A few people asked me what are the best motor learning books and rattled off some popular and hot reads. When I responded with a bit lip they were disappointed that they were not unlocking the secrets to skill acquisition to the brain and wanted magic cues. I shared the simple fact, that practitioners are the most important people as research is different than reality. I do believe in teaching science if you will, but very little can be taken from the texts besides a few key concepts. Let's be honest here, it feels good to have athletes get better and be freaks. If not one doesn't have pride. Unfortunately if we have so many motor learning experts with magic words why do athletes still look like they are reverse curling cleans, look like Shaggy from Scooby Doo running and stopping?

Like any part of coaching and sport science, we need evidence of application. The science is fine. The difference is long term development and technique day to day with mixed goals. Right now I am ...Keep Reading

The process of getting to be the best is not a straightforward linear path, it is a process and it takes time. In my forty-four years of coaching I have seen that many are called to walk the path but few actually choose. Yes you read that correctly. Many are called but few choose. The opportunity is there for many but few will make the choice because it is a difficult path that requires moving out of their Comfort Zone.

At each step of development there are clear-cut choices that must be made. Some of the choices are conscious, like doing something different in training and others are subtle almost unconscious like pushing through a pain barrier or finishing a workout that seems too hard. You must be guided by clear SMART goals that help to guide you to your destination. SMART goals are goals that are:

S = Specific

M = Measurable

A = Attainable

R = Realistic

T = Time

The goal is where you want to go, where you want to end up, it is the beacon of light that guides you. Most ...Keep Reading

I have been fortunate in the time since the Olympic games to spend time with seven coaches of Gold medal winners in Athletics (Track & Field) from the London games. In two instances I got to watch workouts and spend significant time with the coach and athlete. These are the commonalities that all shared:

Passion – In most cases they wore their passion on their sleeves.

Technical Knowledge – They knew the basics and didn’t stray far from them. None of them made what they did overly complicated.

Emotional Intelligence – They know their athletes and themselves. They listened to the athlete.

Systematic – Nothing by chance, thorough plans, but still built flexibility into the system

Humility – Not overly impressed with themselves, willing to credit others and seek help. Did not go it alone.

Paid their dues – All except one has been coaching for quite some time; they were not always coaching gold medal winners.

Interestingly enough these are the characteristics I ...Keep Reading

If you are a coach or therapist who speaks spanish and would like to meet-up at the NYC Grand Prix please know a private seminar on hamstring injuries will be happening the night before this Friday. Each topic is 15 minutes or so and concludes with a round table discussion on integrating topics such as Tensiomyography, streaming physiological monitoring, MSK Ultrasound, and bodywork. What is really exciting is that an actual athlete will be evaluated and bodywork will be done at the hotel for 90 minutes plus. The cost is a bottle of wine from the Nicasia Vineyard and while it's informal, the suggested attire is slacks and a button down as dinner is at 10pm. I also suggest bringing a small video camera and it's first come first serve as the limit is twenty people.

"Michael Crabtree underwent surgery to repair his Achilles tendon that he tore yesterday," coach Jim Harbaugh said. "Surgery was successful and we do not anticipate it will be season-ending for Michael."

I was called by a consultant a few years ago asking what system of pressure mapping to purchase and I said Tekscan, knowing that their reporting would eventually rise to match the power of their analysis. A simple screening of all of the athletes on a football team can greatly reduce injuries and track the research. It's amazing how simply asking people if they want to be loaned a Fscan they say no, when they are complaining about pricing of equipment or lack of education. My feeling is that nobody wants to be making statements with risk to specific injuries. If you look at jones fractures in sport a pattern of risk does show up in the research, but specific posting are not easy, since orthotics are static and one has to do a few routes and cutting motions to see if high risk ...Keep Reading

"The top clubs have learned these lessons (some the hard way) and don’t put much stock into single comprehensive packages from vendors and have instead built their own internal architectures that they control. This approach allows them to use the ‘best of breed’ tools where they make sense and have the flexibility to make changes when needed."

-Sports Data Hub

So now we are all drinking from the same Holy Grail? Elite sport is not alone in thinking the latest Dashboard from vendors will solve problems, and we are seeing the loose term algorithm everywhere. As predicted, SaaS is growing and is this a trend or eventual outcome of where we need to be? I am frightened in current sport because the basics and foundational information is so poor with the average coach. I just got an intern this summer, but really it's a 12 week mentorship of deprogramming of all the hype. A few years ago Kevin Goodfellow was ahead of the time by anticipating big data and the need for a solution, ...Keep Reading

A private meeting was in the Concord and Lexington area, purposely located to symbolize the future of what is happening in Boston. I predict that more private style workshops such as the one hosted by Ricardo will be the future. Flying halfway around the world needs to be more than just visiting a professional team and doing a keynote, the bar is raised as hotel and airports are not enough to make sure speakers are happy. Speakers want to learn and network as well, as they need to be aware of what is going on or find themselves seated watching the new blood like some are doing now. With several conferences fading and some extinct (Remember when SWIS was huge?) the disruption is keeping the speakers enticed, the attendees happy, and the vendors satisfied. Of course the people behind the conference such as Art Horne need to be thanked beyond he handshake and blog nods, as he is the one driving this and his hard work is appreciated.

Two presentations (Keynote) were Saturday morning ...Keep Reading