Author: Vernon Gambetta
Old School
The other day someone told me that I was old school. By their tone it was clearly meant as a put down. I took it as a huge complement. If old school is holding to your core beliefs, turning those beliefs into action through the principles I have been outlining over the past few weeks, then I am definitely old school. I will not blow in the wind following the latest training fads and fancies. I choose to stay the course and keep the compass oriented to true north. I know that is the surest way to the destination and most importantly the means to achieve consistent reproducible results in the competitive arena. If old school is having a clear vision of the finished product with a clear understanding of current reality then I am old school. If old school is knowing where you have come from and acknowledging and giving credit to those who have helped you then I am old school. If old school is talking about your failures and learning from them, then I am old school. If old schoold is following the rules, then I am old school. I could go on, but I think you get the point. School is open, join me, the school bell ringing loud and clear to start a new session. Respect yourself, your colleagues and the athletes you work with. Set high expectations for yourself and those you work with. Strive for the excellence. Pay your dues; you can’t enroll in the army as a general. Success and recognition take time. Above all keep learning and experiment, but don’t lose the compass. Stick to your core beliefs and turn them into action. Stay the course!
Variation
Systematic variation is a basic principle of training. The key word here is systematic. The variation must be planned and serve a specific purpose in the context of the whole training program. Just throwing a bunch of random different” stuff” into a program is not variation with a purpose. That is confusion and despite what some of the commercial “fitness ‘ programs advertise that is not training, that is entertainment. Variation is programmed as part of an overall plan to allow for continual adaptation. Some relatively simple means of incorporating variation that can have complex implications are: Hard/Easy – A hard workout followed by an easy workout. Simple/Complex – A very simple training session followed by a complex training session Heavy/Light – A heavy day followed by a light day. Work/Rest – Simply vary work to rest ratios on the some work regimen will stimulate adpatation. The key is that all these are done with a purpose in pursuit of specific training objectives.
Evaluating A Program
Lately it seems I have been getting many questions about various popular training programs. Rather than speaking directly to any one program I think it is better to give insight into how I evaluate a program. I start pretty basic: What – What actually is a program? What is the philosophy? Are they selling something, a subscription or a service? Do you need a boxed set of DVD’s or a membership? Who – Who designed the program. What is their background? But more importantly whom specifically is the program designed for? Is it for athletes or general fitness population? Why – What is the rationale behind the program? Is there a scientific and methodological basis? How – How is the system implemented? Is it sport appropiate? When – Is there a plan? Variation is fine, but is it systematic and planned? Is there a progression? Injuries – Does the program hurt people? Look at the pattern of injuries and the type of injuries that people who use the program incur. As Tony Dungy said “ the most important ability is availability.” If you are hurt you can’t compete. Once I thoroughly explore all of those then I apply the 3M Criteria, is what the program purports to do: Manageable: Can I do it the time, context, personnel and facilities available? Measurable: Can I actually apply appropriate metrics to measure progress? Motivational: Do the participant (all concerned including the coaches) look forward to doing it? Last but not least I want to know if it produces adaptable athletes or just athletes who are adapted to that system. At the end of the day in my work, coaching, it is about the bottom line. Does what I do make the players better and keep them healthy so they are ready to thrive in the competitive arena, not just survive?
Repetition
In my years as an athlete it was hammered into to me that repetition was the mother of learning. I worked harder and harder and repeated drills and exercises by the hour. Sometimes I got better, but just as often I stagnated or regressed. Then in my first sport psychology class at UCSB I learned that practice made permanent – well da! Back in 1969 I did not need Anders Ericsson’s research, Malcom Gladwell or Coyle’s books to quickly realize that that it was the quality of the practice that matters. It is not just putting in 10,000 hours like so many people are espousing today. It is what you put in the hours that matters. Mindless work leads nowhere. Oh sure you will better but not to the same extent as when the practice is focused and mindful. We also know now that technical perfection comes from those who operate on the outer edges of the particular skill or technique. They are willing to take chances to make mistakes, learn and self-correct based on feedback from the ”mistakes.” Give the athlete a clear goal. Make sure they have the tools to reach the goal and then allow them to discover the path to that goal. You guide them when necessary but remember coaching is not something you do to the athlete; it is something you do with the athlete. Give them space to grow and learn. Remember that deep practice the type of practice that is meaningful and provides results. It is error centered, thoroughly planned and information rich. As coaches we are, to paraphrase Coyle in Talent Code, myelinators. Coaching = Growing Skill Circuits. Guiding the athletes to improve the circuitry, to grow more myelin is a big job full of challenges, but it affords the opportunity for creativity and innovation that was unimagined when I started coaching 42 years ago.
Work
Hard work will bring success. Yes to a point. Smart work will yield longer lasting success. Anyone can work, but that is not training. Training is work with a purpose, with a specific measurable goal in mine. Getting tired, feeling the burn, getting sore and puking at the end of a workout is not the measure of a good training. You need to ask yourself why you are doing what you are doing, to whom you are doing it with and when you are doing it. Remember the simple goal is to train adaptable athletes who will thrive in the competitive arena. TRAIN SMART!
Rice Speed Symposium – November 12
The second Rice University Speed Symposium will be held Saturday November 12 from 2:00 to 5:00 Pm at Rice University in Houston Texas. The clinician will be legendary sprint coach Tony Wells of the Colorado Flyers, Vince Anderson of Texas A&M and Vern Gambetta. For information and to register contact Casey Thom at cdt1@rice.edu or go http://ricespeedsymposium2.eventbrite.com I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn from Tony and Vince. To me Tony is an icon in sprint coaching and someone I have always looked to for advice and ideas. Vince is one of the brightest young coaches I know. He learned under the tutelage of Tom Tellez and has done a great job of developing sprinters. If you are interested in speed this will be a great learning opportunity.
Coaching Cornerstones
The following are the cornerstones of effective coaching: Communication –The ability to get your message across in a clear concise manner will determine your success as a coach. It is important to remember all dimensions of communication, sending, receiving and seeing. Talk, show and tell. Knowledge – In many ways this is the easiest part of coaching. It knowing all aspects of what do from training to technical and tactical, it is the X’s and O’s. There is no excuse for not being on the cutting edge here. Empathy & Feeling – This is the emotional intelligence component of coaching. It is closely tied to communication but it is so much more. It is being human, be accessible, being there. Commitment – Coaching is a 24/7 occupation. You must be consistent and strong and unwavering in your commitment to excellence in yourself and those you work with. Passion and Love – This is how you put an exclamation point on what you do every day!
My New Book
My new book “Following The Functional Path – Building and Rebuilding the Athlete” is now available on my website http://bit.ly/rfB1bJ. The price is $24.95. This book is an edited compilation of five years of my daily blog where I share my thoughts on coaching and training. The posts reflect my years of coaching experience and my continuing learning journey. You will gain insight into my philosophy and the impact that others have had in its development. It will challenge you to think and question. My hope is that this book will help you on your own functional path to more effective development of your athletes.