AboutRichard Howland Expertise I am a master USATF Track and Field official and can answer questions about officiating high school (NFHS), college (NCAA), National (USATF) and international in field events. I am not a coach except for other officials. My specialties are the Field events except pole vault.
Experience I delight in meeting athletes from all backgrounds and ages. I have even officiated field events for a one hundred year old long jumper as well as many "Master" and "Senior" athletes. Special olympics is a great event for officials to volunteer and see the essence of good sport on the faces of the athletes.
After thirty three years as a trial lawyer in Massachusetts with a focus on sports law, among others, I retired and devote much of my time to officiating. I referee soccer, time football, officiate swimming and diving, and officiate and start all events in track and field. My special focus in field events.
In high school and college I played soccer, squash and lacrosse, but track was not available in any depth then. Since I was a lawyer I began officiating and training to officiate sports which I could fit into my schedule. I honestly do not remember when I first started track and field officiating, but estimate that I have been very active for at least fifteen years.
I regularly officiate all events and levels.
Question hello, my name is Lindsey and I'm 16 years old. i need some help with my sprinting diet and training. I'm currently pretty fast, but i would like to be a lot faster. i can run a 50 meter dash in 6.4 seconds. but i want to go out for track this winter and i need a really good diet and workout plan to help me get ready for the season. i participate in JROTC also and i need to strengthen my leg and core muscles. so if you could come up with something to help me that would be great. thanks!
Answer Lindsey:
First you need to remember that I am an official and not a coach of track and field or running and never have been. On the other hand I have been involved with sports since 1952 and well share my ideas, but finally you really need a coach or experienced athlete who can watch you run, train and offer corrective tips and adjustments.
Coaching is personal and individual not general. There is a site for general coaching (and probably many others) which I like:
which will take you to a very large index for articles on an enormous list of sports assembled by a British group and up-dated with considerable frequency. Since the issue is performance and not competing with varying rules, the important issue is training for sprinting.
There are several sprint specific programs and suggestions, but there are also articles on use of blocks, stride, pacing and many other elements of sprinting and running which apply to your concerns and should be explored.
The last piece of advice I will offer is that training for sport is a tedious, methodical, careful and very focused activity usually lonely. It is also the basic commitment of any person who wishes to learn and understand the nature of the world and life, basically anything that people do must be intensely practiced and studied to progress to better and even best. It is never easy for ordinary mortals. Good luck and good sprinting, Dick Howland
