Once again I was reading Functional Path Training. A great blog.
Ideas on Being a Coach
Coaching is not something you do, it something you are with every fiber of your being, there is no half way you must be all in. The journey is long and rewarding because of the opportunity to guide athletes in their development athletically and most importantly as people. Here are a few thoughts and concepts that I have found to be valuable in my experiences from years of coaching. [Read more…]
Part 1 can be viewed here.
We may think we are training the body but we are really training the brain – To borrow Tim Noakes terminology the brain is the “Central governor” it controls everything we do.
Talent development is not survival of the fittest – It is not about ten years or 10,000 hours it is a process that involves deliberate practice. It is understanding growth and development, individual rates of maturation.
You cannot separate excellence in sport from excellence in life – You can’t be a chump outside of training and a champ in the game. You may get away with for a little while but eventually it will catch up with you.
When working on skill or acquiring a new technique – Once someone gets it right – STOP (Allow the brain to retain what it learned) Vin Walsh
Important to learn how to ask the right questions – This is the key to learning. Asking questions that are insightful and on point.
You must train the way you want to compete– Yes it is about specificity, but it is more than that. All aspects of training must line up with the demands of the gymnastics. I had a visiting coach in my gym yesterday who asked, “why are the girls wearing long sleeve leos for training?” Simple, they must compete in a long sleeve leo, they must be comfortable with their body without shorts, tights, etc. So, one day per week during competition season we have long sleeve leo day.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained – No gain without risk. Mistakes are learning opportunities.
Coach the athlete you have not some mythical hypothetical model – Know your athletes, their strength & weaknesses, individualize to the greatest extent possible.
Know the basic technical models of your sport – Master them and build on these.
You must train the female differently – There is a whole different endocrine hormonal environment. Strength training is much more important during all phases of the training year.
Those who achieve at the highest levels are seldom if ever concerned what other have to say about them or judge them to be – High achievers are confident and will stand out from the crowd regardless of criticism.
Was looking at Vern Gambetta’s Bog, FUNCTIONAL PATH TRAINING and it stirred a few thoughts.
TODAYS WORKOUT
How many of you walk into the gym with today’s workout as an end unto itself, looking for that one great workout that will make a difference? If you do then think again, today’s workout must fit in the context of the whole training plan. Think of it as one pixel in a mega pixel picture. For the picture to be clear, in focus and complete it will take all pixels fitting together to create a unified whole. Great performance in competition is set up by consist work in training, not one special workout. Today’s workout is important but remember it is one of many in pursuit of a goal. And like a 56 inch TV, to really get a look at the picture, you need to step back.
COMPLEXIFICATION
Not sure if complexification is a word in the English language but I see it more and more in training especially with young coaches impressed with their own knowledge. It is easy to make things complicated and complex. It takes wisdom and understanding to make things simple and clear. Training to improve performance is a relatively straightforward process. The emphasis here is on process. It takes time for the various training stimuli to adapt to the stress imposed. Simple is not easy, it demands a deep understanding of the demands of the sport and the needs of the athlete. Simplicity yields complexity, not to make it more complex than it already is. Focus on the need to do activities and reap the rewards in competition. Use the KISS method. Keep It Simple, Stupid.
Each year at this time of year I look back on the previous year just completed and as I get older I find myself looking back increasingly over years gone past. I do this not for nostalgic reason rather I do it to gain perspective to more forward. Much like a rower in a single scull sits facing away from the direction they row, they must look back to move forward effectively. The end of the year is a time for reflection and analysis. Each day is special, so do something to make each day special for yourself and for someone else.
Lessons from 2012
Being ready to deliver on the day – The ability to have your athletes ready to perform at their best at the required time is most important. That can be the final of the Olympic games or a Level 4 local meet. Everything is directed to this goal.
Coaching is a careful blend of art and science – No more explanation is necessary
Emotional intelligence is the key to effective coaching – It is all about people and how we as coaches grow and develop ourselves and the people we work with.
An overemphasis on injury prevention will lead to injuries – Good injury prevention is a transparent part of a sound training program. What is happening today is an over emphasis on so-called corrective exercise and special injury prevention exercises. Normal training is being ignored. When training is ignored then the athlete is predisposed to injury because they are not ready to perform.
It is imperative to develop and refine physical literacy in parallel with skill development – Physical literacy slightly leads skill and technical development; it is impossible to have one without the other.
We must take a giant step back and look at what we are doing with recovery – I think we need to learn to use recovery methods more judiciously. Not necessary just ice baths after every workout. We need to understand that the inflammatory cascade is part of the adaptation process. We must educate the body to take advantage of this not interfere with this all the time. Incorporating recovery into your workout plan can not be ignored. Here is an article by BILL SANDS- The importance of planning rest periods in the weekly training plan. Includes a sample recovery program.
Little things count – Big things are a given, they are hard to overlook but it is the little things that quickly add up. Attention to detail in each part of your practice will make the difference.
Coaching men and women is different. “Men battle to bond. Women bond to battle.” Nigel Redman – I think this is pretty self-explanatory.
If You do not follow VERN GAMBETTA’s Blog, Functional Path Training. YOU SHOULD
Contemporary Coaching Challenges
Coaching in 2012 has some different demands that when I started coaching in 1969. In so many ways how we meet those demands and adapt to the changes in society and sporting culture will determine our effectiveness as coaches. Here are three areas that I see as particular challenges today:
Increasing Specialization – For whatever reason there seems to be more coaches who are specializing in narrower and narrower areas. I still maintain that it is best to specialize in being a generalist. To ultimately prepare your athletes it is important to have command of the big picture, to know how all the pieces fit. Narrow specialization does not allow this.
