What is High Performance?

Everywhere I turn I see programs labeled high performance. Most of what I have seen of these programs is far from high performance. High performance is more than a name or label it implies working at the tip of the development pyramid, the best of the best and figuring out what you have to do to make them better. Some of it is quest for marginal gains, but it is also taking care of the first 98% – the basics -and reinforcing them daily. Sport science is part of the high performance picture but it is not the driver. True high performance programs are strongly athlete centered, coach driven and administratively supported. It is not fancy facilities and high tech bells and whistles. It is minute attention to detail to meet the athlete’s needs. Essentially it is coaching the best to be better.