Functional Path Training

Building Sustainable Performance Excellence (Ideas from Eddie Jones, Coach of Japan Rugby)

The components of Building a Championship Team grounded in the values of pride, respect and courage. Important it to live those values not just speak to them.

Leadership 

The ability to get the best out of the people around you

Ability to provide a strong cohesive vision that gives the staff direction to follow

Need to understand cultural differences

The skills of leadership

Observation skills – Important as a head coach/manager to step back and see the big picture. Not necessary to be involved in every drill.

Ability to learn and adapt quickly

Ability to plan and implement the plan all the while recognizing that no plan is perfect hence the necessity of staying flexible

High work ethic

Passion for details

Management

Staff – Get the right staff. No yes-men. Must have difference opinions to create a strong staff.

Players – Looking for consistency. Good today, not yesterday!

Creating the right environment – Values = Behaviors

Know when to let staff go – When to cut the cord. He emphasized this is not easy but sometime necessary.

Knowing Your Strength

Know your key competitive edge and work constantly to improve it.

Know where the gaps are – do thorough and ongoing gap analysis of where are you versus where you need to be and act on closing those gaps immediately.

Know your opposition – Understand their psyche

Plan and prioritize base on your strength. Work on what you are good at. The strength will pull up the weaknesses.

Develop a Culture of Discipline

Rules – Very few, very clear and easy to be accountable for

Meetings - No longer than 15 minutes

Communication – Clear and concise

Evaluation – Clear criteria, no shades of grey

Selection – not easy but you do not always select best players but select the best team.

Create a Learning Environment

Learn from other sports – Look far afield

Learn from other coaches

Television – Watch interviews with coaches post match

Internet – this is obvious

Books – Read everything

Have courage of conviction – Always look for a better way than the way you are doing it and be willing to change.

Thanks to Eddie Jones for these ideas. I know many will read this and think we do that or there is nothing earthshaking here. Think again, these is just words on paper, but it takes a 24/7 commitment, a commitment few are willing to give. It is that commitment that truly separates the good form the great.

Building Sustainable Performance Excellence (Ideas from Eddie Jones, Coach of Japan Rugby)

The components of Building a Championship Team grounded in the values of pride, respect and courage. Important it to live those values not just speak to them.

Leadership 

The ability to get the best out of the people around you

Ability to provide a strong cohesive vision that gives the staff direction to follow

Need to understand cultural differences

The skills of leadership

Observation skills – Important as a head coach/manager to step back and see the big picture. Not necessary to be involved in every drill.

Ability to learn and adapt quickly

Ability to plan and implement the plan all the while recognizing that no plan is perfect hence the necessity of staying flexible

High work ethic

Passion for details

Management

Staff – Get the right staff. No yes-men. Must have difference opinions to create a strong staff.

Players – Looking for consistency. Good today, not yesterday!

Creating the right environment – Values = Behaviors

Know when to let staff go – When to cut the cord. He emphasized this is not easy but sometime necessary.

Knowing Your Strength

Know your key competitive edge and work constantly to improve it.

Know where the gaps are – do thorough and ongoing gap analysis of where are you versus where you need to be and act on closing those gaps immediately.

Know your opposition – Understand their psyche

Plan and prioritize base on your strength. Work on what you are good at. The strength will pull up the weaknesses.

Develop a Culture of Discipline

Rules – Very few, very clear and easy to be accountable for

Meetings - No longer than 15 minutes

Communication – Clear and concise

Evaluation – Clear criteria, no shades of grey

Selection – not easy but you do not always select best players but select the best team.

Create a Learning Environment

Learn from other sports – Look far afield

Learn from other coaches

Television – Watch interviews with coaches post match

Internet – this is obvious

Books – Read everything

Have courage of conviction – Always look for a better way than the way you are doing it and be willing to change.

Thanks to Eddie Jones for these ideas. I know many will read this and think we do that or there is nothing earthshaking here. Think again, these is just words on paper, but it takes a 24/7 commitment, a commitment few are willing to give. It is that commitment that truly separates the good form the great.

