Author: Vernon Gambetta
My Sports and Coaching Books of the Year
My Sports and Coaching Books of the Year. Notice the placing of the Wade Gilbert book – Coaching is the foundation!
Old School
I may be an old man but one thing I am not is old school. I will use the metaphor of the increased awareness of the quality of vinyl records. Some call them old school, but there is a reason why people who are true aficionados of music are going back to vinyl – the sound is better, you can hear rhythms and tempo that are lost on tape or on CD’s. Next month God willing I will start my forty-eighth year on this coaching journey. I have made just about every mistake there is to make. Most of the time I learned from them. I have learned from the best and continue to learn and question in a daily pursuit of personal excellence. Fairness, civility, loyalty, sportsmanship, teamwork and hard work may seem old school and out of date in this era of instant gratification but they are the cornerstones of personal and competitive excellence. If you listen to us old guys you will hear a timeless message that is loud and clear like a vinyl record. Understand the basics, teach the basics and never stray far from the basics. Values are part of the basics. You pay your dues as a coach and athlete, you earn respect, it is not given. Know what you stand for and live it!
Go Analog and Start Coaching Now
Try this for one week. When you go out to coach leave your cell phone and iPad in the office. Put the Go Pro away. Turn off the GPS. Watch the athlete, see how they more, how they accumulate those numbers you ponder over. Don’t measure bar speed instead watch the lift. Oh and by the way don’t forget that all training is velocity based. Put the wellness questionnaire in the drawer and greet your athletes and ask them how they feel, look them in the eye, watch their body language – you will learn more than a questionnaire. Forget triphasic workouts and go back to basics – all movement requires an isometric, concentric and eccentric muscle action. STOP! LOOK! LISTEN! Heighten and sharpen your observation skills. Listen for rhythm and tempo. Watch from as many perspectives as you can. Talk to the athlete. You will be surprised at what you have been missing. Use technology to complement your coaching skills, not to supplant them. Know yourself, practice self reflection and never forget that we coach people not robots.
Stuff
Everyone does stuff. What is your stuff? Where did you get that stuff? How do you if the stuff you do works? Is your stuff better than my stuff? Maybe we need to get beyond stuff and focus on the why, how and when. Vern Gambetta, Director of Good Stuff, Gambetta Sports Training Systems
What exactly is professional development?
Here are some of my thoughts on professional development: First: I do not count time on the Internet reading training porn written by keyboard cowboys with no skin in the game, time on the Internet on sites like Ted, Seth Godin do count. They challenge you and make you think. Second: Read books and research articles in and out of your field. Read authors that challenges your thinking. I try to read 100 books a year. I spend close to one thousand dollars on subscriptions to periodicals and scientific journals a year. Third: Find a mentor not a guru someone who can be your bullshit filter and who will guide you and challenge you. Fourth: Interact with other professionals, attend conferences, and take trips to observe other professionals you respect. Fifth: Invite other professional to come and evaluate your work, they will see things you miss.
The Coaching Development Pathway
I originally posted this five years ago. I think given the state of coaching today it is worth reprinting. Frank Dick developed this coaching development pathway. It is a clear pathway, but more importantly it signifies it is a growth process. There is no set timeline; it occurs step-by-step based on mastery at each step the coach must earn their way through the pathway. (Please note: the titles are from Frank Dick, the descriptors are my own) Embryonic Coach – This is a coach who is just starting out, without even a remote idea of what is going on beyond the workout of the day. They are an open book, with very little or no knowledge, just enthusiasm and a desire to coach. Apprentice Coach – This coach works with an established coach to learn the trade so to speak. Much of the learning at this stage is from others and their experiences. This is paying your dues. The apprentice coach is starting to have an idea of what they should know and how to go about learning it. Emergent Coach – Now the coach is totally on their own with their fate is entirely in their hands. They now must be self-sufficient. They know what they know; their knowledge and experience are growing. At this stage do not know what they don’t know and what they don’t know probably does not limit them at this stage of development. Breakthrough Coach – At this level the coach is coaching some athletes to performances that are outstanding at the level they are coaching on. Now they not only know what they know, they are acutely aware of what they don’t know and they realize that to improve they must work to close that gap. Peak Performance Coach – They achieve consistent results at the top of the level they are coaching on. It is not necessary to coach world class or professional athletes to be a peak performance coach. At this level you start to become aware of what you know you don’t know, because it is limiting you and your athletes effectiveness. Learning continues to insure continual professional development. Consultant Coach – In the later stages of a career the coach will serve as a consultant to other coaches. The coach is now good enough and secure enough in their knowledge that others seek them out. Clearly this is a veteran coach who has been there before and can set the standard. As part of the process of educating other coaches the coach should share they mistakes and failures as well as successes. Sage Mentor Coach – This is the culmination of a coaching career. The coach at this stage has earned the right to guide and mentor other coach’s to help them along their career path. Others seek you out for guidance and advice. The picture is entirely clear. They are willing and able share experiences and knowledge. Where are you on the coach development pathway? What are you goals as a coach? Where do you want to be? What is your plan to move on the coaching development pathway? I can’t think of anything more worthwhile and gratifying than guiding people to reach and exceed their limits. Coaching is special.
