The Latest From ALTIS
training slower to run faster
One thing coaches who are interested in speed seem to be continually confused about is the value of tempo training. Whether it be with sprinters, or with team sport athletes — it seems like running at slower than 70% of maximum sprint speed creates controversy, and brings about a high number of people at both extremes of the continuum of...
“Keep calm and carry on”
“Keep calm and carry on.” So the famous British WWII slogan goes. But what’s it got to do with us? Well, most track & field teams and groups are currently in the midst of their general fall training period. It’s an exciting time of rebirth, with fresh promise towards a new season. It is also the time for installation -...
the art of subtraction [or how to Coach like Michelangelo]
You know the one big secret that all great coaches learn as they progress through their careers? It’s the power of less. Less exercises. Less volume. Less instruction. Less everything. Today, we’ll talk about how Michelangelo might have coached, and why you should coach this way too! The Latin root of the word ‘decision’ - cis or cid - literally...
on filing
I often get asked by younger coaches how to organize my thoughts so I don’t get overwhelmed by too much information. I use a file system format, whereby I put everything into files of topics. I have blog files, podcast files, coursework files, general research files, advanced research files, etc. I then use systems to manage them. I normally have...
The myth of work-life balance?
I come from a family tradition of storytellers. I love to hear and speak about stories. So when I’m guiding younger coaches through some of the pitfalls we encounter in our coaching lives, I tend to tell gut-level honest stories of failures, successes, trials, tribulations, etc. I also share biographies of coaches and other leaders who have fallen into some...
Is it worth it?
I have been consistently challenged in multiple environments. The two biggest challenges for me in scale and scope are constant battles with: Administration silos / scope of practice, etc. Support agencies around the athlete I have fought constant battles with NGBs, Olympic Committees, meet promoters, legislation issues, and world-politic. On the support side, endless and inane conflicts from agents, sponsors, parents,...
3 steps to being a good mentor
Mentorship is something that lots of folks talk about, and lots of folks appreciate the importance of - but there are really few effective structured mentorship programs in coaching education. Costs, time allotments for both parties, rules and regulations by governing bodies, a dearth of true educators in leadership roles, the lack of reward for doing mentorships other than self-gratification,...
in Praise of my Mentors
When I was a young coach, I was desperate for advice and mentoring, but it was very uncommon back then (late 60s-early 70s), so the only way to get any sort of help was to volunteer at a school and pray that one of the coaches took you under his wing. I grew up with a father in the construction...
alligator boogaloo
I wrote the following short piece well over a decade ago -- back when I first started sharing my thoughts publicly. I started a blog called 500words (this was prior to the old mcmillanspeed site), where every post had to be 500 words right on the nose. This was my 2nd or 3rd one -- and I share it here...
Coaching Chat #4: Stu McMillan – On authenticity & Advice to my younger self
Welcome to Coaching Chat, an ALTIS vodcast series where Education Director – Ellie Kormis – chats with coaches, coach educators, and teachers who coach – from High School coaches, to Pro coaches, to new coaches, to the seasoned warhorses of our profession. Episode 4 sees us joined by Coach Stu McMillan. Currently in his 28th year of professional coaching, Stuart...
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