How much of what you do in training is experience and how much is science? I am always trying to figure out why things work. I know some training methods work and produce results but I always want to know why it works. That does not mean I don’t do it until I find out why. If we waited for scientific validation especially peer-reviewed articles we would never get anything done. If we had listened to the scientists we would not be using the flop technique in the high jump. My experience has shown me that coaches lead and scientists follow. Coaches innovate and the scientist validates. It is our job as coaches to know the science and be systematic and methodical enough in our approach to challenge the scientists to work with us to help validate or invalidate training methods and techniques. We need to give the scientists direction, to frame accurate intelligent questions to allow them to guide and direct us. It must be a dialog where the input from both the scientist and coach are valued. The process and the dialog must be coach driven, because ultimately it is the coach that is responsible for producing results. In the world of sport there is art and science as well as nature and nurture, they all play a part.
