Tag Archive: equestrian

1. Dealing with Competition Stress

   12th September 2011 7:20 pm Leave a Comment

   Competitive Sport is Stressful…

   But how many Coaches help the athlete learn how to deal with this stress? Getting them tactically, technically and physically prepared is only part of the job; getting them to put this into practice when it is needed most- under pressure- is tricky.

   Some of the things I have found to work both as an athlete and when working with developmental athletes are highlighted below.

   Perception is key

   How an athlete views a stressor (the event, person, or situation that causes the stress) is critical to how they respond.  Things will happen in competition that you may not have ever experienced before.The higher the level of play, the more likely it is that you will lose. If you are accustmed to beating lesser opposition, meeting someone your own level or better is a big shock.

   Concentrating on those things  within your control keeps you focussed on what is important/ It helps reduce anxiety and help improve  performance. 
   Things within your control include: concentration; physical and mental effort; physical fitness.
    
   Concentrating on those things outside of your control distracts you from what is important, can increase anxiety and lead to a drop in performance.
   Things outside of your control include: the weather; opponents skill level; opponents tactics; the crowd; travel delays.

   Try these 2 exercises to help you practice what might seem obvious. But if you don’t practice, you migth come unstuck.

   Exercise 1

               List all areas of performance that are within your control.  Include physical, technical, tactical and psychological aspects of your performance.

   • These should be the focus of attention in training and in competition.

   • It is important to link these to process and performance goals.
     

   • Concentrating on the controllable factors will lead to an increase in performance levels.  For example “ I need to win this point to retain my seed” is an uncontrollable outcome – your opponent and the umpire both have an influence.  “ I will relax and concentrate on my ball toss to ensure a good first serve” is a controllable performance factor.  A good first serve will put your opponent under pressure, and is more likely to lead to a successful outcome.
     

   Exercise 2

               List a set of situations where the outcome is important.  List a series of thoughts that will help you concentrate on those things within your control (from exercise 1) that will improve your performance.

   Practice using these thoughts in simulated training. (see distraction training).

   Try to make these a part of your weekly practice at least. 

2. The Coaching Tool Box

   7th September 2011 1:59 pm Leave a Comment

   Does your Coaching Tool Box need a spring clean?

   One of my projects this summer has been to sort out the Tools in my Coaching toolbox.

   After 20 odd years of training and coaching, the tools can get a bit disorganised. What you learn in the last year tends to stay at the top of the toolbox and is first reached for.

   The good stuff that worked 20 years ago is getting a bit rusty at the bottom of the bag.

   I am sorting out warm ups, strength exercises, power exercises, flexibility work, work capacity drills, speed sessions, agility progressions and coaching concepts into a system that I can access all of them more clearly.

   I hope to make it as tidy as this garden shed.

3. Sharpening your coaching knife.

   26th August 2011 4:32 pm 2 Comments

   I think that coaching is like a knife and has to be kept sharp.

   You can’t put it into a drawer for a few months and pull it out expecting it to work.

   Neither can you use it all day long, week in and week out: it becomes dull

   The trick is to balance regular coaching, with regular development and reflection.

    

   Have a good Bank Holiday weekend

4. Summer reading list for Coaches

   8th August 2011 2:48 pm Leave a Comment

   What books are you reading this summer?

   What are you reading this summer? Is it a book, a journal or just stuff on the internet?

   Ex Prime Minister Gordon Brown on his recent trip to Africa encouraged African countries to expand their internet coverage. This is similar to a laptop to every pupil schemes by US philanthropists.

   However, giving kids or families a computer and internet access without them having an educational bent has not improved learning ability in the Western World. Low income and low education families use the internet for: porn or games depending on their age group.

   Giving pupils access to cheap or free books over the summer vacation actually increases educational achievement the next academic year. It prevents them for having dips in learning which can’t be made up. Other recent research states that having 20 books in the house is the number that differentiates later academic learning from early school leavers.

   One theory is that teach someone how to read and then give them a book and they become a “reader”. This is a different class of person from someone who doesn’t read. Reading allows you to access the thoughts of minds and experiences greater than your own and encourages ambition and further learning. Having a computer and internet connection allows you access to entertainment and information- that is different from an ability to learn.

   It is not about money- why not join your local library this summer and see what you can find?

   It seems to be the time to read more books, not sure whether that is due to rubbish tv, more people on holiday, or less email traffic. Here are some of mine.

   “How to help Children find the Champion within themselves”. David Hemery

   This is a great little book, easy to read, but with valuable insights into coaching young people. A must read for the enthusiastic parent, or coach of yongsters.

   It is broken down into sections for the parent and for the coach- how to do things at home as well as on the field. The cartoons throughout aid the process. Useful tips on the communication process.

   Beyond Winning: The timeless wisdom of great philosopher coaches. Gary Walton

   A biographical book of 6 great  (mostly American) coaches: Woody Hayes, John Wooden, Vince Lombardi, James “Doc” Counsilman, Brutus Hamilton and Percy Cerutty.

   The premise here is that these coaches added something more than just tactical and technical nouse to the field of coaching.The book has a chapter on each and a summary chapter of the essence of philosopher coaching.

   A useful book for more experienced coaches on how they are developing their practice.

   This isn’t a textbook: A somewhat intemperate look at sport, teaching, Coaching and life. Kelvin Giles

   A collection of thoughts, blogs and experiences from the past 20 years or so from this very experienced coach. Another easy read, although I made the mistake of taking it on holiday and kept reflecting on my own practices rather than relaxing. (Not to self, only take fiction and hisory books again).

   It is interspersed with good motivational quotes, that break up the reading. The format may not suit a beginner, as there is no progression. I found it useful as I could relate to a lot of it. It does offer some training principles and reinforces the need for movement efficency before metabolic conditioning.

   “Don’t let the music die within you.” Wayne Bennett

   I read the updated version by this great rugby league coach. It has insights into how he deals with the media, young players, loyalty and leadership. The writing is quite simplistic (maybe aimed at rugby league players) and is pleasant enough, but not ground breaking.

   The chapter on “duty of care” is recently added and very relevant to today.

   One for the fans maybe, or perhaps I have just read a lot of these types of books.

    Have you got any favourites you could recommend?

5. Bridging the Gap: Coaching Theory to Practice

   21st July 2011 5:14 pm 1 Comment

   Bridging The Gap

   Will Roberts: Senior Lecturer in Sport, Coaching and Physical Education

   There is an increasing amount of research in the fields of strength and conditioning and sports coaching, and with an increasing interest in the profession of coaching there are more and more practitioners in both of these fields.

    The problem

   It is quite common that researchers rarely ‘do’, and practioners rarely have the time to ‘research and reflect’.

   What happens? Well, there is a gap between the theories of coaching, and the actual every day practice of coaching. Unfortunately, what has not been dealt with is what sits in this gap. Recently, what this gap has referred to is the lack of knowledge of either the coach or the researcher (which is never the same person) which impacts on the level of ‘good’ or ‘effective’ coaching that can take place.

   As I reflect more on this ‘gap’, and having witnessed James Marshall and his colleagues deliver a coaching day in Exeter recently, is that this ‘gap’ (and those that are in the gap) is young people’s athletic development. If researchers and practitioners don’t start collaborating then these young people that we are charged with coaching will continue to be physically, technically, tactically, socially and psychologically underdeveloped.

   The solution?

   James Marshall and his colleagues are starting to build a bridge across the gap of academic and practitioner. Thorough reflection, mentoring, challenging the traditional, reading, writing and thinking coaching, James is questioning long held beliefs about the ways in which we should coach young people, and the types of things we should be coaching young people.

   From nutritional workshops, to free play, to technical skill development for running, (one young man couldn’t run at the start of the day – his technique was a little closer to athletic by the end of it, a genuinely impressive improvement) James and his colleagues followed up a series of coaching sessions with the day long workshop.

   You might think that this is not unique, but done well it certainly is. You don’t have to be an ex-athlete, a household name, in possession of a PhD, or a consultant in coaching to be effective.

   James and his team are a great of example of what coaching should be. In order to bridge the gap between those researching and those doing, we need to become both.

   It is vital that coaches in future are innovative, thoughtful, thought provoking, challenging, researching and DOING. Only when this happens, will we really bridge the gap and service those that are looking for support and guidance so that we have competitive, healthy, fit young people that are the athletes, participants and future coaches and teachers.

