A Little More on Simplicity in Coaching

Sport performance occurs in an information rich, dynamic environment that requires complex coordination patterns to produce optimum performance. Along with that we need to understand that the body is self-organizing – it will find a way to get the job done if we put it in position to do so – The implication being to use more implicit learning and let the sport or the event be the teacher at certain times in the process. We can do that in practice by not always trying to replicate the game but instead distorting it so that the game is “easy.”

The following are some systematic athletic development concepts on which I base my training. They are very simple and straightforward and they can be made as complex as necessary.

Dynamic postural alignment and dynamic balance are the foundation for all training

Train movements not muscles

Train fundamental movement skills before sport specific skills

Train postural strength before extremity strength

Train body weight before external resistance

Train joint integrity before joint mobility

Train strength before strength endurance and power before power endurance

Train speed before speed endurance

Train to build work capacity appropriate for your sport or event

Train sport appropriate – You are what you train to be