Christian Mentoring and Passing the Baton – How the Race of Life is Like a Relay Race By Dr. Jeff Myers Coach Nigel Hetherington, the Scottish National Sprints and Hurdles coach, shares ten principles of the baton relay.1 What lessons can we learn from these about the race of life?
• The race is about the baton, not the runners. The objective is to keep the baton moving at maximum speed at all times throughout the race. The baton must always remain the fastest member of the squad! • The relay brings out the best in everyone. The relay should increase, not decrease, the speed of the athletes. A properly-trained 400 meter relay team will post a time that is less than the four runners combined 100 meter times. • Every team member should be prepared to run in all positions. Every possible combination of positions and changeovers should be practiced to allow complete flexibility in covering every eventuality. • It is a good idea to practice the baton pass. Have all members of the squad stand one step apart in the same lane, facing the same direction. Give the baton to the athlete at the back and ask each to pass it until it arrives at the front. • Practice until the handover becomes instinctual. Athletes must learn to trust one another. Rather than looking back, the o
