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Reflections from a Gymnastics assistant coaching course
1st June 2023
A guest post from Kath Maguire. Kath is the parent of one of our club’s gymnasts. She asked about doing some volunteering a couple of months ago and whether there was a course she could do. Here are her reflections from the day. “I’ve been thinking about volunteering for a while now but as it’s […]
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Run to Daylight: 4 Lessons from Lombardi

vince lombardi run to daylight“The character, rather than education, is man’s greatest need and man’s greatest safeguard, because character is higher than intellect”

Vince Lombardi

I recently finished reading Vince Lombardi’s classic”Run to Daylight”.
It describes in detail a week in the life of the coach as he prepares the Packers for a big match against an unnamed rival.
It is full of useful tidbits and reflections about the man and his team. Here are 4 of my favourites and thoughts on how they apply.
  1. I do not believe this game is as complex as many people think it is and as some try to make it.. We try to make it as uncomplicated as we can, because I believe that if you block and tackle better than the other team and the breaks are even you are going to win.” Lots of people make things complicated because they simply fail to understand the basics: or are unable to teach them well.
  2.  “A ball club is made up of as many different individuals as there are positions on it.” Essential that you know the people first, then coach the skills and tactics second. 
  3. All of us are takers, but if a person can’t add something to what he takes from others he should get out. Unfortunately, some people will always be takers, and if they don’t get out they don’t get very far. In all my years of coachingI have never been successful using somebody else’s play“. At the beginning, we may do what we have done as athletes, or copy someone else. It is important to realise what fits into your system or adds to it compared to just adding “stuff”. 
  4. Everything we do, in these meetings or on the practice field, we do only for short periods. We never stay on one phase of this game for any great length of time, because if I get bored coaching the same thing over and over they are going to get bored learning it. Although there are those times when they are not getting something and I must fight that urge to keep them at it until they do.” This requires planning and self discipline as a coach. Even more important today.

A great book to read for all coaches (it only cost me £1.75 on abe books! Coach education can be affordable. Thanks to Vern Gambetta for recommending it.

Read more Lessons from Lombardi 

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  1. […] More Lombardi lessons from “Run To Daylight“ […]

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"James worked with the Exeter and Taunton based Southwest Talent Centre scholarship athletes. He is deeply knowledgeable about strength and conditioning and has excelled at working with young athletes. His sessions are challenging and fun and he has succeeded in blending a group of athletes from a diverse range of sports into a cohesive training group.
 
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