Author: Vernon Gambetta
Stay Backstage or Bring Out the Clowns
https://www.si.com/college-football/2019/04/16/strength-coaches-oregon-florida-maryland-aaron-feld To say that I was upset when I read this poorly written and researched article is an understatement. It is an affront to all of us who care about the coaching profession. This is not coaching, what they are talking about is entertainment and cheerleading. I know many of you twenty & thirty something “strength coaches” see nothing bad in this because these guys are getting paid a lot of money. Making a lot of money does not define a profession, behavior and professional standards do. Look closely at this picture, it is Jimmy Radcliffe from University of Oregon watching the players he helped to mold into champions celebrating after winning the PAC XII championship to advance to the first BCS Championship game. A picture is worth a thousand words! Stay tuned we will be doing a GAINcast on the state of S&C with some ideas of where we need to go.
Emphasize What Matters
In life and in coaching it is important to focus on what matters. What matters most is relationships – people – the human element. In today’s world of fast information and big data it is easy to forget that the numbers, data, scientific measurements are one-dimensional – we coach people who are multidimensional. They are not machines, they respond to care and concern. Good coaching is about developing trust and working together with the athletes to guide them to grow athletically and personally. Every truly effective coach I have known knows what matters and focuses on what matters. They are astute observers and sharp listeners. A simple guideline to help focus on what matters is to remember the 3 C’s connect, convey, and convince.
Some Tips to Optimize the Training Session
Have clearly defined goals and outcomes/expectations for the session. They should be specific, observable and measurable. Make sure the session is aligned with the theme of the larger training block. Design the session to account for individual differences. Plan and execute a thorough and complete warm-up that is in alignment with the goals and objectives of the session. Warm-up should lead into the session. Have a detailed plan including contingency plans if it does not go as planned. Have all equipment ready and personnel assigned at least 15 minutes before the start of the session. Have well thought out Reset (AKA Cooldown) that resets and readies the athletes up for the subsequent training session. Use technology to complement what you are doing as a coach. Keep your eyes on the athlete not a computer screen. Set the expectation for “PERFECT EFFORT” and demand it Don’t just supervise the session – COACH IT!
We Have It Backwards
Today we spend an inordinate amount of time and effort preparing the path for the athlete. We make sure that everything is controlled. We make the path smooth and straight when in reality the path is circuitous and crooked with many detours along the way. What we should be doing is preparing the athlete. Get them ready for the bumps and detours. Build adaptability and robustness that prepares them for any path and obstacle in their way. Lest we forget that the goal is to grow and nurture and adaptable athlete who can thrive in the competitive cauldron.
Just Doing It Is Not Enough
Just doing it may work for Nike selling shoes but in no way does it represent what needs to be done to grow and develop an athlete. Unfortunately, today I see too many young athletes just doing it with no concern for intensity, quality of movement or intention. As coaches we must not allow athletes to just do it. We must teach and motivate them to do it better every day. Every day, every session the goal should be to do it better. Coaches must teach athletes to hold themselves accountable to personal excellence and commitment. Effort does not take talent or ability therefore the goal each day should be perfect effort. We must also be careful as coaches to not to fall into the trap of “just doing it.” Challenge yourself the same way you challenge your athletes.
Discipline
So often when we think of discipline we think in terms of rules or others driving us to do something. For the champions that is not what discipline is. The champion practices self-discipline to do what is necessary, often what is uncomfortable to do what needs to be done. There is no need for discipline to be imposed from outside. It comes from within in the form of self-discipline. Self-discipline means that you have ownership. It is your decision, your choice. When you are in the competitive arena no coach will drive you forward, it must come from within. You must do it on your own. You must control and channel your emotions. You must draw on the hours of practice and execute what you have practiced. Set your rules. Live by those rules. Be the best you, you can be. That takes self-disciple and control. It takes discipline to say no to distractions that will take you away from goal. The easiest way to practice self-discipline is to make the things that are necessary into habits. Creating habits alleviates the mental burden of always making decisions. Get comfortable being uncomfortable all the time – that is the champions choice.
What is your filter?
I am currently reading Zucked – Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe by Roger McNamee, it is very revealing and disturbing. Naturally it got me thinking about my own filter. How do I sort through the tsunami of stuff available in the space of sports performance, athletic development, sport science and coaching? Wading through the training porn, misinformation and outright stupid stuff is not an easy proposition and I am very selective in who I follow and what I read. Training porn just like porn is seductive and addictive. It disturbs me to see so many coaches consume this stuff like it is gospel, especially if they find a research article to validate it. How are some of the things I do and people I respect do: Start with well-defined and articulated core beliefs. Have a working compass oriented to true north. Be an informed skeptic – Ask well informed pointed questions? Recognize that there are no absolutes – context is ALWAYS king. Follow your gut instincts – If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure you are not part of a filter bubble or an echo chamber – seek outside and diverse opinions to validate or invalidate the ideas. Have go to experts that will give a straight answer. I have my own experts (In most cases world recognized) in Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, Skill Acquisition, Coaching, Athletic Medicine and Rehabilitation. If they don’t know they will refer me to someone who does. Everything old is new again – know history and know who the historical game changers were in your field. Much of what is portrayed today as new and innovative has been done before. Isometric training was used extensively in the early 60’s. You are only an expert if you are willing to share your failures and your successes. Last but not least what are they selling? When you see headlines like this: “The Money Lift: How a Top-Flight Trainer Discovered the Most Important Exercise Every Athlete Should Do.” Click off that page and barf. Wake up! Don't be afraid to call bullshit on the bullshitters
Planning/Periodization – Several Random Thoughts
Recognize that periodization is concept not a model. Why do we still teach antiquated models in our coaching education programs? They don’t work as advertised and never did. In addition the Eastern European models that are still portrayed as gold standard are based on drug cycles. Recognize that Periodization is not about time, it is about timing of the application of each training stimulus. Conduct a Thorough Gap Analysis – The difference between training and competition to develop a viable dynamic plan. Ask yourself: Are you planning for continual adaptation? How do you deal with and plan for extended seasons that are common in sports at all levels of competition?