Author: Vernon Gambetta
Coaching That Matters
The coaching that matters is not the technical, tactical and training nuances; coaching that matters is what some call the intangibles. The ability to say the right thing at the right time. To be firm and fair. To let the athlete know the boundaries of what is acceptable and unacceptable performance and behavior. The ability to connect and communicate. Technical expertise is a given at the highest levels of coaching, what matters and makes the difference is so-called emotional intelligence. It is understanding the human element. Great coaches are not great by chance. I read where the great soccer manager Jose Mourinhno speaks to his players as a group in the language of the country where he coaches and when he meets with the players individually he speaks the players native language. Think about that. He sets a level of expectation for the players to know the culture and language of the country they are playing in and he connects with each player individually. If you want to be a great coach get beyond X’s and O’s, GPS data and heart rate variability and learn to connect with the athlete on a human level.
The Process
Training to improve performance in the athletic arena is a process. Here are the steps in the process as I see them: Define the process – Lay out your goals and objects. Be clear on the ultimate destination Trust the process – Get started, a journey of 10,000 miles starts with the first step. Proceed step by step with the destination clearly in mind. Refine the process – Constantly fine tune and prototype. Assess the process – Make adjustments and corrections based on the assessment and continue the process. It is a process not a model because the body is complex, self organizing and highly adaptable. Focus on the process will help guide the athletic body toward the ultimate destination – optimum performance in the competition arena.
Errors of Commission, Errors of Omission
For as long as I can remember the prevalent thought was that injuries were the result of something that was not being done in training. Perhaps it was a lack of core strength, proper leg strength or a deficiency in proprioception. Over the past several years I have a distinct shift. I am seeing injuries occurring because of what we are doing. Ironically some of it is because of the so-called “corrective exercise” movement that consists of isolated movements designed to prevent injury. This is often done in lieu of training because these “deficiencies” that are being addressed supposedly would not allow normal training. Some of it is the selection and subsequent inclusion of exercises in the training program specifically designed to prevent injury, prime examples would be the so-called Nordic hamstring curl to address hamstring injuries or the throwers ten to address shoulder injuries. Neither exercise has prevented hamstring or shoulder injuries. Maybe it is time to take a giant step back and look at the big picture to assess what we are doing and not doing, because we are not preventing injuries. In fact injuries at all levels of sport are off the charts. There is no substitute for a systematic, sequential progressive training program that is pedagogically sound. Injury prevention should be a transparent part of the training program. Remedial exercises are part of a sound training progression. In fact the key to all this is progression, doing the appropriate exercises based on the athletes level of development and fundamental physical competencies. There is no substitute for a sound training program. You have to walk before you run and you have to run before you sprint. Take a close look at what you are and what you are not doing.
Thoughts on Getting Better – Personal Improvement
Read good writing Think good thoughts Hang out with smart stimulating people. Listen and ask a lot of questions. See with your eyes wide open Listen more, talk less Challenge yourself mentally and physically each day Experiment/Prototype try new stuff Orient to action, but do one thing at a time Connect and link seemingly unrelated area and concepts. Go far afield. Slow down to move faster Focus Pocus – Have fun! Laugh a lot and don’t take yourself too seriously.
Thoughts on Plyometric Training – Part Three FAQ’s
The following are common questions and concern regarding Plyometric training. How often is optimum? Two to three times a seven-day microcycle depending on the phase of the year and the sport is acceptable. Low amplitude remedial in place movements can be done daily as part of warm-up. How complex should the exercises be? Start with simple movements in place and then add combinations as the athlete achieves mastery. As far as sequence and compatibility with other components, Plyometric training and strength training are very complementary. Plyometric training is also very compatible with speed development. Given this fundamental compatibility with other methods of high neural demand it imperative to take into account the overall stress on the nervous system when combining methods. Where in the training spectrum does Plyometric training best fit? It must always be there! The number of contacts, the type of exercise and the complexity changes as the season progresses. Where in the workout is best? Generally early in the workout before there is any fatigue. With the younger developing athlete put Plyometric training before strength training and before sprinting. As the athlete advances in training age then the Plyometric can be blended with the strength training during certain phases and even follow strength training. The sequence is very training age dependent. At what age is the appropriate to begin Plyometric training? There is no physiological reason why the young developing athlete cannot do Plyometric training. The intensity should be low and the drills and exercises should be play like. Games like hopscotch and jump rope are very appropriate as training and as lead-up activities. How is it best to assess intensity if it is so important? Wherever and when ever possible measure, time, video, watch and listen. What about progression? When problems do occur it is often because of a lack of progression, too much too soon or an inappropriate selection of exercises. Also poor technique in the actual execution of the exercises can create inappropriate stress. Strength deficiencies either in the lower extremities or the core coupled with the previous two deficiencies can be a major factor in injury. In summary if properly applied Plyometric training can be a tremendous training tool. Use it progressively and always make sure it is always considered in context with the whole training program. Plyometric Training Step by Step Learn to land How you land determines how you take-off Use as many joint as possible to reduce force Learn to take-off Triple extension – Use as many joint as possible to produce force Learn to use the ground Progress from Two foot landing One foot landing Alternate foot landings Get Vertical Project and displace up Get Horizontal Project and displace out
Mom
Today is Mothers day, but for me everyday is Mothers day. A day does not go by where I do not think of my mother and say a silent prayer to thank her for all she did for me. Her desire to give me the opportunities that she never had, to get an education, to have a better life motivates me everyday. Thanks Mom, even though you have been gone for 22 years you are in my thoughts everyday. Happy Mothers day.
Mom
Today is Mothers day, but for me everyday is Mothers day. A day does not go by where I do not think of my mother and say a silent prayer to thank her for all she did for me. Her desire to give me the opportunities that she never had, to get an education, to have a better life motivates me everyday. Thanks Mom, even though you have been gone for 22 years you are in my thoughts everyday. Happy Mothers day.
Lest we forget!
Lest we forget our jobs as Strength & Conditioning/Athletic Development coaches is to prepare the athletes we work with to be injury free and ready to perform in their sport in the competition arena. In addition we must prepare them to handle the day-to-day workload in training and practice. What we do is a means to end, not an end unto itself. It should support and prepare the athlete. Faster 40 times, big bench press and squat numbers that do not translate into performance do no good. I urge you to take another look at what you are doing? Why are you doing it? When are you doing it? To whom are you doing it with? Is it sport appropriate? Are you entertaining them or training them? We have a responsibility, as coaches to coach the athletes to be better – Are you doing it?