Arms, knees and overall form were the focus of Pioneer Speed School last week at Fort Calhoun High School.
Pioneers cross-country coaches Kyle and Rebecca McMahon led the second-year camp for kids in grades 1-6, teaching participants about proper running technique, efficiency, rhythm, coordination, range of motion and flexibility. Snacks, games and new T-shirts were all apart of the overall package, too.
“If you're able to be an efficient, powerful runner, you're going to be a faster runner,” Kyle McMahon said Thursday. “You're going to be able to get to the finish line if you're a cross-country or track athlete. Or, if you're playing football, you're able to get to a spot. Or softball, to a base.”
About 60 young athletes took part with high school Pioneers helping out during the second edition. McMahon, who also coaches at Papillion-La Vista South, said the Class A program has hosted similar events.
Fort Calhoun's version, however, started with some demand.
“I was hearing a lot from just friends of mine and other parents,” McMahon said. “(They were) asking me help work with their kids on form, speed, technique and running — things like that.”
It sounded like the thing to do for the state-championship winning coach.
“I thought that would be a really good idea,” he said. “So, I figured it would be a good fundraiser for the team to put on.”
The work, which took place June 15 through Thursday, can help all athletes, McMahon said. It established form and explosiveness, but also familiarized the kids with their potential high school coaches.
“Running form isn't natural for every single person,” McMahon said. “How to generate power is the extremely important part of running. So, the mechanics is where you're going to generate power and the correct way to run.”
At Pioneer Speed School, a bunch of youngsters took their steps toward being better athletes last week.
