Author: Vernon Gambetta
Jesse Owens Quote
The following quote was on the wall in the dining hall at the USOC. I am a great admirer of Jesse Owens. He was a real classy person, who knew racial prejudice of the worst kind, but did not let it embitter him, instead he turned it into a positive and was role model for races and creeds during his life. My first week coaching at Santa Barbara High School in 1969 he came and spoke to our track team; this quote was part of his message. I think it is a message we need to take to heart. “Awards become tarnished and diplomas fade … What is a gold medal? It is a trinket, a bauble. What counts my friends, are the realities of life. The fact of competition and yes, then great and good friends you make.”
USA Curling COACHING Development Conference
I spent the last three days at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs both speaking at and attending an Elite Curling Coaches Development Seminar. The conference was superbly organized by Scott Higgins, a good friend, who is now the Coaching Development Coordinator for US Curling. The focus of the conference was coaching and developing an elite performance model. This sport of Curling demands a high degree of athleticism and development of many key physical qualities and a high degree of skill. Culturally it has been a recreational sport, so a big task is changing the culture to compete and excel at the elite level. The coaches were a great group of people, eager to learn and very intent on making themselves better and raising the level of their sport. I presented on Athletic Development and did another talk on Coaching Excellence. Jesse Hunt from US Skiing presented their model. Bill Sands from the USOC did a great presentation on “Evaluation in Sport – Why and What.” Bill is one of the best applied sport scientists that I know, his presentation really got my motor running. Cathy Sellers presented on Coaching Education and Development. Riggs Klika presented on National/Coach development Systems – A World Perspective. Warren Pretorious from Dartfish did a great presentation on using video analysis effectively. We even did a 6:30 AM mini “Burn with Vern” session to let them feel multi-plane and multidimensional mindful movements. During the whole conference I could not help but reflect on the NSCA Conference where I had just come from. These are the type of presentations and presenters they should have across the board, if they do this they will define the field of Athletic development/ Strength and Conditioning. I left this conference feeling very excited and hopeful because I got to spend three days with coaches and applied sport scientists who are trying to solve real world problems. The curling coaches have a whole vista ahead of them, in essence they can define the future of their sport, which is very exciting to me. I had the same feeling from this group as I did after my apprentorship program. There is life beyond the NSCA and the weight room. There is nothing like waking up in the morning to this view of Pikes Peak!
NSCA Convention – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
I have maintained for several years that Strength & Conditioning is a field crying out for definition. The four days here in Las Vegas at the NSCA Convention did nothing to dispel that notion. I am convinced that there is no profession, no field, only confusion. The convention program and the exhibits only confirmed that for me. What is strength and conditioning? This was definitely not a convention for coaches. It looked more like a personal trainer convention. As Dan Baker President of the Australian Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association and strength coach of the Brisbane Broncos said “death by personal trainer.” I have nothing against personal trainers, but they have a different mission than coaches. They may do physical exercise but the application is significantly different. I personally think that when the NSCA reached out to personal trainers it was for purely monetary reasons, it was a way to increase membership, get more people certified and raise more money. Personal trainers have their own organizations and that is where they should be. In talking to many of my colleagues that I respect they feel the same way. I really think the NSCA has lost their compass, they are trying to be all things to all people; it would be good see them revisit their mission or even redefine their vision. It seems to me they are trying to be a muscular ACSM. I do think the research section is very positive, but once again to have the research sections conflict with presentations is not wise. Create a research track where the presentations are not in conflict with other presentations. Perhaps instead of the preconvention presentations that should be designated research day. I come to conventions to learn and to share and interact with other professionals. Venues like Las Vegas do not facilitate this. Too big and too spread out. Some of my fondest memories of past NSCA conventions was gathering in a corner of the lobby and talking training with other coaches. Fortunately here I was able to visit with Jim Radcliffe and his wife. Also got to spend some time talking about all of this with Rob Newton, Dan Baker, Jeremy Sheppard and Harry Brennan. Dan and Jeremy are very involved with the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association; in that organization there are no personal trainers, just coaches who are working with athletes. Go to their site, http://www.strengthandconditioning.org it is as it should be, a focus on coaching and applied research. This is a good model. Specific Recommendations: Have a beginner’s elementary track, a personal training track, a coaching track and a research track. Do not put two good speakers at the same time so that you have to make a choice. Stop the commercial announcements, subtle or overt. I come to learn not to here infomercials. Eliminate the From the Field or call it like it is, label it product demos or infomercials. Have a theme for each convention, so that there is a central focus. Information dumps do not help anyone. Have the convention at less expensive venues. Las Vegas is too expensive. Choose a central location and even perhaps consider having it in a permanent location.
Off to Las Vegas
After volleyball practice I will leave for Las Vegas for the NSCA Convention. Going to Las Vegas is not something I look forward to, I am not into gambling, smoking, drinking and crowds, but it is chance to catch up with friends and professional colleagues. I can’t help but reflect back to my first NSCA Convention in Los Angeles in 1983. Most of the attendees were coaches. The personal training thing was in the future. It will be interesting to see the composition of the attendees. I am looking forward to attending Dan Bakers, Jim Radcliffe’s and Tracy Fober’s talks after that I when I am not at the Foster-Miller Booth representing their innovative Physiological Monitoring System I will hang out in the research presentations. Sunday I fly to the Colorado Spring for three days at the Olympic Training Center for a gathering of coaches from USA Curling. It will be fun to be involved in a different sport.
Not The Method, The Application
I saw this quote by Richard Verheijen, Dutch Soccer Conditioning coach: "It is not the the training method itself but the way it is applied that makes the difference." This quote struck me as particularly relevant in light of some of the things I have seen over the past year. A high school football doing the "Virginia Tech" program – get real! Buying training programs off the internet – get real! I can take the same tools a skilled craftsman would use and destroy a house not build one. Know and understand the why and how before you even consider the what. Know the principles.
Olympic Trials – Do or Die
Every four years it seems the same controversy arises when some star, a sure bet to win the Gold, fails to advance through the trials process. I know it seems cruel and heartless but so be it. There is no other fair way to do it. Could you imagine picking by committee – what a mess that would be, I know enough about the personalities and biases of the people who would probably be the decision makers and that would be a disaster. I can see scenarios where sponsors would bribe selectors and on and on. It should always be decided on the track and in the field not in a closed room. Part of the skill of coaching and competing is being ready at the right time. If Tyson Gay felt his leg before the 200 meters he and his coach should not have had him run. It is simple it is called injury management. He was already on the Olympic team in the 100 and most probably in the 4 x 100, why run and jeopardize his chances in the 100?
Sportsmanship and Competition
I caught the last few points of Wimbledon and watched the post match interviews. It was very refreshing to hear Roger Federer acknowledge Rafael Nadal and honor him as a great player. No excuses. It was clear in the interview the respect they have for each other. It was also clear that neither would be able to reach the same height of achievement without the other. It certainly was a contrast to some of the post race interviews at the Olympic Swimming and Track trials. A worthy opponent is necessary to be a great champion. The essence of competition is to strive together with not push against the opponent.