GAIN 2019 Faculty

Our faculty is a very special group with a tremendous breadth of experiences and a track record of excellence in their chosen fields. They know how a performance team works, how all aspects of athletic development complement each other and most importantly they understand the process of developing athletes. The faculty and their willingness to share and interact make GAIN special. They know how to connect the dots and still stay grounded in the basics. They completely live the GAIN Mission which is: To focus on the possibilities for enhancing human movement with no limits or limitations and emphasize connections and links between all disciplines in the same manner we emphasize connections and linkages in the body.

With each faculty members short bio, I have included their presentation topic and a link to their episode on the GAINcast, many have also been guests on the HMMR media podcast.

GAIN XI is June 11 to 15, 2019 at Rice University in Houston Texas. Apply as soon as possible. For more information & to apply go to http://thegainnetwork.com/

THE Faculty

Vern Gambetta, Founder of GAIN Network, Currently Director of Gambetta Sports Training Systems. Vern brings 50 years of experience having worked with sport at all levels of competition. Vern will do a morning session on the Multi-Stage warm-up, a presentation on Leg, Legs, Legs – the Foundation and a wrap up presentation on Reflections & Recollections.

Peter Vint, PhD, is an internationally recognized expert in sport science, performance technology, and sport analytics. He has served as a trusted advisor, consultant, and educator with leading sporting organizations including the US Olympic Committee, UK Sport, Titleist Golf, Nike, and a number of professional sports teams in the NBA, NFL, MLS, MLB, and The Premier League.

In 2016, Dr. Vint was hired as Academy Director for Everton Football Club in the English Premier League. During that time, Vint and his leadership team launched a number of initiatives to support improved health, wellbeing, and athletic development of Everton’s 160 Academy players who range in age from 9-21. Prior to his work in the UK, Peter served the United States Olympic Committee for more than a decade as Senior Sport Technologist, Director of High Performance, and Senior Director of Competitive Analysis, Research and Innovation.

Dr. Vint holds a Ph.D. in biomechanics (sport science), completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Motor Control and Motor Learning, and has completed executive leadership studies at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. Peter will do two presentations: Deterministic Model – Theory and Application and Living with Analytics GAINcast Episode 80: Performance Team (with Peter Vint) 

John Pryor, Former conditioning coach Japan Rugby, now the conditioning coach for Fiji Rugby and The Brumbies in Super Rugby. John has developed a system for blending speed and strength development based on his experience and incorporating the concepts of Frans Bosch that apply to all sports. He is not afraid to challenge conventional thinking. John will do a daily Breakout/Workshop on Elements of Robust Running. GAINcast Episode 135: The anatomy of agility – part 1 (with Frans Bosch and John Pryor) GAINcast Episode 136: The anatomy of agility part 2 (with Frans Bosch and John Pryor) 

Jim Radcliffe, Head S&C Coach University of Oregon, a pioneer and a true master of the profession. Jim Radcliffe joined the Oregon athletic department in August 1986 and works as the head strength and conditioning coach. Radcliffe is one of the most overlooked elements in the success of Oregon student-athletes and not only plays a significant role in the Ducks’ football program as the designer of the year-round conditioning calendar, but also has been quick to aid the athletic development of athletes in the sports of baseball as well as men’s and women’s track & field.

While he has long been one of the integral components to the program’s success – as often credited by both past and present Oregon student-athletes – his work and innovation are now recognized as one of the overwhelming contributions to the fast pace the football team has employed in recent years.

During his tenure, which is the longest among his counterparts within the Pac-12 Conference, he has established himself as a highly-respected teacher, coach and author. An active clinician throughout the country, he is widely recognized as one of the leading authorities regarding exercise for the development of strength, speed and agility.

In addition to overseeing a strength and conditioning program that was named one of the top 10 in the country in 2013 by Bleacher Report, Radcliffe was included on a list of the 65 most influential strength coaches of all time by another 2012 website, as well as one of three national finalists for FootballScoop’s Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award in 2010.

