Demanding Great Execution vs. Over-Coaching … a Fine Line!
April 24, 2012 by danny · 3 Comments
Lee Taft is a very smart strength coach/movement coach/speed coach (whatever you want to call him). Anyway, I was reading one of his articles earlier today, and really liked this part of his article:
“Always remember the brain is programming the patterns. If they are sloppy that is how they will be programmed in the brain. Demand great execution.”
This is great advice! If you work with clients in the weight room, or athletes on the field/court/ice, keep in mind that the brain will remember poor movement patterns. So, do not let your clients/athletes get sloppy with their form. Once that poor movement pattern is repeated, it will be much more difficult for them to get it right later on. Be strict from the get-go so you set up for future success once you get more advanced down the line (i.e. add more weight to the bar in the weight room, or increase the speed of a drill on the playing field).
If you're training this guy, NEVER let him perform another rep like this again!
However…
If you “over-nitpick,” the client/athlete can get really frustrated that they are not “getting it.” So there is a fine line between demanding great execution and over-coaching. Knowing your client/athlete’s mental make-up is important. You can’t always treat everyone the same way. Some will respond really well even if they are getting frustrated that are having a hard time learning the new skill. They may have the attitude of, “BRING IT! I’m GOING to this. Let me try again!”
While others may need some extra positive reinforcement and encouragement or they’ll start to tune you out and get so frustrated that nothing gets accomplished during the training session or practice.
Having a bunch of regressions and progressions in your arsenal can be very helpful.
As a trainer/coach… some of this can be learned in a book. Some of it can only be learned “in the trenches.” This is why internet coaches/trainers that don’t work with people in person will always be a step behind coaches/trainers that have experience working with people right there in front of their face.
If you are a trainer or a coach, do you treat everyone the same? Or do you make modifications based on the individual that you are working with? Discuss below…
About danny
I agree that there is a fine line. However, I tend to base it on the individual whenever possible. I think you have to take the individual and their attitude as well as their ability into consideration when training/coaching. Not everyone responds to criticism or encouragement the same way. Some people even have a tough time deciphering which is which. I do think it’s a little different coaching an individual as opposed to a group. In a group setting it can be difficult to play to an individuals needs without pissing somebody off. But when you’re one on one it’s easy to dial it up or down. That’s one of the things I like about training one on one. After coaching a team for many years, it’s nice to focus in on an individuals needs and not have the group dynamic to worry about.
This leads to another question. What’s more important… the ability to coach or the technical/skill knowledge? Obviously, having both is awesome (unfortunately, I’m a far cry from your level of expertise). But if you had to choose… which would it be?
Great thoughts, Steve! I definitely agree that everyone responds differently, therefore adjustments must be made to optimally coach/teach each person.
That’s not fair! You’re asking me to choose what’s more important… the heart or the lungs? Both essential! Ha.
But if I had to choose one I guess I’d go with being a great coach as being more important. As I believe a great coach is also a great teacher, a great motivator, a great communicator, etc.
Danny
I know, not fair. They are both essential. Having both sets the good/great coaches apart from the poor/average ones.