I’ve always been fascinated by ‘home improvement shows’ and enjoy the creative process that the architects, designers, and builders go through to present the clients with their dream room or home. The host or designer sits down with the client, and they discuss the ideal outcome of the project, then go away and draft the plan in detail. Then get the right people involved and, most importantly, use the correct toolbox of tools to make a success out of the project.
Using the above metaphor, I want to bring in the concept of using the correct toolbox into coaching sport and ask the question to all my fellow coaches in schools and clubs. What does your ‘coaching toolbox’ look like? Even a more fundamental question than this would be – do you have a ‘coaching toolbox’ at all?
When I talk about ‘your coaching toolbox,’ I’m referring to what you know and, more importantly, if you know how to use it. For example, we all know that speed in sport is essential and if your team is the fastest on the field, your chances of winning the match far outweigh those of your opposition. If you outsprint your opponent and be the first one to the ball, you have a much better chance to win and influence the outcome of the play. Now I know that not all sports depend solely on speed, but an athlete needs to possess this skill. You, the coach, need to know what, when, and the how of speed training to coach it successfully as part of a more extensive system or ‘your coaching toolbox.’
Another component is strength. An athlete requires power to generate force to accelerate or jump during a match. To become stronger as an athlete, you need to use resistance equipment in the form of resistance tubes or weights that overload or stress the muscles appropriately over a period to improve. Coaches need to understand the principles of strength training and how to use methods to instruct their athletes.
The 3rd component to take note of is recovery. Coaches focus mainly on what happens during practice and on the field. They don’t always give a second thought to what recovery techniques or guidelines they can share with their athletes away from the coaching environment when at home. Recovery is as important as the training itself. If not prioritized as part of the bigger plan, you will end up with injuries or overtrain. Young athletes especially need to be managed with a specific goal to ensure this is not a concern.
There are more tools to consider in your toolbox, and we will share these in our follow-up blog on The Coach’s Toolbox.
Wessel – SCG
“Improving Athletes Through Coaches”