by Larry Eder
How many times do we have to say it?Want to grow your running business, focus on the high school athletes, their coaches and core running.
Brooks is introducing a new program tomorrow called Inspiring Coaches, where athletes can write in and nominate their most inspiring coach. What a smart program!
After having spent a weekend with 1100 coaches in Wisconsin, I sure hope a lot of kids write in, as, in my mind, there are 140,000 head and assistant coaches who work with 1.6 million teen age athletes, 46 weeks a year, two hours plus a day, six days a week. And they sure do not do it for the money.
Nice job Brooks!
Brooks® Honors Inspiring High School Track & Field & Cross Country Coaches
New
Program Encourages Athletes, Others to Nominate Coaches
Who
Make Positive, Lasting Impressions
Bothell, WA (February 15, 2011) – Leading running
company Brooks Sports, Inc. (www.brooksrunning.com) announced today the
launch of Inspiring Coaches, a new program honoring high school cross country
and track and field coaches who make a significant, positive impact on the
lives of their athletes. In an effort to support these standout individuals and
continue to fuel their opportunities to inspire others to run and be active,
Brooks will share these coaches’ remarkable stories and award product and
cash to help fund their programs.
According
to the National Federation of State High School Associations, more than 1.6
million high school students participated in track and field or cross country
programs during the 2009-2010 school year, an increase of more than 2.5 percent
compared to the previous year. More specifically, outdoor track and field was
the No. 1 and No. 2 sport by participation for high school girls and boys,
respectively, in the 2009-2010 school year. Yet as participation grows, funding
for high school athletics continues to dwindle, forcing coaches to stretch
resources to keep their programs afloat.
In
response to these statistics and countless inspiring stories of high school
track and cross country coaches who volunteer their time, pay for team expenses
out of their own pockets, and use the run to help keep kids out of trouble and
off the streets, Brooks decided to create the Inspiring Coaches program as a
way to pay tribute to these coaches who go that extra mile to build and keep
their track and cross country programs strong.
“Coaches
are some of the most influential people in the lives of high school track and
cross country athletes. They play a critical role in introducing young runners
to an active lifestyle and the power of teamwork and dedication–all
leading to enhanced confidence and self worth during the most impressionable
time of their lives,” said Jim Weber, president and CEO of Brooks Sports,
Inc. “Brooks is very excited to acknowledge these extraordinary coaches
who inspire not only our next generation of runners, but others in their
communities to run and be active.”
Athletes,
parents, coaches, and others can visit www.brooksrunning.com/
current high school track and field or cross country coach who has encouraged
and motivated them. Applications will be accepted through April 30, 2011. On
June 1, 2011, Brooks will announce the top 10 finalists and profile them on www.brooksrunning.com. The nation’s most inspiring
coach will be chosen from the group of finalists and announced in July.
Brooks
will award each finalist with $5,000 in Brooks performance running footwear,
apparel, or accessories for his or her team; $500 cash for additional team
expenses; and membership into the Brooks Inspire Daily (I.D.) program. The most
inspiring coach will receive all prizes awarded to the finalists plus an
additional $5,000 in Brooks products, an additional $2,000 in cash, and a trip
for two to the Brooks PR Invitational in 2012.
Designed
as an annual program, Inspiring Coaches is the newest component of the running
company’s Run B’cause community giving initiatives. Through Run
B’cause, employees donate product and time to hundreds of needy causes
each year.
For
more information about the Inspiring Coaches program or to nominate a coach,
visit www.brooksrunning.com/
information about Run B’cause or Brooks performance running footwear,
apparel, and accessories, please visits www.brooksrunning.com.
About Brooks
Brooks Sports, Inc. is a leading running company that designs and markets a
line of performance footwear, apparel, and accessories in more than 60
countries worldwide. A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Brooks was
founded in 1914 and is headquartered in Bothell, Wash., near Seattle. The
company’s mission is to inspire everyone to run and be active by creating
innovative gear that keeps them running longer, farther, and faster. Visit www.brooksrunning.com for more
information, and follow frequent brand updates on Twitter (@brooksrunning) and
Facebook (Brooks Sports).
