Building a Winning Ethos: TheTraining for Performance Environment
Category: Sports Performance | Specialism: Sports Coaching
How to Build a Winning Ethos
In today’s professional environment the Head Coach is required to be versed in many skills. The range of skills that he or she applies within a network of professional resources are aimed towards building a winning ethos. The “on-field” working relationship of the Coach-Athletic interface can be summarised via the following dynamic and interactive areas of human performance;
Psychological
Physiological
Tactical
Technical
Performance Analysis
_________________________________Communication________________________________
The first step in creating a winning ethos is to actively engage in a comprehensive analysis of the above. One way to do this is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunites and threats exposed in your coaching program.
Weakness: internal and external operational weakness of your orgainisation/playing group
Opportunities: professional development, new technology, increased budget
Threats: a lack of autonomy, limited resources, coaching methodology
Once the evidence has been collated and evaluated it is time to implement (with autonomy) any changes deemed necessary within the SWOT analysis investigation. One area where you can direct your energy to maximise your ability to build a winning ethos is to create a Training for Performance Environment.
At Performance Dynamics we believe that the way you train is the way you perform. In highlighting this, it is imperative that the design and implementation of training sessions needs to address, apply and transfer optimal training for performance environments that leads to successful performance outcomes.
Training for Performance Environment (theory)
It should be noted and understood that the ability to perform a skill or series of skills proficiently, against or with the current or changing stimulii presented in competition, involves the integration and co-ordination of human movement, physiological systems and cognitive processes.
Stimulis Action
Information received -Cognitive processing -Info-relayed & executed
An in-game analysis of skills being performed under pressure in rugby union (a complex dynamical system) highlights the utilisation and specialisation of such processes in a live and dynamic way. This poses the question, is the design and application of training based methodologies in line with the performance environment that athletes invaribaly compete in?
The traditional method of training! (theory, problems associated)
It is noted and understood that the technical aspects of how to play (passing whilst running at pace, playing a front foot drive in cricket, using the correct technique in a tackle) are vitally important. In training, this "how to" technique will allow athletes to correctly play the directed stimulus presented. This method is regularly utilised in today’s Coach-Athletic interface and is linear in nature. Think of a cricket net session and or a rugby union unopposed training environment!
Stimuli ---------------------Cognitive Processing----------------------Action executed
Athletes in this environment utilise a generalised movement pattern to the stimulis presented. An example of this is exhibited via the following practice environments:-
Bowling machine practice
Unapposed training drills in Rugby Union
Hitting a bucket of golf balls on the range whilst using only one or two clubs
Training in closed, unvaried environments
In effect the problem's associated with this training method is that it can look good in practice, feel good for the athlete and bring a smile to the coach, yet, it can illicit a low ability to transfer the skill into the performance environment where inevitably success is rewarded and failure is.......................
An approach that organisation's can utilise across the sporting continuum to maximise their ability to build and sustain a winning ethos is the application of the principles set forth in the training for performance approach.
Training for Performance Optimisation (theory and application)
A motor control representation of the dynamic and interactive nature of in game athletic performances
Cognitive processing
Information Action executed received
Now think of game conditions and environments directly influencing athletic performances;
Cricket; playing surface, weather conditions, fielding restrictions and positional changes, bowling change, the role of the batsman at the crease, the game situation
Football; formations, tactical sub systems, attacking and defending frameworks, pressure to perform under the game situation
Rugby Union; field position, attacking or defending frameworks, lineouts, scrums, gaining advantage and momentum, the game situation, the crowd,
Golf: length of hole, weather conditions, the lie of the ball, the club to use, the trajectory of the ball, the contour of the course, reading of the greens...............
At Performance Dynamics we closely examine the relationship between the athlete, the environment and task objectives to design training for performance environments for invasion and ball and racquet sports. Our main objective is to build and sustain a winning ethos by incorporating Motor Control theories and concepts, ecological coaching methods, strength and conditioning principles and new technologies to produce better performance outcomes for all invovled. For example;
Rugby Union- Training for Performance drill
A = 15 Attackers
D = 5 Defenders
Normal Field Size (half way)
5mins - d then alternate
A, objective is to score as many tries possible in 5 minutes; D objective is to prevent tries from being scored. Any errors in the attacking side a restart occurs from the point the error is made. The coach kicks the ball back into play behind the space of the attacker's. A scrambles to realign and counter attack whilst D pushes into thier attacking area to take away time and space.
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
D D D D D
The above training for performance drill facilitates greater congruence between training and playing conditions. In addition it allows the coach/coaching staff to have a greater impact on their athletes by guiding them to a skill set that can adapt to a given situation as opposed to the traditional method of training. This training for performance relationship draws parallels with some commercialised models of business.
Nike with its moto of Just Do It and Adidas with Impossible Is Nothing exhibit the philosophy of this article that is, the product cannot exist without the brand. In sport the skill cannot exist without the application.
In conclusion, this article represents a working framework for coaches/organisation to build a winning ethos via a training for performance approach. In addition it is not the skill alone that will drive the athlete towards success, it is the application.
Tags:
application,
building a winning ethos,
coach-athletic interface,
coaching philosophy,
coaching,
cognitive processes,
consultant,
dynamic training states,
game sense,
how to when and why,
human movement,
invasion games,
multifarious,
one dimensional,
performance enhancement,
performance indicators,
physiological responses,
skill development,
sport coaching,
sport performance,
strategies,
the role of the coach,
training styles
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Rob Robson
Co-founder, iStadia.com
Any feedback on the above would be more than appreciated.
Cheers,
Nathan.