Friday, December 26, 2014

NTCA Clinic Presentation

Well I am leaping into the 21st century a little late- I got a smart phone. I know. But I am also posting my presentation key points here for ease. The following outline is for the 35lb weight throw. These key points are the different things that have helped me throw the weight consistently.
1) Make the Weight What It Is
Heavy & Short, Push the Ball and Step, Technician vs. Distance (same or not)
2) Entry
What makes the throw feel right, Do the same as the hammer, How much training to do entry
3) Sit vs. Sit
Sitting is not on the toilet, Shoulders against, counter the ball, feel in hip and right quad, connection
4) Foot Work
Repetition, repetition, repetition, 0 90 180 step, 90* hold, Turn, turn, turn
5) What is MIDDLE
Counter back to be middle, Hold middle to get pulled out, No counter, no throw
6) Rhythm, Tempo, Competition
Rhythm- 80 to 85% of all throws, Russian style range throwing
Tempo- next gear, from 2&2 to 1&3, pick up beats
Competition- find mental key and go, did not say key's, Competing is letting training come out
7) General
Always find good, Coaches can critique, Athletes need to focus on positive
8) Questions? Let me know

NTCA Clinic Presentation
Columbus, Ohio
December 2014

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Elite Throws Camp

Next month I am co-hosting a Throws Camp with Kurt Roberts, currently ranked top 10 in the world. We will be coaching the throws in various settings- there is a camp, a technique session and a seminar. It will be a lot of fun and personalized for athletes.

 

I encourage you to register soon and plan to attend!

 

Monday, May 19, 2014

Ashland Summer Series 3

June 14, 2014

Ashland, Ohio

This throwers meet will involve the hammer, discus, shot put, and javelin. It will start with men's shot put at 11:00 AM, then rolling schedule of women's shot put, men's javelin, women's javelin, men's hammer, women's hammer, men's discus, and then women's discus.

All ages are welcome, please let me know (by email) if you are throwing a different weighted implement due to age. Please notify me of age, sex, and also the weight of implement.

$20 entry fee for as many events as you want to compete in. Hope to see you at AU!

To email me and for more details about the meet, go to www.usatf.org and go to the events calendar.

 

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Article

The Ashland Times Gazette did a nice article in today's paper. Well done, Doug!

 

 

 

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Outdoors

Well without posting in a while and indoor season being done, we are onto the outdoor season and I have started off very consistent. South Carolina- 76.25, Tennessee- 75.50, and Ohio State- 75.86... very consistent and happy with how it is going so far. But being older, finding the right combination of lifting and also throwing has been interesting; but so far working well. That is basically the start of outdoors- trying out different things that I have liked in the past and then figure out what will work well for me going into USA Outdoors. The biggest thing is to make sure that lifting does not effect my throwing, but how my throwing should effect the way I should lift. I am very excited for what is to come in the rest of the season. There will be a big meet this next Friday at Ashland University at Ferguson field in the elite men's hammer comp. Come out to watch! You will have fun watching a great competition! Happy training and hope to see you this Friday.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Indoor is Done

Well, indoors is now done and another successful year.  It is funny how things happen, with my new blessing coming a month early, baby girl Marina, and having to take basically 2 1/2 weeks off of training due to her being up in the NICU in Akron. I only got less than 1000 throws in by this point but really after talking with Jud, it works for me now.  I keep a little more intensity with my throws so it is truthfully the quality over the quantity.  Now going on 13 years training the hammer full time, I finally really can focus on little things to make the ball go far... I mean as focused as I can be with 2 kids, wife, and a full time job as Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Ashland University.

It is still funny when I go to Indoors and people still ask me why I keep on throwing the weight since it hurts the form in the hammer. To those I say- throw it the same way.  On my best technical years I have felt the exact same things in the hammer and the weight and have done both well.  The biggest thing is I do not throw one just exclusively. I throw both all year round- throwing the weight all year helps keep my specific strength up and I truly believe helps me with my sitting harder against the ball. It is like heavy hammers on steroids.  I throw the hammer during weight season to make sure I feel patience in the throw and make sure I am keeping the timing so I can make World and Olympic Teams...considering the weight is not a recognized event in World Indoors. So no Sopot, Poland for me.  But I truthfully think both have benefits for each other.

So off to Outdoor Season I go. I will travel with the AU throwers down to South Carolina for the Weems Baskins meet at the University of South Carolina, which has been always a great place for us to go to get away from Ohio for a bit.  Then these are some more tentative meets that I will be going to:

Sea Ray Relays         April 10th
Jesse Owens              April 19th
AU alumni meet.      April 25th
Tucson Elite.             End of May, Always one of my favorite meets of the year

Well, I hope all is well with everyone and I will try to keep you all updated and thank you all for the support.

A.G. Kruger

PS- I just found out some news about a fellow Iowan and hammer competitor, Mike Mai, who has just been diagnosed with cancer and if you could all keep him and his family in your prayers with his fight against this.



Saturday, February 15, 2014

News article from January 2, 2014

 

News article from August 11, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

News article from August 3, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

News articles from August 2, 2012

 

Look how small Geo is...

 

 

 

 

 

News articles from June/July 2012

 

 

 

Close up of article...

 

 

 

 

USA TODAY announces 2012 Olympic Team

 

 

 

News Article complimenting Jud's coaching

 

 

 

 

(News article, 2010) Qualifying for Continental Cup

 

 

Close up...

 

 

Inside:

 

 

Close up...

 

 

Flashback to 2004

Jackie and I signed this for Laura who was my girlfriend at the time, and now my wife.

 

 

 

News article from 2009

Found this gem: