Today we did initial evaluations for 6 new athletes in our NFL Draft prep program. Part of this process is the video analysis of their sprinting technique, which is coupled with the battery of screening and physiological tests.
In one case, Ihave a realtively powerful athlete, but his 10 yd split is slower than expected. As I look at the video analysis I can see he is not getting enough flexion in the hip to drive his thigh so that its atleast 90 degrees from the torso. Is this a technique problem? Maybe he has developed a very short choppy stride and thats his movement pattern.
Maybe, but on further review, I find his hip flexors are very tight along with his hamstrings. By getting hip extension when pushing back, he has tilted the pelvis forward because of the tight hip flexors. That with the lack of range in his hamstrings, along with only OK core stability, put us in a situation of an athlete who is not getting the stride length he should.
Having seen this many times before, I have prescribed so specific hip mobility and core stability drills. In this athletes case, this alone may improve his speed. Its a case where changing some of the physiological parameters, will impact the technique.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Coaching is an Art
Yes it is. It requires a basis of science to be applied, but that science is useless without the artfullness to apply it. Coaching isn't about writing a program and analyzing needs. Its how you interact with the athlete, choose what to act on in the coaching moment, and the manner in which you do it.
Much like any artists, all of the best coaches I know have been influenced by other masters before them. Some have apprenticed with years of working directly with, and studying, a more experienced coach. Others, such as myself, had to seek out various mentors and do intensive study of methods. This includes looking beyond the confines of speed or strength, but looking to coaches in many realms.
Another element of becoming a great artist is practice. The reading, studying, listening, and all else is great, but it has to be practiced. That means coaching. In todays age of internet gurus, seminars, and dvds, there are far to many of them that are great at marketing and talking about coaching, the problem is they haven't done enough to master their art. Choose your mentors carefully, and above all else seek some out!
Much like any artists, all of the best coaches I know have been influenced by other masters before them. Some have apprenticed with years of working directly with, and studying, a more experienced coach. Others, such as myself, had to seek out various mentors and do intensive study of methods. This includes looking beyond the confines of speed or strength, but looking to coaches in many realms.
Another element of becoming a great artist is practice. The reading, studying, listening, and all else is great, but it has to be practiced. That means coaching. In todays age of internet gurus, seminars, and dvds, there are far to many of them that are great at marketing and talking about coaching, the problem is they haven't done enough to master their art. Choose your mentors carefully, and above all else seek some out!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Webinars in New year
I've been doing some initial webinars on coaching topics recently. Its a little strange at first not being able to see the coaches you are talking to, but the response has been good and coaches have been getting useful info. So I decided to venture forward and commit to doing at least 6 webinars in the coming year.
One of the keys are the video tools available now. Coaching movement is a highly visual process, so tools like online video and Dartfish make it practical. Coaches can discuss technique and watch movement and demonstrations.
Stay tuned for dates and topics to be announced!
One of the keys are the video tools available now. Coaching movement is a highly visual process, so tools like online video and Dartfish make it practical. Coaches can discuss technique and watch movement and demonstrations.
Stay tuned for dates and topics to be announced!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
NFL Combine Prep
Well it's that time again. The beginning of what is in many ways a very strange process. NFL Draft prep. Getting guys ready for the all-star games, combine, and their pro days. We just started with guys from Michigan, Louisville and Central Arkansas.
It has become the "big show" of speed training for non-track athletes. Get them ready for that 40 yd dash and other tests. Every coach and their mother claims to "be the best" or "have the secret". I think it was Vern Gambetta who posted a few years back that each of the major training facilities should slap logos on their athletes like NASCAR.
We can debate the validity of the combine, 40, 5-10-5 and so on till we drop, but currently it's part of the job interview for these guys. That means we need to help them, or in many cases, not hurt them.
The reality is this process is so short, you have to really decide what you can positively impact and be very careful not to negatively impact anything. Whatever you do, don't try to do everything. These guys aren't training to be football players at this point and its not about a long term view of athletic development. I shake my head every year, because its soooo much about what I am usually denouncing in training athletes.
The upside, is that I find it a great challenge to my skills as a coach to get the maximum results in this environment with these constraints. They are tired and beat-up from the season that just finished. Often we a rehabbibg injuries. We will have some guys for less than 3 weeks before they go to the Senior Bowl for a week. Then they come back and we have about 3 weeks or a little more until the combine. Some will go right back to school for a quick Pro day, and some will come back for up to another month of training.
All in all, we don't have much time to impact change. So we try to optimize everything. One of those elements is deciding what to do about their speed training. What is their strength & power profile, how is their technique, what does their start look like, how about their acceleration vs. their maximum velocity (and yes they reach maximum velocity in the 40).
In coming weeks I'll keep you updated on what we are doing.
It has become the "big show" of speed training for non-track athletes. Get them ready for that 40 yd dash and other tests. Every coach and their mother claims to "be the best" or "have the secret". I think it was Vern Gambetta who posted a few years back that each of the major training facilities should slap logos on their athletes like NASCAR.
We can debate the validity of the combine, 40, 5-10-5 and so on till we drop, but currently it's part of the job interview for these guys. That means we need to help them, or in many cases, not hurt them.
The reality is this process is so short, you have to really decide what you can positively impact and be very careful not to negatively impact anything. Whatever you do, don't try to do everything. These guys aren't training to be football players at this point and its not about a long term view of athletic development. I shake my head every year, because its soooo much about what I am usually denouncing in training athletes.
The upside, is that I find it a great challenge to my skills as a coach to get the maximum results in this environment with these constraints. They are tired and beat-up from the season that just finished. Often we a rehabbibg injuries. We will have some guys for less than 3 weeks before they go to the Senior Bowl for a week. Then they come back and we have about 3 weeks or a little more until the combine. Some will go right back to school for a quick Pro day, and some will come back for up to another month of training.
All in all, we don't have much time to impact change. So we try to optimize everything. One of those elements is deciding what to do about their speed training. What is their strength & power profile, how is their technique, what does their start look like, how about their acceleration vs. their maximum velocity (and yes they reach maximum velocity in the 40).
In coming weeks I'll keep you updated on what we are doing.
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