Upon his hiring in 1986, Radcliffe spent two years as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Ducks before assuming the head role, a position he has held  since.

Radcliffe taught and coached a variety of sports and was the athletic trainer for four years at Aloha (Ore.) High School from 1980-83. He then did graduate study at Colorado and worked in private business prior to joining the Ducks’ staff. Graduating from Pacific (Ore.) with a degree in physical education and health in 1980, he played four seasons at defensive back and was captain of the special teams. Radcliffe earned his Master’s in biomechanics from Oregon in 1992.Jimmy will do a morning filed session on Plyo Progressions and will co-present with Vern on Lessons Learned. GAINcast Episode 125: Gold medal roundtable 

Martin Bingisser, HMMR Media, Swiss National Hammer Throw Coach, many times Swiss national hammer throw champion. Martin is the founder of HMMR Media, an online coach’s education platform, and co-host of the GAINcast and HMMR Podcast. He is also active as a coach, servicing as the Swiss national coach in the hammer throw, throwing coach for LC Zurich, and fitness coach for GC Rugby Zurich. Martin is a graduate of University of Washington and is a practicing lawyer in Zurich Switzerland. Martin will co-present with John Kiely on New Concepts of Stress & Adaptation.

 Grace Golden PhD is currently is a Senior Lecturer & Program Director for the Graduate Athletic Training Program at the University of Oregon. Her education includes BS in Physical Education/Teacher Preparation (University of Oregon, 1989), MS in Physical Education/Athletic Training (University of Oregon, 1991) and a PhD in Exercise and Sport Science (Oregon State University, 2007).  She has been Head Women’s Athletic Trainer (University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 1997-2000), Assistant Athletic Trainer (Stanford University, 2000-2001), Associate Head Athletic Trainer (UCLA, 2007-2009) and Clinically focused on lower extremity screening and long-term rehabilitation of ACL injuries, her philosophy and approach are strongly influenced by emphasizing the existing intersections of fundamental movement skill development, motor learning theory, and apt performance programming in active individuals who have experienced lower extremity injury in order to emphasize physical literacy & athletic performance and the potential to prevent injuries.  Grace will present on Taking a Hard Look at Evidence Based Practice.  HMMR Podcast Episode 172: Better balance (with Grace Golden)

Nick Garcia, Athletic Development Coach & Assistant Track Coach, Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks, California. An accomplished athlete himself Nick has developed an outstanding athletic development at Notre Dame high school where he works with all sixteen sports. He earned his bachelor's degree and his master's in Physical Education from Cal State Northridge. Nick is also the co-host of the HMMR media podcast with Martin Bingisser. Nick will do a morning practical session on Special Strength. GAINcast Episode 46: State of the Sport (with Nick Garcia) 

Leonard Zaichkowsky PhD, a professor, researcher, and consultant for almost four decades at Boston University, pioneered sports psychology by bringing cognitive neuroscience and sports performance together as an interdisciplinary science. His academic textbooks and research publications demonstrated the importance of an athlete’s remarkable brain in anticipating and acting on opportunities during competition. He has consulted with teams in the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, Australian Rules Football, the Spanish men’s national soccer team, and Olympic sports organizations around the world. Len is a former president and a fellow of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, and currently section editor on psychology for the International Journal of Health, Sport and Science. Recently, the American Psychological Association honored Len with the “Distinguished Service to the Profession” award. Today, Len is a cofounder and senior consultant at 80 Percent Mental Consulting, advising coaches, teams, and sports organizations on developing athlete cognition. After too many Boston winters, he and his wife now live in Fort Myers, Florida. Len will do two presentations: Training the Brain and Learning to Learn Better.  GAINcast Episode 130: The playmaker’s advantage (with Len Zaichkowsky and Daniel Peterson) 

Greg Gatz is in his 19th year as Director of Strength and Conditioning for Olympic Sports. While overseeing the facility management and organization of 21 varsity athletic teams, Gatz is directly in charge of program design and installation for several specific teams including baseball, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, and track (sprinters/ hurdlers).

