Cool post on coaching, and life from Vern Gambetta.

When I first started the path to becoming an athlete development coach, one of the first "voices" in the industry that stuck out to me - like 20-22 years ago (yikes!) was that of Vern Gambetta.  Vern makes you think, and brings good ideas to the front of my professional field.  

I really liked his current post on his blog "Following the Functional Path".  I also felt that they transcended athlete development... and could apply to tying flies or fishing as well... thus I'm opting to share them here.

Enjoy!

Some Random Thoughts on Sports, Coaching and Life

Advice from best selling author David Baldacci:

”Don’t write what you know about, write what you’d like to know about. And never chase trends. Don’t write about dinosaurs because Crichton did, or codes because Brown did. Write something you’re passionate about and want to learn more about. Have fun with it. Don’t treat it as a job. Exercise your imagination, treat it like a game.”

This prompted my thoughts: Don’t always practice and focus on what you are good at, take a chance and practice what you are not good at. Approach it with passion. Accept the fact that you may not get it the first time. Be uncomfortable, use those mistakes to learn. Use your imagination and visualize how much better you will be when you master it.

On Injuries in the developing athlete: Rather than look for blame, look for cause. In my experience the majority of injuries at the High School and youth level can be traced directly to poor fundamental movement skills. It is fundamental movement skills AKA Physical Competencies that underlie sport skill. We basically are putting the cart before the horse. The second factor is improper progression. The same programs are imposed on the freshman and the senior without any regard for Physical maturation, cognitive and emotional development. Third major factor is early specialization.

Your philosophy is your voice – It speaks louder than any words!

On the coaching of Brother Colm coach to Olympic 800 meter champion David Rudisha:

“If Rudisha was trained by a system to be a perfect athlete, it might destroy him,” he said. “If you get a supercoach, they only look at a blueprint—a product. Brother Colm goes to the roots. He understands people, where they come from.”

My take home message from this and what makes Brother Colm so successful is that he coaches the person not the event.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Victor Frankel

Think possibilities. Focus on what you can do. Accentuate your strength and minimize the weaknesses.