The Wisdom of Coaching

Every now and then, you come across someone who blows your mind. Someone who has put into eloquent words things you have only had musings about. Someone who has perfected what you have stumbled upon. Someone who draws a 'wow' from you, and has you looking into everything he/she said or did. One such a man for me is Charlie Francis. Charlie represented Canada at the 1972 Olympics in Munich before coaching sprinters, as well as professional football, hockey and soccer players. Of the many things he said and taught, I thought I'd share these.

FOR COACHING YOUNG ATHLETES

"Correct technique is the necessary prerequisite for an athlete...for optimal development to occur. The neural motor patterns of correct technique must be wired in place [as young as possible]." This quote from Siff, out of the book Supertraining, explains adequately Charlie's thoughts. "It is not only the exercise which modifies the body, or more specifically, the neuromuscular system, but the way in which the exercise is performed. In this regard, it is vital to remember that all exercise involves information processing in the nervous and neuromuscular systems, so that all training should be regarded as the way in which the body's extremely complex computing systems are programmed and applied in the solution of all motor tasks."- Siff (I have used this concept of programming in another article: Specificity of training).

"Always reinforce correct technique for the purpose of developing positive self esteem. Give athletes praise for their efforts- never criticize or ridicule."- Over the years, as I have coached different sports and different age groups, I have learnt the difference between developmental and biological age. There is a continuum when it comes to maturation on the physical, emotional and mental facets of every person, athlete or not, youth or adult. With this realization, I like to invoke loco parentis as soon as my time starts. This means taking charge over the content and even the tone used to address my players, even from their parents. I have seen careless sarcasm hinder and eventually turn away youth from participating from a sport they would have otherwise enjoyed and become very good at. Bottom line, coaching is building. Does your style enhance the self-esteem of the players in your charge?

"Coach one element at a time...Don't move away from one training element until it is correct. Teach increasing levels of skill- according to the individual's needs when the athlete's body and performance of training elements indicate a readiness to handle them."- I am a big fan of testing. My experience as a personal trainer has contributed to my thoughts on this point. Too many coaches and trainers do not bother with assessment with a couple of consequences. First, athletes are exposed to increased risk for injury as we, to quote Gray Cook, "add strength to dysfunction." Plyometrics are high impact and I have seen them imposed on weak ankles and knees that constantly display valgus collapse.

Secondly, the appropriate periodized program is important and can pretty much guarantee results. However, amongst those that use it, some hold rigidly to their micro and macrocycles. The attention that athletes and clients deserve is sacrificed leading to frustrating results. In most cases, the reaction from the coach is to blame the athlete for lack of effort, and push the even harder. Take the case of this seventeen year old girl.

Charlie's words are gold dust. Let the athlete's response determine progression.

"Youth training must not have too much low intensity. There must be enough high intensity so as to:

1: maintain and improve specific skill

2: Prevent loss of and maintain correct volume of fast twitch fibre

3: Promote differentiation of transitional fibre to fast twitch rather than slow twitch fibre."

Although this is specific to sprinting, I think it applies to other areas too. I have previously posted an article citing the ACSM's position on resistance training for juniors. It basically says that under qualified and careful instruction, strength training in safer than football, basketball and many other sports. The majority of athletes go through the prime years for instruction in elements that would lay the ground work for elite performance without that instruction because the coaches just don't know about it. The differentiation and specific instruction Charlie addresses here is foreign to many a program.

To be successful coaches, we must read more, and read our charges even more.