Gatz has worked with several national champion teams at Carolina including: women's soccer (1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012), men's soccer (2001 and 2011), a volleyball team that finished with one of its highest national ranking ever (No. 7) in 2014 as well as the baseball team's six recent appearances in the College World Series (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013).

Prior to the University of North Carolina, Gatz spent 11 years as a high school physical education teacher and coach in the Orlando, Fla., area. A 1983 graduate of Ithaca (N.Y.) College, Gatz competed in football and track while receiving a degree in physical education. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Greg will do one presentation highlighting the evolution of Olympic Sport Strength & Conditioning program during his 21 years at UNC – The Carolina Way. HMMR Podcast Episode 112: Win Like A Tar Heel (with Greg Gatz and Jonas Sahratian)

John Kiely PhD, John has worked directly with the coaches of Olympic and world champions in three major sports. He has coached a Paralympic track medalist and European champion, numerous combat-sport athletes, and lots (and lots!) of kids. From a team sport perspective, he has worked as the Power Training Consultant for the Munster senior rugby squad, the Director of Fitness for Garryowen Rugby Academy, and as an advisor to top professional football clubs.

Outside the sporting domain John has consulted for both the police and the military and has performance managed the science and conditioning support for elite polar expeditions. From 2005 to 2009 John was the Head of Strength and Conditioning for UK Athletics, and retains a brief with that organization to provide direct service to current world champion and Beijing silver medalist, triple-jumper Philips Idowu and coach Aston Moore.

From an academic perspective John graduated with an honours degree in sports science from the University of Limerick, and a master's degree in strength and conditioning from the University of Edinburgh. In the past John has lectured on sports science and physical education courses at the University of Limerick, has published in both practical coaching and peer-reviewed science journals, served as an invited reviewer for top sport science periodicals, authored a book chapter, presented on various topics at international sports science conferences, and regularly present at coaching conventions. John Kiely will co-present with Martin Bingisser on New Concepts of Stress & Adaptation and will Breakout/workshop on Training Coordination. GAINcast Episode 61: The Future of Periodization (with John Kiely)  GAINcast Episode 132: Learning to control (with John Kiely) http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/05/hmmr-podcast-episode-48-mental-biases-with-john-kiely/

Bill Knowles, Director of Reconditioning and Athletic Development for HPSports is world-renowned in the field of Sports Reconditioning and Athletic Development. As a specialist with years of experience at the Professional, Olympic, and Elite Junior levels of sport; he specializes in developing injury prevention, performance training and reconditioning strategies for athletes and teams. Bill has lectured and trained staff around the world on his concepts of managing joint compromised athletes in their quest for a return to competition following injury.  He has equally presented an adolescent model of injury prevention and performance for soccer players.  Bill works consistently with the Philadelphia Union Academy in Major League Soccer/USA. Bill has worked with governing bodies of sport such as the RFU (England Rugby), The FA, Australian Institute of Sport, Chinese Olympic Committee, US Soccer, US Skiing, The England Institute of Sport, and the NCAA.  He has trained athletes and staff from over sixty professional teams throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. Bill will present on Beyond Reconditioning. GAINcast Episode 49: Reconditioning (with Bill Knowles) http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/10/hmmr-podcast-episode-124-a-dollar-a-day-with-bill-knowles/

Angus Ross PhD, Physical Performance Lead - Performance Physiologist, High Performance Sport New Zealand in a power physiology and strength and conditioning role, primarily working with track and field. He has worked with a number of sports at an elite level within the NZ system, including sprint cycling and skeleton in recent years. He was an Olympian in Bobsled for New Zealand. Angus will present on Eccentric Strength Training – Do’s and Don’ts and A Year with Tom Walsh – Lessons for All GAINcast Episode 83: Power Physiology (with Angus Ross) 