GAIN 2017 – Apply Now
GAIN is a community of professionals eager to learn and willing to share ideas and information. GAIN is not about more exercises, sets, reps and training methods it is about passionate people who pursue excellence with honesty, integrity and respect to make a difference in the lives of the people we coach and teach. This is the tenth year of GAIN; it started 2007 with twelve attendees and four instructors and has grown to sixty attendees from all over the world and fifteen faculty. Who attends? GAIN is open to Strength & Conditioning/Athletic Development coaches, Sport Coaches, Physical Therapists, ATC’s, Chiropractors, Doctors and Physical Education teachers. Those who attend are professionals seeking career advancement & renewal through a networking experience and who are interested in getting out of their comfort zone. When is GAIN? June 13 to June 17, 2017 Where is GAIN? It is held on the campus of Rice University in Houston Texas. How much does GAIN cost? Tuition is $1875. This includes breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, and lodging at Rice University. Where can I learn more about GAIN? Go to www.thegainnetwork.com/ or call 941-378-1778. You can also email Vern Gambetta at gstscoach@gmail.com How do I apply? Go to http://tinyurl.com/hz9l5o9 to apply, submit your application now, enrollment is limited. We will let you know within ten days if you are accepted. Why do I have to apply? Can’t I just sign up? Having people apply is part of what makes GAIN special. It would be easier to make it open for anyone to enroll, but that is not what GAIN is about. We are looking for people who are wiling to share and challenge themselves and others to grow professionally. The people in the network with you are as important (maybe even more important) than the faculty experts. The connections and inspiration you get from those around you have a significant impact on the experience. Who are the faculty? We have a faculty with a tremendous breadth of experiences and a track record of excellence in their chosen fields. They know how a performance team works, how all aspects of athletic development complement each other and most importantly they understand the process of developing athletes. Coaching Wade Gilbert, professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Fresno. Dr. Gilbert's areas of expertise include coaching effectiveness, talent development, and sport psychology. Editor – International Sport Coaching Journal | Consultant – USOC Coaching Education. Vern Gambetta, Founder of GAIN Network, Currently Director of Gambetta Sports Training Systems Sport Science Michael Joyner MD, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He has done extensive work in Physiology of Elite Athletes. Elite athletic performances are experiments in nature on the limits of human physiology. Dr. Joyner uses data from real-world competitions to understand the limits of human physiology. Athletic Development John Pryor, Former conditioning coach Japan Rugby, now the conditioning coach for Suntory Rugby and Brumbies in Super Rugby Jim Radcliffe, Head S&C Coach University of Oregon, a pioneer and a true master of the profession. Martin Bingisser, HMMR Media, Swiss National Hammer Throw Coach Nick Garcia, Athletic Development Coach & Assistant Track Coach, Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks, Californi Steve Magness, Head Cross Country and Assistant Track Coach University of Houston Sports Medicine/Rehab Bill Knowles, ATC Philadelphia Union Academy and HP Sports Ed Ryan, ATC Head Trainer US Women’s Olympic Basketball Team, Formerly Head of Sports Medicine at USOC Randy Ballard, ATC Assistant Trainer, University of Illinois Working With Track & Field and Volleyball Joe Przytula, ATC Supervisor of Physical Education and Health, and athletic trainer with Elizabeth Public Schools, Elizabeth New Jersey USA. Physical Education Greg Thompson, Elementary Physical Education Teacher Farmington Michigan, Currently Athletic Development and Age Group Head Coach, Livonia City Soccer Club Steve Myrland, District Performance Coach for Athletics, District Wellness Director Middleton Wisconsin School District How does the network work? The GAIN annual meeting is the beginning. Participants have access to a secure website that offers access to an online forum and library including video of past GAIN Annual Meetings. In addition GAIN members are eligible to come back each year at a reduced rate. GAIN 2017 Theme Making connections to foster meaningful change and innovation. GAIN Mission To focus on the possibilities for enhancing human movement with no limits or limitations and emphasize connections and links between all disciplines in the same manner we emphasize connections and linkages in the body. GAIN Goals Provide a career defining educational experience for all involved Define the field of Athletic Development Reinforce the concepts that: Training = Testing and Testing = Training Training = Rehab and Rehab = Training
Some Thoughts, Reflections & Advice on Coaching
Keep Learning There is no one way or an answer Be Humble Know what you know and learn what you don’t know Don’t reinvent the wheel Know History Stay curious & keep asking questions Coaching is a craft, be a skilled craftsperson Make mistakes and learn from them It’s not about you; it is all about the athletes you work with Lead from the front – preferably by example Take time to enjoy the ride – smell the roses