Author: Vernon Gambetta
Independence
The goal in coaching should be to develop self-sufficient adaptable athletes who are prepared to thrive in the competitive cauldron. Give your athletes the mental and physical skills. Get them to the point where they trust in their preparation and let them go. If you trust in your abilities as a coach you will give the athletes independence, ownership and responsibly. If they are totally dependent on you they will ultimately be limited in their growth as athletes.
Just Thinking
Is this a sign of the apocalypse? I saw where a MLB team named two corrective exercise specialists to its staff, not one but two in addition to the athletic training staff and a physical therapist – overkill? I am not 100% sure what a corrective exercise specialist is. What are they correcting? Why do you need so-called corrective exercise if you have a comprehensive well-designed sport appropriate athletic development program? Corrective exercise specialists do not solve a problem, in my opinion it intensifies the problem. Therapy & corrective exercise does not make up for good consistent training. It is an undo focus on what the athlete can't do instead of focusing on what they can do. Lets put the emphasis on being proactive with sound athletic development program based on sport demands & players individual needs. Compliance to a comprehensive Athletic Development will do more good than any corrective exercise intervention.
On Speed
Words of wisdom on speed from Gennadi Touretski, although written for swimming this applies to all sports “Speed is everything. I don’t understand why coaches spend months doing countless laps of threshold training and hard endurance work then hope that the swimmer’s speed will return during taper. It is all about speed. Swimmers should never be more than a fraction away from best times at all times of the year. Why do we spend so much time killing speed when it is the single most important reason we train in the first place?”
Possibilities
Don’t tell me what you can’t do, I want to know what you can do. There are no limits – grow and expand your horizons. Look at problems as opportunities and obstacles as stepping-stones, instead of focusing on the problem focus on the solution. Think of a problem as a boulder in a stream of water. The water does not let the boulder impede its flow. Instead it bifurcates and flows around the boulder. Be like water – find solutions that allow you to move on. No obstacle is too great!
Last Week in Oregon – Observations & Lessons
Oregon City Swim Team – Matt Crum head coach of Oregon City swim team spoke the phrase of the week to his team: “Embrace Chaos” when he was introducing a new training set in the water to his swimmers. This really resonated with me. Essentially training is preparing to race and no race goes perfectly according to plan. OCST does not have perfect facilities and unlimited pool time, in fact their facilities are limited which leads to some chaos but Matt has turned that into a positive. Learn from the chaos by embracing it. This is a good lesson for us all. Breakfast meeting with Jon Marcus – Jon is a young coach who gets it. It was great to visit with him and share ideas and talk coaching. Jon coaches a group of elite middle distance runners in Portland but he is far from being a specialist. He coaches all aspects of their training, not just the running. One factor that gives him this skill set is that he has coached other sports and other events in track & field, definitely old school in this day of uber specialization. Training Session with Ashton & Brianna Eaton – Their coach Harry Marra, has done a masterful job preparing and progressing them. I met with Harry before the workout and he showed me a training summary that Ashton gives him at the conclusion of each month. It was well beyond a training diary, it was his feedback and reflections on what they worked on each day. It was full of terrific insights in to the whole process. It was obvious watching the session that this is a real coaching partnership. I love watching great coaching/teaching sessions like this. Mind you these are the best of the best and they are still learning and growing. Harry started the session with a two-minute lesson on the concepts he wanted to reinforce in the high jump and the shot put. The amount of time Harry puts into preparation is amazing. He gets there and sets up for the session no less than one hour before. In planning the session he reviews video and is constantly looking for cues and things to fine tune. His key is communication; he knows his athletes and coaches them as people. Watching Ashton and Briana was special, they approach training with a laser like focus. They are on task and know what they need to do. No training session is excessively long nor do they do double sessions everyday. They live by the mantra that less is more. Just putting in time is not training. Oregon football morning training session – I have been privileged to watch several Oregon football practices over the past few years This morning training session conducted by good friend and colleague Jimmy Radcliffe was amazing! It started in the dark and cold with Jimmy leading an extensive warm-up that reinforced the movement concepts that would be the focus of the session. They then broke into position groups for various athletic development activities, linemen where throwing logs, skill positions were doing plyo’s etc. What followed was one of the most impressive team speed sessions I have seen in all my years of coaching. Speed is the Oregon game and this was FAST! They broke into position groups and did what Jimmy calls position sprints (Nothing unique here) which consist of various patterns and angle runs imitating the movements that occur at their positions in the game. The speed and precision of execution was what was impressive – faster than game speed with perfect effort all led by a player in each group. You play the way you train – train fast to play fast! Sierra/Cascade Symposium – This is a biannual event organized and hosted by Jimmy Radcliffe. It is open by invitation only. It was a great experience to exchange ideas about coaching with this group even though I do not work with football. Coaching is about people so it was easy to connect. What impressed me is that all the coaches coached another sport, mainly track and field, definitely not the norm today.
GAIN 2016 – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
What is GAIN? This 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. 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. Where can I learn more about GAIN? Go to http://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/nb7rx2j and complete your application. 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. Is GAIN a certification? No it is not a certification program. It is a professional development network; there is no accreditation or certification associated with it. Is GAIN a boot camp? No it is not a boot camp. There is an active learning component that attendees participate if they are willing and able but the focus is on teaching and learning through lecture, demonstration and discussion. How much does GAIN cost? Tuition is $1875. This includes breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, and lodging. 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 Ken Clark, PHD, West Chester State University PhD in Biomechanics, Researcher in Human Performance, Strength & Conditioning Coach (CSCS, USA-W), interested in all things speed Brian McCormick, PhD is an author, basketball coach, and consultant. He has published 21 books for basketball coaches, including 21st Century Guide to Individual Skill Development, coached youth through professional basketball in the United States and Europe, and advised coaches at all levels. Athletic Development Jim Radcliffe, Head S&C Coach University of Oregon Mike Bahn, US Skiing & Snowboard Strength & Conditioning Coordinator. Formerly with Phoenix Coyotes & Arizona Diamondbacks. Nick Garcia, Athletic Development Coach & Assistant Track Coach, Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks, California 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 How does the network work? The GAIN annual meeting is just the beginning. Participants have access to a secure website that offers access to an online forum and library. There are periodic scheduled hangouts for GAIN members. In addition GAIN members are eligible to come back each year at a reduced rate. Are there CEU’s? Yes there are CEU’s from the NSCA and NATA. When is GAIN? June 14 to June 18, 2016 Where is GAIN? It is held on the campus of Rice University in Houston Texas.
Play
PLAY first! – That is where it all starts. Sport is not supposed to be work it is play. Start with free play that is natural and instinctive; it does not require coaching or supervision. In free play the children, not the adults, determine the structure so they follow their instincts and explore all dimensions of movement with the only limitations their imaginations. The youngster will learn the joy of athletic movement through discovery. Through play they learn how to compete, how to win and lose, how to settle disputes on their own without adult supervision and interference. We must let them be kids first! We have deviated from this in search of the holy grail of early specialization and on accruing the magic 10,000 hours that is the supposed guarantee of athletic excellence. This is philosophically and pedagogically flawed. It destroys kids. Free the kids, let them play. Give back recess.
Some Food for Thought
Specialize in being a generalist. Seek knowledge, not information. Balance theory and practice (Art and Science). Don’t ever forget it is not about you, it is about the athlete. Create and foster independence in the athlete. Be a leader. Development takes time – the process is cumulative. Have a plan, execute the plan, and evaluate the results. Coach the complete athlete – the 24-hour athlete. Find mentors, not gurus! If you are interested in learning more about these ideas join us in June at GAIN. Go to http://www.thegainnetwork.com/ and apply to join a select group of professionals interested in “Coaching the Best to Be Better.”