Ed Ryan, ATC serves The Andrews Institute as the Director of Athletic Medicine providing service on behalf of Nemours Children’s Hospital to the US Tennis Association’s National Campus in Orlando Florida. Ryan served as the 2007-16 USA Basketball Women's National Team athletic trainer and medical services coordinator for all USA Basketball teams. A 21-year member of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Sports Medicine staff, Ed served as the Medical Director and head athletic trainer for numerous events, including the Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics, Winter Paralympics, and the Pan American Games. GAINcast Episode 141: Athletic medicine (with Ed Ryan) 

Randy Ballard, ATC, Director of Integrated Performance He oversees the collaborative efforts of I-Perform, which includes representation from the Sports Medicine, Strength & Conditioning and Sports Nutrition units to promote an integrated athletic department that provides student-athletes and teams with programming and resources for optimal performance, athletic development and global wellness. Ballard was integral in the creation of the I-Perform program, which launched in the spring of 2014 with the goal of putting forth a unified approach to student-athlete health, well-being and performance.  Randy is a graduate of Kansas State and has a master's degree in kinesiology from the University of Texas. Randy will present on Putting it all Together. GAINcast Episode 45: Perform (with Randy Ballard) http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/01/hmmr-podcast-episode-32-movement-screens-with-randy-ballard/

Joe Przytula, ATC (AKA Mr. GAIN) is currently the Supervisor of Physical Education and Health at Elizabeth Public Schools USA- the second largest school district in the state of New Jersey. Prior to 2012, he was the head Athletic Trainer and a physical education teacher. He graduated from Montclair State College with a BS in physical education with a concentration in athletic training. He was NJSIAA athletic trainer of the year in 1998, recipient of the Governor’s teacher award in 2008, and NJAHPERD Active Schools Champion in 2018. Joe’s model of athletic development and rehabilitation is strongly influenced by manual therapy, the Gambetta Method, and physical therapists David Tiberio and Gary Gray. He has extensive involvement in improving community access to nutritious food, and engineering walkability/bikeability back into neighborhoods. Joe will do a breakout workshop session on Hip to the Shoulder GAINcast Episode 149: Integrated training (with Joe Przytula) 

 Greg Thompson has been teaching and coaching for over 30 years. He has degrees from Alma College and Wayne State University.  He currently teaches elementary Physical Education at Longacre Elementary in the Farmington Public School District in the suburban Detroit. Since coming to Farmington, he has served as K-12 Physical Education Coordinator and Department Chair.  In addition to his teaching duties, he serves as Acting Principal. His programs have earned two EDEX awards, one for assessment and one for “Rise and Shine”, his before-school exercise program.  In 2014 he received the Governor’s Champion for Health award from the Governor’s Fitness Council. Since 2010, he has been a member of the GAIN faculty. As a coach, Greg has successfully completed the USSF “A” License as well as the NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He has performed as Director of Coaching for the Livonia Soccer Club and the Dexter Soccer Club.  He is currently with Michigan Rush-Northville as Athletic Development Director.  At the collegiate level, he has worked with Schoolcraft College Men’s Soccer, Madonna University Men’s Soccer, and currently with University of Michigan Men’s Club Soccer.  Coach Thompson was recognized with Madonna University’s coaching staff as NAIA Regional Coaching Staff of the year. Greg will do a morning practical session on Crawling on Applying Differential Learning Concepts GAINcast Episode 37: Physical Education (with Greg Thompson) 

 Steve Myrland, Myrland Sport Training. Steve is an innovative thinker who can connect the dots like no other. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. He has worked as an athletic development coach in the NHL and at the University level including National Championship teams in Soccer and Ice Hockey at University of Wisconsin. Steve will present morning sessions:Sticks, Straps, & Mini Bands. GAINcast Episode 25: Train to Play (with Steve Myrland)  GAINcast Episode 108: Counterculture (with Steve Myrland) 
http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2018/04/hmmr-podcast-episode-149-zen-and-the-art-of-training-with-steve-myrland/

Chris Webb, a graduate of University of Pittsburgh Chris works closely with Vern Gambetta on GAIN swimming. He is former Head Coach, T2 Aquatics & Fort Collins Area Swim Team. He will present on Coach Wellness & Keep Perspective. Chris will a present Taking Care of Yourself. GAINcast Episode 66: The Champion’s Choice (with Chris Webb) 

GAIN 2019 – Applications Open

GAIN is a community of professional’s eager to learn and willing to share ideas and information. GAIN is not about more exercises, sets, reps and training methods it is about passionate people who pursue excellence with honesty, integrity and respect to make a difference in the lives of the people we coach and teach.

