“YES” TO THE 4th POWER
This exercise selection tip is borrowed from Coach Mike Burgener’s “Yes to the 4th Power”. He challenges you to ask yourself these four questions when deciding if an exercise belongs in your athlete development program:
1. Is the exercise ground based and are you standing up while performing the exercise?
2. Is the exercise a free weight exercise?
3. Does the exercise work multiple muscle groups and multiple joints?
4. Is the exercise performed in an explosive manner?
If you satisfy the requirements to “yes to the 4th power” 75% of the time, then the exercise belongs in your program.
If you answer no to any of these questions, re-evaluate. Determine if the time and energy required is justified. Athletes need to spend time training movements that correlate to their athlete-specific needs.
If the outcome doesn’t directly relate to your goals, drop the exercise or make modifications.
Popularity: 27% [?]
EVERY COACH BETTER HAVE ONE
WHAT IS THE PLAN??
With experience working with over 16 local high schools it never ceases to amaze me how many coaches shoot from the hip when it comes to preparation, practices, seasonal training, or game strategy. Every coach, regardless if they’re coaching peewee or college, should have a PLAN.
You simply can’t (and won’t) get by without having an identified PLAN.
It’s been my experience that coaches who have a PLAN spelled out on paper have more wins than losses. They make more happen with less talented teams. They have respect of parents and athletes.
When a team or school hires FOCUS to come in and consult with their athletic teams, here’s how it usually goes when I meet with coaches (who don’t have a PLAN):
RYAN: “Coach ________, let’s get this started. Let me take a look at your annual plan for this year. I need to see what you guys have been doing, find what’s working and what isn’t, and we’ll go from there.”
COACH: “What… … … what is it you wanna see?”
Popularity: 24% [?]
