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 What workout is good for high school kids that are doing the long jump and triple jump? I have coached track with sprinters, but this is my first time working with kids doing long jump and triple jump and that will be the area that I am covering.
Answer Dear Rebena: I am not a coach, but I officiate field events at local to national levels and venues. I can offer suggestions, but none so good as consulting with a local college or university coaching staff. There are a number of important stages in the course of each jump, which aim to trigger good and controlled speed, accurate foot placement and an elastic explosion of the leap. From observing many and coaching none, I believe that as with all field events, each athlete requires different coaching.
I always emphasize running, sprinting and middle distances, to maintain controlled good speed, and, as Figure Skater Kristy Yamaguchi advised Nancy Kerrigan: all good jumps require extensive upper body weight training and work outs. The arms and shoulders control much of the movement, angle of attack and launching (release) angle.
The triple jump also calls for the skip along the runway which risks knee and ankle injury that can be minimized by training. Triple jump is often troublesome because of the selection of the takeoff board. Jumpers need to be able to land the skip on the runway and be close enough to the pit to make it into the sand.
Not being a coach or trainer, this is only a summary of years of observation and judging with one serious injury on a very hard pit which led to a torn ACL. The rest are usually muscle strains.
Please get the best advice and consult top coaches in field, especially horizontal jumps at a local institution or USATF affiliated track club. The best are out there. Good luck, I am sorry that I am unable to help more, but this is pretty much the knowledge I have gained over the years. Dick Howland