Who attends? GAIN is open to Strength & Conditioning/Athletic Development coaches, Sport Coaches, Physical Therapists, ATC’s, Chiropractors, Doctors and Physical Education teachers. Those who attend are professionals seeking career advancement & renewal through a networking experience and who are interested in getting out of their comfort zone.

When is GAIN? June 11 to June 15, 2019

Where is GAIN? It is held on the campus of Rice University in Houston Texas.

How much does GAIN cost? Tuition is $2150. This includes breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, and lodging at Rice University.

How do I apply? Go to tinyurl.com/gain19 to apply, submit your application now, enrollment is limited. We will let you know within ten days if you are accepted.

Where can I learn more about GAIN? Go to www.thegainnetwork.com/ or call 941-378-1778. You can also email Vern Gambetta at [email protected]

Why do I have to apply? Can’t I just sign up? Having people apply is part of what makes GAIN special. It would be easier to make it open for anyone to enroll, but that is not what GAIN is about. We are looking for people who are wiling to share and challenge themselves and others to grow professionally. The people in the network with you are as important (maybe even more important) than the faculty experts. The connections and inspiration you get from those around you have a significant impact on the experience.

Who are the faculty? Our faculty has a a tremendous breadth of experiences and a record of excellence in their chosen fields. They know how a performance team works, how all aspects of athletic development complement each other and most importantly they understand the process of developing athletes.

How does the network work? The GAIN annual meeting is the beginning. Participants have access to a secure website that offers access to an online forum and library including video of past GAIN Annual Meetings. In addition, GAIN members are eligible to come back each year at a reduced rate.

GAIN 2019 Theme Building on the Basics – Step by Step

GAIN Mission To focus on the possibilities for enhancing human movement with no limits or limitations and emphasize connections and links between all disciplines in the same manner we emphasize connections and linkages in the body.

GAIN X – Short but Spectacular

As one who is not given to hyperbole GAIN was too short but it sure was spectacular, it was easily the best we have ever had. After ten years, we don’t have it figured out but we sure are on our way. GAIN is not a conference, it is an event, an event that is meant facilitate networking and building a community of professionals who will question and challenge each other to be the best. It directed in four prongs 1) Athletic Development 2) Sport Coaching 3) Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation 4) Physical Education with the goal to foster communication and sharing between these disciplines.

So many people have gone into making GAIN what it is today. I want to recognize them with a special thank you

Melissa Gambetta (My Wife) – The brains behind the operation, the person who does all the hard stuff to make it run smoothly

Ed Ryan who graciously gives up his time each year out of his busy schedule to do the onsite operations

Tommy McHugh AKA Tommy Tech who does all the filming, manages the web page and his dad Patrick McHugh who helps him

Rice University Men’s Track & Field who are our on-campus sponsor, specifically Brek Christensen, assistant coach.

The GAIN Originals (Still Coming to GAIN) 

 

 

Tove Shere

Adam Moss

Bill Knowles

Steve Myrland

Greg Thompson

Patrick McHugh

Phil Bazzini

Joe Przytula

The Faculty

 

Wade Gilbert, professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Fresno. Dr. Gilbert's areas of expertise include coaching effectiveness, talent development, and sport psychology. Editor - International Sport Coaching Journal | Consultant - USOC Coaching Education.