   Further Research

   For some further thoughts on sports coaching, it may be worth reading the following:

   Robyn Jones (2006) The sports coach as educator: re-conceptualising sports coaching published by Routledge: London

   Robyn Jones and Mike Wallace (2007) An Introduction to sports coaching: From science and theory to practice published by Routledge: London

6. Coaching audit: time to be self critical

   19th July 2011 11:23 am Leave a Comment

   Having been in business full time for approaching 10 years, I thought it was time to assess where we stood. Having had a couple of heavy deadlines earlier in the year, I decided to take the time to get some input on where the company stood.

   I am in the last stages of a 4 part audit of Excelsior.

    April: Customer focus.

   Myself and the staff did an extensive survey of what the athletes and customers wanted and expected from us. This included verbal Q&A and written questions. We looked at this information about what they didn’t know, common questions they had, where they looked for information and in what form.

   One of the surprising things that came out of this was that they wanted Excelsior stash!

   This information has helped shape our workshops, current and future, as well as the blog and resources.

   May: External coaching audit.

   As part of the Transformational coaching course run at Bath University, Wayne Roberts has been observing some of my coaching sessions at different locations. He then assimilated his thoughts into a very productive feedback session. I am not sure how many of you get observed coaching, and then get constructive feedback- I recommend it. Of course it has to be from someone who can give non judgemental feedback (don’t get your line manager or close colleague to do it). When there is no financial incentive from either party, it seems to enable honesty.

    June: Technical coaching audit.

   I had an intensive 5 days on the GAIN conference in Houston (detailed blogs to follow) which covered a vast array of topics in the Athletic Development field.  This was a chance to get my practices and thoughts challenged and analysed by expert practitioners from around the world. I haven’t assimilated all the information yet, but it was a useful process to get away from my existing peer group.

   July: Internal company audit.

   Feedback due next week from the staff, including the Interns, on their experiences and the company as a whole. Probably the toughest critics, they have seen at close hand what work is involved and have been instrumental in helping develop what we do.

    I aim to use August to collate this information and get a head start on the next few years. Being a small company we can adapt quite quickly to changing demands, but we need to ensure that we have a stand out service and record to help our athletes and coaches in these difficult financial times.

7. How to become a Strength and Conditioning Coach? – Diary of an Intern

   8th July 2011 3:11 pm 3 Comments

   We are now counting down to the end of our internship with James at Excelsior, and this is a good point to reflect on what I have experienced!

   But before that I just want to mention the events from the last few weeks at Millfiled School.

   For the last three weeks we have seen a new intake of girls for next year’s sessions. James has aimed to get them moving correctly over the summer to provide them with good technique and so that he can start then loading in September. We have gone through the 5×5 injury prevention programme with them as well as given them agility and leg exercises to do over the summer. Providing a good base (if they train consistently over the summer) to aid future training and improvement.

   Self reflection of an Intern

   Throughout this process I have learnt many things, which I will list in a minute, but the most valuable of these has been the chance to gain firsthand experience with quality athletes and coaches.

   As Matt mentioned in his last blog it is great to assist a good quality coach and mentor, but it is also important to have the chance to coach by yourself and think for yourself. This is something I have had the chance to do recently and has helped me become more confident as a coach.

   If you want to be a coach, or even work with athletes, then I have discovered that experience is the most important factor to consider.

   As well as experience, other buzz words I would relate to this internship include:

   • Reflection
   • Confidence
   • Consistency
   • Goals
   • Knowledge
   • Practice
   • Experience
   • Recovery/rest
   • Injury prevention
   • Women in the gym
   • Squats
   • Movement
   • Technique
   • Fun/inspiring

   These words and phrases have all cropped up in previous blogs over the last year and are concepts a coach should regularly consider.

   Although this internship has been invaluable, I know my learning and growth as a coach is far from over.

8. Are sports coaches restricting the thinking of their female athletes?

   20th May 2011 9:01 am 5 Comments

   Are sports coaches restricting the thinking of their female athletes?

   From observing young female athletes doing certain practices, I would say yes.

