“If
you don’t test max’s and lift heavy weights then how do you evaluate results?”
In essence this was the question posed to me by a “Lost generation” strength
coach. My answer was simple – I just pointed to the pool (In this case the sport
was swimming).The ultimate judge of an Athletic Development program are the results in the competitive
arena. First are the athletes healthy and able to train optimally so that they
can do the daily preparation for competition? Second are they improving? Third
is the coaching staff fully on board and do they link the training program with
what they are doing in their sport? Simple! Prepare the athlete for their sport,
not how to lift more weights or run more drills. Once again it comes down to
adaptable or adapted.
5 Comments
Paul Davis
Great post because of its simplicity. If I could go back 10-15 years to my time as a college baseball coach, I would abandon my measurement of “standard” lift maxs. I had many players who improved their bench press, but still couldn’t hit because they had poor basic movement issues (rotation and/or timing/muscle sequencing). I still see this at my alma mater. One player has been team “lifter of year” for 3 years, regional NSCA winner once – and he has yet to play meaningful innings after being state HS player of year.
James Marshall
I recently was told by a strength training “guru” not to dumbbell snatches with sailors I work with because it would mess up their barbell snatch!
I suggested that all the exercises I was doing should either help them sail better, or assist in preventing injury. He said that 2 legged barbell Olympic lifts transferred to every sport and I should concentrate on that.
This links into your generalist post- if you come from an Olympic Lifting background, then that is how you see everything.
Also, it is easy for S&C coaches to show some fancy test figures and to show improvements to massage the players’ ego, and to justify to the Head Coach why they should be kept there for another year.
craig Duncan
Great comment Vern in my sport of soccer too often coaches want test after test that has little resemblance to what is required on the field. Im not objecting to objective data but it is imperative we know what and why we are testing and ask ourselves is there anyway we can get this information with conducting tests. I work with a professional team in Australia and have conducted very limited tests but I can tell you where every player is at in respect to their physiological status. This can be acheived through careful player monitoring but also by being intune with your players and observing – Thanks for your great Blog
Bo Sandoval, MS, SCCC, USA-W
Evaluating Results – The swim program you speak of with the optimal results you have produced…2001-2002 – 3wins 5 loss- 5th in big ten. 2002-2003 – 3wins 3 loss – 4th in big ten…2003-2004 – 8wins 1 loss 1st in big ten…2004-2005 4 wins 2 losses 4th in big ten…2005-2006 3wins 3 losses 3rd in big ten… 2006-2007 4wins 2 losses 2nd in big ten… 2007-2008 6wins 1 loss 2nd in big ten…2008-2009 4wins 6 losses 4th in big ten… If you base physical improvements off of wins and losses you have the most inconsistent program on earth. Their best finish under your program was 9th nationally. Prior to your ignorant philosophy, this program you speak of won 13 big ten championships and finished in the top 10 (nationally) 13 times….under the same head coach. So if you base physical improvements off of wins and losses (outcomes rather than process), you have done a poor job for these athletes and coaches. On a second note…your program or lack of does not address the two most trainable aspects in sport….strength & Power (as seen with Auburn,Cal and Michigan men). What you do implement is a very extensive rehab program. Rehab does not win races. Hard consistent training wins races . Along with consistent training is consistent supervision. To sell someone the idea that you can physically improve their squad while being ten states away is a lie. Those athletes must be coached day in and day out. That is our job as strength professionals. One last thought…if your methods cannot be scientifically proven to be effective…you are not worth a competitive athletes time. You provide gimmicks. So get an infomercial. If you plan to better yourself you should develop the means to measure results of your program. When you take a stab at a well decorated strength professional such as the “Lost Coach” you speak of…be prepared to get stabbed back.
Carson Christopher
Wow, what a rant. This guy Sandoval, is a coach?
Vern, how does he know what athletes they had at U of MI during years cited?
How does he know what advice you gave the program?
Your evaluation of the athlete’s performance – whether they improved or not – is simple and a measured result.
Too many variables not known by COACH Sandoval to write something like this.