Michael Joyner MD, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He has done extensive work in Physiology of Elite Athletes. Elite athletic performances are experiments in nature on the limits of human physiology. Dr. Joyner uses data from real-world competitions to understand the limits of human physiology. 

John Pryor, Former conditioning coach Japan Rugby, now the conditioning coach for Suntory Rugby, Brumbies in Super Rugby and Fiji.

Jim Radcliffe, Head S&C Coach University of Oregon, a pioneer and a true master of the profession.

Martin Bingisser, HMMR Media, Swiss National Hammer Throw Coach

Nick Garcia, Athletic Development Coach & Assistant Track Coach, Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks, California

Steve Magness, Head Cross Country and Assistant Track Coach University of Houston

Bill Knowles, ATC Philadelphia Union Academy and HP Sports. Pioneer in reconditioning and return to play.

Ed Ryan, ATC Head Trainer US Women’s Olympic Basketball Team, Formerly Head of Sports Medicine at USOC

Randy Ballard, , ATC , Director of Integrated Performance, University of Illinois

Joe Przytula, ATC Supervisor of Physical Education and Health, and athletic trainer with Elizabeth Public Schools, Elizabeth New Jersey USA.

Greg Thompson, Elementary Physical Education Teacher Farmington Michigan, Currently Athletic Development and Age Group Head Coach, Livonia City Soccer Club

Steve Myrland, District Performance Coach for Athletics, District Wellness Director Middleton Wisconsin School District

Our Partners

Their generosity makes it possible to have the quality faculty we have.

1080 Motion - http://1080motion.com/ makes of 1080 Sprint and 1080 Quantum

Bridge Athletic - https://bridgeathletic.com/ makes of Bridge training management software

Lane Gainer - http://lanegainer.com/ makes of the famous Bullet Belt

Eddie Jones – Building Sustainable Performance Excellence – Part Two

After going through the Japan Way Eddie then went onto to detail the Five Components of Building a Championship Team but before that he underscored the Japan Way values of Pride, Respect and Courage and  how important it was to live those values not just speak them.

Leadership

The ability to get the best out of the people around you

Ability to provide a strong cohesive vision that gives the staff direction to follow

Need to understand cultural differences

He then delineated the key skills of leadership

Observation skills – Important as a head coach/manager to step back and see the big picture. Not necessary to be involved in every drill. Allowed him to maintain objectivity

Ability to learn and adapt quickly

Ability to plan and implement the plan all the while recognizing that no plan is perfect hence the necessity of staying flexible

High work ethic

Passion for details

Management

Staff – Get the right staff. No yes-men. Must have difference opinions to create a strong staff.

Players – Looking for consistency. Good today, not yesterday!

Creating the right environment – Values = Behaviors

Know when to let staff go – When to cut the cord. He emphasized this is not easy but sometime necessary.

Knowing Your Strength

Know your key competitive edge and work constantly to improve it. He knew his team was smaller than everyone else but turned that to a positive by emphasizing a style of play that took advantage of their fitness, quickness and skill.

Know where the gaps are – do thorough and ongoing gap analysis of where are you versus where you need to be and act on closing those gaps immediately.

Know your opposition – Understand their psyche

Plan and prioritize base don your strength. Work on what you are good at. The strength will pull up the weaknesses.

Develop a Culture of Discipline

Rules – Very few, very clear and easy to be accountable for

Meeting  - No longer than 15 minutes

Communication – Clear and concise

Evaluation – Clear criteria, no shades of grey

Selection – not easy but you do not always select best players but select the best team.

Create a Learning Environment

Learn from other sports – When I asked Eddie about the development pathway in Rugby he cited the Belgian women’s field hockey as a model of how they used their coaches in the development pipeline. That blew me away!

Learn from other coaches

Television – Watch interviews with coaches post match

Internet – this is obvious

Books – Read everything

Have courage of conviction – Always look for a better way than the way you are doing it and be willing to change.

Hopefully this captures what Eddie Jones and his system is about. I know many will read this and think so what we do that or there is nothing earthshaking here. Think again, this is just words on paper but to commit and do what Eddie, his staff did takes a 24/7 commitment, a commitment few are willing to give. It is that commitment that truly separates the good form the great.