More Emphasis on Science and Technology – Science has given us the ability to measure & see things as never before but the challenge is to determine what is relevant and what is a curiosity. Coaching demands a balance between art and science. We must be careful that we do not become so dependent on science and technology that we lose sight of the art. Remember that coaches, like artists hone their craft, they practice and adapt constantly. They achieve greatness through attention to detail. Constant challenge and refinement fuels their passion.
More Management Responsibilities – Certainly the world around the coach and athlete has become more complex. There are more people involved in the process of athlete development than ever before. In many cases the effectiveness of the coach is measured by how effectively the coach can manage all the external factors so that they can effectively coach the athlete. Today when the athlete is near or at the elite level there is an entourage that must be constantly reminded that the goal is to help the athlete perform at their optimum in the competitive arena not to get more endorsements or a larger contract. That will come with performance. It is imperative that the coach has command of this. It is not the most fun part of coaching or the most gratifying but in today’s world it may be most important.
Vern Gambetta.
Look and listen and you will be surprised at what you see and hear.
Take the familiar and known and turn it around and make unfamiliar and unknown. See your day to day world with new eyes.
Look at it with childlike wonder. Gymnasts flip, Vaulters vault, runners run, jumpers jump, throwers throw but how do they do what they do? Keep questioning. Watch a vault from the end of the runway; watch a bar routine from the end of the dismount mat. Close your eyes and listen to the run the run, jump or tumbling pass.
Beware of confirmation bias – seeing what you are looking for. Clear your mind and pretend you are seeing the movement for the first time. As coaches our richest source of learning and information is the athletes we coach. They are doing it – get their feedback – both verbal and non-verbal. In coaching we should be growing with the athlete, if we get better then they get better and visa versa.
As coaches we must challenge ourselves daily in order to be able to continue to challenge our athletes. What are you going to do today to challenge yourself to be better? What can you see, hear or feel at today’s workout that will make a better coach? What will you learn from your athletes today?
Another great post inspired from Vern Gambetta.
Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) is not a framework or a model it is a process.
It is very neat and convenient to attach labels to various stages of athlete development but that sends the wrong message. It is a process that is fluid and dynamic. It is a process that is highly influenced by growth and development in the early stages.
It all starts with developing a physically literate child well versed in the ABC’s of movement. It is so easy to forget that. Without the basis in fundamental movement skills all the development plans and subsequent stages are for not. Without physical literacy high-level sport skill can never be developed to its fullest capabilities.
It is imperative to take advantage of the window of opportunity offered by the so called “skill hungry” years, ages seven to eleven, This may not be teaching specific gymnastics sport skill but to teach fundamental movement skills even as basic as Running, Jumping & Throwing and its very permutations in a playful environment. This will start the process in a sound fundamental manner. It will give the youngster confidence and control of their bodies. It will enhance their ability to learn more specific sport skills AND it will make them less prone to injury later on.
That does not mean that sport skill is not taught rather it means that the fundamental movement skills lead and sport skills follow.
My rule of thumb is to keep the fundamental movement skill development ahead of the sport skill development by about two months (no science here, just observation and experience). Sport skill at the beginning level should be very basic and fundamental. Don’t be in a hurry, get them started on the right foot, let physical maturation, cognitive and emotional development be the guide. Remember it is a process. The 2016 Olympians are now approximately 12 years old – are they physically literate?
Once again I find myself getting lost in the posts from Vern Gambetta and his website Functional Path Training. Hope you enjoy this post inspired by him.
Teach – Coaching is teaching. Look for teachable moments and take advantage of them. Recognize all learning styles and use them.
Technique – Establish a sound technical model and then continue to refine it based on the individual. Fit the technique to the individual not the individual to the technique.
Tactics & Strategy – Teach the game and it nuances through exploration and play.
Training – Train appropriate to the sport and the individual. Focus on the process and the outcomes will follow.
From A thought provoking blog from Vern Gambetta.
Here is my version.
This summer I have done more training camps, clinics and congresses than ever before. I will still be traveling well into the fall. This has allowed me to meet and speak to some extraordinary people and have a chance to listen to what a lot of people have to say.
I think there is a time in everyone’s career when they think they have all the answers. Learning how to say smart things and give smart answers seems very important. I know I have been there. The longer I coach and teach and the older I get the more I realize it is not about having all the answers and saying smart things. It is about having the right questions. I realize that the people I respect the most have the ability to listen and ask very incisive questions that make you think and challenge you to learn.
There is power in the question. I think the toughest lesson to learn is to listen to others, respect their ideas and opinions and ask smart questions. I know it has taken me a long time to get there and I am not completely there yet. I do know that 25 years into my coaching career that I have more questions than I do answers. That makes every day fun and exciting because the drive to answer the questions keeps me learning and innovating.
I believe today that too many coaches TALK with out asking QUESTIONS. Too many coaches HEAR without really LISTENING. It is OK to have convictions in your beliefs and confidence in your coaching but really no one has all the answers.
Just my thoughts.
Once again Vern Gambetta shares some good information in a simple format.
The importance of communication with your athletes and your colleagues can never be understated. It is through open and consistent lines of communication that teamwork is built.
The basis of communication is the 3 C’s.
Connect – Get the athlete’s attention. Know the athlete. Know their attentional style and preferred communication mode. Remember connection is not just verbal, it is non-verbal; body language can send a strong powerful message to connect or disconnect.
Convey – The message must clear, no nuance or hidden messages. Let the athlete know clearly what the message is in a language they can understand and translate into action.
Convince – The goal of the communication is to convince the athlete or professional colleague to act. If the message is clear and the intention is defined this should be a logical outcome of connecting and conveying.
Good coaches use the 3 C’s constantly without thinking about it. They get it because intuitively they know that communication is the cornerstone of successful coaching. It is not what you know; it is how you communicate what you know and elicit the desired action.
