4/16/08

Validation

Is winning a validation that a training program is successful? Absolutely not! There are so many factors that go into winning. Many teams and individuals win in spite of the training programs they use. I think over the long term a good sound Athletic Development program makes a huge contribution, but to use winning as a validation that a program is effective does not do justice to the whole process. A great conditioning program without the support of the head coach and the assistant coaches will not be effective. A great program without a buy in and a commitment from the athletes is a shadow program. In short winning is not validation of an Athletic Development program. How about the situation where one year a team wins a championship and the Strength & Conditioning coach is lauded as the second coming, produces the a Winning Secrets DVD and next year they are at the bottom of the table. Did he get stupid all of a sudden? I know strength and conditioning coaches who have multiple championship rings who hardly ever worked with players on their teams. Are the rings validation of their expertise as a coach? Look beyond the hype. Look for substance not style.

5 Comments:

At 4/16/08, 8:06 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vern
You are right on when stating S&C coaches who have multiple championship rings hardly worked with players on their teams.

Winning is validation!

Unfortunately, in general, people do judge the book by its cover.

Chris

 
At 4/16/08, 10:30 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vern

How would you measure a successful athletic development program. I agree 100% with your blog. Fortunately or unfortunately, we have used our success to get others, kids, parents, coaches, to buy into what we are doing, but the reality has been that some of our most talented atheltes haven't been the hardest offseason workers. I hear some coaches say that numbers aren't the biggest measure of their S@C program..what do you think? Is it important that a football player has great numbers on their bench..or that they get stronger overal all and become the strongest most conditioned person for their body weight they can be? Is injury reductiont he measuring tool? This is a great blog...it evoked lots of questions inside me

 
At 4/16/08, 1:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Parts to the whole.

Why isolate? The athlete and/or coach may not sell secret winning dvds but they do bill winning.
Trickle down theroy.

 
At 4/16/08, 8:52 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great article, thanks for sharing it! Would love to feature you on Wellsphere.com, a site that helps people to live healthier. Can't find a contact form so thought I'd comment; look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Larisa

 
At 4/17/08, 4:42 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with you on this one as well. All a S&C coach can do is give the players a performance edge,fitness wise, at most. There are so many other factors that come into games. You could have the fittest team in the world but if they can't perfrom the skills needed the sport they are in then there isn't much point to being in great shape other than over all health.

Jared, sports science student

 

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