Building a Championship Program Through Relay Development By: Matt Girardin and Aaron McAndrew Fern Creek Traditional High School

Importance of Sprint Relays The sprint relays help define the success of your sprint program. In KY 3 sprint relays score in meets: 4x100,4x200, 4x400. Having a successful program built around sprint relays can be worth up to 30 points in meets. Relays create a competitive practice environment because athletes compete against each other to make the relay teams. Relays allow more athletes to have success in Track and Field.

Breaking Down The Relays 4x100 –Uses a Blind Exchange –We use a box method for the exchange –Practice by timing the handoff through the zone. (under 2.5 for ladies and under 2.0 for men)

Breaking Down The Relays 4x200 –Uses Blind Exchange –We use a box method –Good Starting point is half the amount of steps used on 4x100 relay

Breaking Down The Relays 4x400 –Uses open exchange Traffic Exchange Drill –Have to push the baton through zone and is outgoing runners responsibility to get out. –Number of ways to gauge splits and project relay times. MPS-Meter Per Second workouts 45 and 56 second drills % of max 100m calculations

Result of Having Successful Relays Relay success affects an athletes success in their individual event. Ex: An athlete may not have the confidence to be competitive in the 400 alone but brings a strong element when it comes to the 4x400 relay. Successful relays help motivate athletes to achieve individual accolades.