Mentorship
NYTCA Mentoring Program
NYTCA Mentoring Program
The relationship between a mentor and mentee can transform one’s coaching practice. It is about the growth of a novice coach under the guidance of a veteran coach. However, given the understanding that a mentor is volunteering his or her time, it is expected that mentees respect the boundaries established by the National Youth track Coaches Association for the protection of the mentors.
What a Mentee Can Expect from a Mentor
-Up to a total of 30 minutes a week of time (includes email correspondence, phone calls, text messages, and zoom meetings if possible)
-Responses to communications within 36 hours
-Honest feedback and advice
-A Mentor whose expertise has been vetted by NYTCA Mentoring program lead, NYTCA Officers, and mentor's local / national and Association references
What a Mentee Cannot Expect from a Mentor
-Unlimited communications
-Immediate responses
-Access to private files, training plans, and other proprietary information
Some mentors may respond quickly and some may share all of their documents, training, and secrets, but they are not obligated to do so. Personal growth comes from taking the journey yourself and a mentor acts as the guide.
Considerations for Mentees
-If you are completely new, please be sure to use the resources posted on the NYTCA website before requesting documents from your mentor
-Try to narrow the scope to a specific area of assistance (sprints, hurdles, meet management, parents, etc.)
-If you have many questions that are not time sensitive, email them all so that your mentor can respond at his/her convenience
-Consider areas of expertise, experience, program or club characteristics, and region/national affiliation when reaching out to a mentor
-If a mentor has a mentee already, he or she has the right to choose not to take you on, but can hopefully make suggestions for another possible mentor for you
Goals of the Mentor Program
- Share knowledge with other coaches, just like others have shared with us in the past
- Help coaches to grow professionally
- Create professional relationships that can help us all to improve
- To endorse the NYTCA vision/purpose of advancing Cross Country and Track & Field in United States
- To endorse the NYTCA purpose to (promoting Youth Athletics and athletes by promoting outstanding technical and ethical coaching, and by cooperating with and encouraging other organizations which promote the coaching of youth athletes)
If you are interested in being a mentor:
Contact Keith Combs keith.combs@trackhouston.com