Each in individual we coach is unique. Each athlete will respond slightly
different to the same training stimulus. Some athletes are fast adapters and
others are slow adapters. This is a fact; it is a fact that coaches
seem reluctant to acknowledge as a fact. Coaches will talk about it but when push
comes to shove it is much easier to have the same the program for all the
athletes, essentially one size fits all. What happens then is
that you get a leveling effect. Some athlete’s get better in spite of the
training other stay the same and some regress. I have heard all the excuses
about why you can’t acknowledge the individual and meet individual needs. The
most common is: How can I do that with a team? I have too many athletes. If you working with a large number in a
team sport then group the athletes, group them based on individual needs determined during the Physical Competency Assessment and in performance testing. The
groups need to be dynamic, for example one athlete may need more acceleration so
that athlete is in that need group and then may shift to another group in the
weight room where he has different needs. It can be done. Sometimes it is as
simple as changing the rest between runs or reps. It is not hard to do once you
recognize the need to train for individual needs.
The athlete must be an active participant
in the process, coaching is not something you do to the athlete; it is
something you do with them. They need to understand their individual goals and
needs and be taught how to manage their workouts so they are not coach
dependent. This is true at any level. When you have ninth graders starting in a
program this should be part of their orientation to the routine of training. It
all starts with a good thorough Physical Competency Assessment (PCA) – that will
help them to understand why they are doing certain exercises. For example why
they are doing overhead squats and their teammate is doing regular
squats. Once the athlete is totally involved in the process then it will make
it much easier for the coach to individualize.
Renew your commitment to training the individual and you
will see more consistent measurable results. When you commit to the individual then at least
everyone has a chance to improve, which is all you can ask for.