meets One and Two

Meet Number 1-- January 7, 2012

In the above picture, you will find Daniel Tulloch (Number 1420) getting ready to start the 800 Meter Run in the Indoor Track Competition at Widener University, Chester, Pa. This meet on January 7, 2012 was his first United Age Group Track Coaches Association, Inc. (UAGTCA) meet.

In the 800 Meter (1/2 Mile), he did not place, coming in at 14th with a time of 3 minutes 43.79 seconds. Daniel placed fourth in his heat (See picture above). The over all winner’s time was 3 minutes, 13.39 seconds. Before this event, he ran the 1500 Meter run receiving a second place ribbon. His time was 7 Minutes, 31.51 Seconds.

With outdoor track meets, participants can see what is going on and find out where to go so that they can be on time for events. This indoor meet was the most confusing meet that I have ever participated in. From the pictures, you can see that the place is packed, people could not hear the announcements and they had no signs posted to tell participants where to go to report for the races. Many people missed their race for that reason. But that is not a problem that was in our control. Next time we will be at the meet 30 minutes earlier so that we can find out what is going on since they do not announce a coaches meeting.

Daniel’s mother and I found out that our main problem was to have Daniel create a better “competitiveness” where he will go all out to win races. The children who he is running against from the many track clubs in the tri-state area at his age have this competitiveness. This puts Daniel at a psychological disadvantage. This looks like the priority that we will have to work on this year. He has until he is 9 years old to compete in Sub-Bantam. He is six and will be seven this year.

Meet Number 2 -- January 14, 2012

Daniel (left by wall) at the start of the 1500 Meter Run.

Daniel was a completely different person at this meet. He was more than competitive. He was aggressive. Before the 1500 Meter Race, he would not let a competitor ahead of him in the lineup. Daniel was number 14 and the other boy was number 13. I had to intervene. From the start of the 1500 Meter, Daniel moved out and tried to keep up with the leader. He finished second with a time of 7 Minutes 3.53 Seconds. First place finished with a time of 6 minutes, 16.48 Seconds.

Daniel (by wall) at the start of the 800 Meter Run.

Daniel went on to run the 800 Meter race. He was in the third heat placing 4^th with a time of 3 minutes, 41.69 seconds. Over all Daniel placed 18^th. The winning time was 3 minutes, 8.28 Seconds. We use the 800 Meter and the 400 Meter as a way to build his speed. His “bread and butter” races will be the 1500 Meter and longer.