   One warm up I have done is to get 2 athletes to shadow each other mimicking movement patterns. That is all the advice and instruction I give, then say go. Doing this with 13 year olds and you see a massive variety of different things being done. It looks like free play and creativity.

   Doing this with 16 year old girls this week, I had to stop it and then explain the necessity of experimentation and creativity. “I don’t know what I am supposed to do” and “I can’t think of any different movements” were two of the quotes given to me.

   What I saw from the 16 year old girls was a very linear, static, rigid pattern of copying drills taken from the “warm up 101” book of “doing the same as every other sports team in the UK”.  It was just too precise and tidy.  I didn’t know whether it was an effort to be seen to be doing the right thing, to please the Coach (me) or really a lack of creativity (is this in the exam Coach?)

   I then stopped my planned session and got the group to come up with 2 different competitive games, coach them, play them, and then discuss ways of improving. What was apparent was that the girls were not used to being asked to think for themselves, or to input into sessions.

   The boys on the other hand at 16-18 years old tend to go a bit crazy and try and out do their partner in weird and wonderful things.

   Are the girls the product of the “I need to do well in school to please the teacher/ coach” or is this a genuine physiological \emotional difference between age and sex?

   My gut feeling is that their Creativity and Individualism has been restricted through the environment? What do you think?

    

9. Happy Star Wars Day- Lessons from Darth Vader

   4th May 2011 8:57 am 3 Comments

   Happy Star Wars Day.

   Last year we mentioned that very experienced coach Yoda.  But what can we learn from Darth Vader?

   The three main lessons are:

   1:It is never too late to learn from mistakes. 

   Just because you have been taken down the Dark Side of Coaching does not mean that you can not change.You may have invested hundreds of hours and pounds in reinforcing certain beliefs, but you can still change. 

   Vader was seduced by the Dark Side and led astray by the Emperor Palpatine. It took a certain self sacrifice by Luke Skywalker and faith in his father to help Vader realise that he was wrong. You may have been seduced by the power of the “Workout of the Day”, the “Frontal Plane Lifting Association” or the “Get massive by spending lots on supplements” Sith Lords, but you can still change.

   2: There are no shortcuts.

   Despite Vader’s advice, the haste and impetuousity of youth will lead to mistakes. “You don’t know the power of the Dark Side.” Nope, but also haste will also paper over cracks which will appear later on. Probably at the Athlete’s expense.

   3: Nothing is more important than family.

   It might be in an employer’s or athlete’s interest to hire people with no family commitments, but that may not lead to a functional society.  Dedicating solely to work, or to sport, without recognition of balance will cause dysfunction.

   The fact that you have had no contact with your children for 20 plus years, they kiss each other, you torture one and then chop the hand off the other, does not make you a candidate for “Dad of the Year.”

   Any favourite Star Wars quotes relating to coaching are welcome.
   

10. How to get more agile- use your head

    30th March 2011 10:34 am Leave a Comment

    

    I used this theme when presenting at the Active Devon Coaching Conference last weekend.

    Do you do endless footwork drills in order to get more agile? Bruce Lee called this organised despair- it looks really productive and efficient, but it has very little transference to open, fast moving situations in a game.

    You use your eyes to see what is happening, and your brain to make decisions. They are both located in your head which happens to be pretty heavy and is balanced precariously on top of a long body and legs. As soon as we learn to walk we are constantly fighting against gravity and our imbalances to stay upright. This is great for stability and moving around normally, but in sport we want to move fast and in many different directions.

    Instead of trying to keep our head still and letting our limbs flail around underneath us like drunken spiders, move your head violently and decisively in the direction that you want to travel.

    That was the basis of my workshop at the conference. I was lucky enough to have a very engaging group, who were willing to try out the random practices and situations that I was creating for them. (The 2 key note speakers were also keen participants Maggie Jackson -England Netball Coach and Andy Jones -Tom Daley’s diving coach.

     

    Malcolm Cook of freeflow coaching ran a great workshop on coaching, I recommend you get along to see him if you get a chance. He looked at technical drill based instruction (he helped write some of the football coaching manuals) and then offered player centered guidance as an alternative. Inspiring and informative, as well as bucketloads of common sense.