Eddie Jones – Building Sustainable Performance Excellence – Part One

Eddie Jones is coach of the Japanese Rugby team that has shaken the rugby world by their performances at the 2015 world cup highlighted by their opening match upset of South Africa, a real David slays Goliath moment - http://bit.ly/1LPAdzs. This was arguably one of the greatest upsets in sports history. None of this happened by chance. Last Sunday in Rome at the 2015 IFAC (International Festival of Athletic Coaching) Conference Eddie presented his ideas on what it takes to build and sustain excellence. Below are some of the highlights of his presentations with my comments in italics. In my estimation Eddie is one of the ten best coaches in any sport in the world now. This man gets it and he produces excellence.

Background

Eddie started his presentation with an overview of the Rugby culture and infrastructure in Japan. There is a historic culture of rugby in Japan. 500 universities play rugby. The rugby players at these universities focus on rugby sometimes training up six hours a day!. In addition there is an industrial league with teams sponsored by major corporations and every high school in Japan plays rugby.

The Japan Way

This was essentially an update of what Eddie presented at Global Coaches House in London 2012 during the Olympic games.

First - They had to be extremely fast and supremely fit to overcome their inherent size disadvantage. They achieved this through the tireless and innovative work of John Pryor their Athletic Development coach. John took a very innovative approach using all elements of athlete development. John told me that in the last nine months leading in World Cup they did not put a big emphasis on traditional lifting. (I will interview John at a later time and expand on this) I have known John for twenty years and worked with he and Dean Benton, these guys think and work differently. Eddie fully embraced what John was doing.

Second – They had to change training. The tradition in Japan had been very long three to four hour grinding sessions day after day. Instead they shifted to multiple sessions, sometimes three shorter sessions a day, with each session having a specific emphasis. They incorporated a “Head Start” session before breakfast focused on Athletic Development.

Third – They created another line of management by developing a player leadership group to help in decision-making.

None of these by themselves are very revolutionary many people speak about doing these things and then compromise when it comes to implementation. It is not convenient or comfortable. Eddie and his staff did it.

Tomorrow I will go into the five components of building a championship team in Part Two.

Lessons from Japans Win in Rugby World Cup

When Japan beat South Africa I went back to my notes of Eddie Jones presentation at Global Coaches House in London 2012 during the Olympic games. In that presentation he detailed out exactly what their plan was and how they would execute it. It has been very interesting to watch their progress over the last three years as they worked the plan. It all came to fruition on Saturday with the win over South Africa. It was not a fluke win it was by design a combination of leadership with a clear vision and a deep understanding of Japanese culture and how to use that to their advantage.

Lesson One – That is why you play the game! Never believe what the pundits and so-called experts say.

Lesson Two - Get out of the gym, the weight room is only part of an extensive physical preparation process, it is not everything. You must be fit for the game to play 80 minutes. Strength you can use and the ability to move are paramount.

Lesson Three - Go outside your sport to learn – Eddies Jones spend a day with Pep Guardiola this past year. I met with Eddie for an intense discussion in 2007 in Brisbane, we never once talked about rugby, we talked about other sports and organizations.

Lesson Four - Be a learning organization & apply what you have learned – Eddies Jones sets the example, he is constantly learning and improving, the same can be said for John Pryor their Athletic Development coach. They made extensive use of experts like Dean Benton and Frans Bosch.

Lesson Five - You play the way you practice – They made practical use of tactical periodization concepts. Practices were high tempo and high intensity.

Lesson Six - Play your game – They were aware of their physical limitations and strengths so they designed a style of play that accentuated their strengths.

Lesson Seven - It’s not strength & conditioning it is Athletic Development – I know John Pryor’s philosophy having spent extended periods of time with him over the years. He has an deep background in the sprints, Aussie Rules Football, martial arts and sports science. He understands how the pieces of the athletic puzzle must be assembled.