Author: Vernon Gambetta
Job Preservation – Some Facts
This is a must read for anyone interested in Athletic Development/Strength & Conditioning. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/ross_tucker/03/18/conditioning/index.html In my opinion based on my personal experience and observation this is spot on. This article could have been written about the NBA or MLB, the conditions and climate are the same. There is plenty of blame to go around. I think it rests equally with management and ownership who have no idea what this is all about, it rests with the S&C coaches themselves that need to professionalize themselves (Not unionize). They need to be true experts rather than advocates of machines, free weights or some other stupid idea that pigeon holes what they do. I think if we would look at some of the Performance Director models that I have seen in Europe and Australia that would be a major step in the right direction. That approach requires an open mind and a real value p[laced on athletic development. Frankly I do not think that is in the American mindset. We are hung up on quick fixes.
Kenyon College April – April 8, 2009
I was just starting my third day of working with the coaches at Kenyon College. I could not resist taking this picture to share with you. It is a beutifulcampus rich in academic tradition. As a resident of Florida we do not see too much of this white stuff at anytime, much less in April. It has been a very gratifying and fun time visiting three time this year to work on professional development of all the coaches.Peter Smith, the athletic director facilitated this at the urging of Jim Steen the swim coach.Looking forward to next year when we can build upon what we have been able to implement this year.
Deliberate Practice
The concept of deliberate practice has been bantered about quite a bit lately mainly due to Malcolm Galdwell’s book The Outliers. Along with that, Anders Ericsson’s concept of ten years and ten thousand hours to achieve expert status is getting a lot of attention. I think that Ericsson with his concept of ten years and ten thousand hours to achieve expert status is spot on in the arts and in cognitive intellectual fields. I am not sure that it has as much application to sport. There is no doubt that deliberate practice is essential to achieve excellence in any field. I think what is not being discussed is what exactly does deliberate practice consist of? Is it just doing the sport movements or is it formal structured practice? In my opinion it must be mindful practice with a purpose that is personal to the individual. I think at the younger ages most probably before puberty it should be unstructured play, where the youngster gets a feel for gross motor skills and then begins to refine those into finer motor skills well before there is any thought of being sport specific. It is always interesting to watch kids imitate mature performers. They can copy stars movements to a tee. When I was working with the MLS Tampa Bay Mutiny I remember watching the sons of the players, all age seven to nine, playing a little pick–up soccer game during our practice. They were all trying to imitate what their dads were doing. This is where it starts, but then I think we have misinterpreted Ericsson’s work and introduced structured practice too early. We need to allow each youngster to achieve general physical literacy, to learn how to move and play. There is plenty of time for deliberate practice. Concerning deliberate practice, it must be that, it must be planned, it must be individual, it must stress quality, but it must not be robotic, the individual should be able to find his or her own style. If you want to read a good book on this area I would recommend Talent Is Overrated – What Really Separates World-Class performers from Everybody Else by Geoff Colvin.
Game Fit
Here is the basic question – Are you getting them ready for the “fitness test” or are you getting them fit for the game? More often than not the two objectives conflict, when in fact they should be one and the same. First you need to thoroughly assess the demands of the sport you are preparing for. Is it a sport that has high-speed demands, aerobic endurance demands or a combination? Then determine the most appropriate tests to use to assess the fitness requirements of the game. Be sure to choose teats that give you useable data that you can translate into training programs to address the needs of the individual players. The test is not an end unto itself. The test needs to provide objective feedback on the athlete’s current state of fitness relative to the demands of the game, his or her position and their level of development. The test should be a means to an end. It should help to better communicate and motivate the athlete, not be a hammer that is used as a threat. I am not a big fan of arbitrary cutoffs i.e. everyone must be under six minutes in the mile. What does that tell you? It has been my experience that when that is the case the players train for the test that may or may not get them fit for the game. What is convenient is not always right. Just because everyone else in your sport uses a test does not mean you must use the same test. Use the test to gather as much information as possible. Always video the test, monitor everything that you can monitor. It is impossible to gather too much information. Remember game fit is being ready for the demands of the game.
Quotes
I found these quotes http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~kbaar/DrKeithbaar.html "An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field." (Niels Bohr) "There are two possible outcomes to an experiment: if the result confirms the hypothesis, then you've made a measurement. If the result is contrary to the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery." (Enrico Fermi)
Monkey See, Monkey Do
I continue to be amazed, befuddled and baffled by people’s infatuation with training programs. It is almost comical to get emails and phone calls asking me about the latest rope thing or the plate swing. The one’s I always like are questions about the Jamaican Sprint program or the Russian Speed program. I want to say SO WHAT! It doesn’t matter unless you are coaching Jamaican sprinters in the same environment with the same talent level. Let’s get real here; it is not about the recipe it is about the cook. I could give out every training program for every sport I have ever worked and those programs would not work the same for you as they did for me. The ones that were successful for me could be duds for you and the ones that were duds for me could be great for you. Take the time, energy, yes money, and focus on learning the principles and the foundations of sound training. For those of you just starting in coaching get a mentor not a guru. Learn about all the great coaches and their ideas and principles, then apply the template of current research and sport science, now you have something. I still go back and periodically read my notes from clinics by Bill Bowerman. Look at principles that are scientifically based and proven in the cauldron of competition, avoid the monkey see, monkey do syndrome, be a leader not a follower, innovate don’t imitate.
Venice VB Update
We just started our third block of the 09 off – season training program. The progress these young ladies have made has been nothing short of spectacular. This is really a special group.They attack their training with gusto,but most importantly with concentration and fierce intensity. They have build a tremendous foundation to move forward. This is the third year in the program for our core group of rising seniors. The progress of this group affirms that training is cumulative. We have been able to incorporate some fairly sophisticated training because they have such a good foundation. I have incorporated the concepts pioneered by French sport scientist Giles Cometti,arrticulated in his book La Pliometrie. Explosive power has significantly increased and will continue to increase. We are just strating on the "Get Fast" theme so we will have to incorporate more intra workout recovery to insure the quality. Another big factor in the step up in the training is the move from training in the parking lot to an actual weight room. I love weight rooms without walls,but a real weight room affords capabilities way beyond what were able to do outside. These girls are on a mission, it is fun to be along for the ride. The highpoint of my day and week is when I get to work with this group. They remind of a group I had at Santa Barabara Hi gh school in the mid 19 70's.
Problem Solving 101
I learned a long time ago to never judge a book by its cover or its size. This little book (111 pages) is a gem. It was originally written for Japanese school children to help shift them from memorization to critical thinking skills. If you want to sharpen your critical thinking skills this is a must read. I think it should be required reading for doctors. One of my mantras has always been, simplicity yields complexity, this book epitomizes that. Practical, easy to read and even easier to follow and implement.