What I Learned this Summer, Part III

Earlier, I wrote about trying to learn as much as possible from other sports. According to a moderately recent study, the skills and attributes that volleyball coaches believe are important to success are not necessarily those that determine the winning team during each match. For whatever reason, the coaches put more value on physical attributes and experience when victory was actually primarily determined by the ability to pass the ball, agility to change direction, and shoulder flexibility (Marey, Boleach, Mayhew, & McDole, 1991, p. 163). This is not merely an indictment of volleyball coaches but an advisory that coaches of all sports need to be mindful of their assessment techniques.

Scotty Bowman: A Life in Hockey is an awful book. The writing is simplistic, contradictory at times, and there are bizarre spelling mistakes. The book does not follow a linear timeline. I think the life of Scotty Bowman would be an interesting topic for a book but this is the literal example of poor execution. During his coaching stints with St. Louis, Montreal, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit, Bowman experienced plenty of success but some failures. He was characterized as a manipulative personality who employed ingenious hockey strategies.

His mistakes with Buffalo and St. Louis largely stemmed from a lack of patience. He would trade a player because of a minor gripe and often didn’t receive proper value in return. His success came in Montreal and Detroit when strong general managers such as Sam Pollock and Jimmy Devellano refused his trade suggestions. Even Bowman acknowledged this fact when he said how he “has more experience, more patience,” a development which allowed him to win nine Stanley Cups.

Inner Skiing by W. Timothy Gallwey and Robert Kriegel contains good mental training tips and delves into the topic of Tachypsychia while skiing. The high speeds and panoramic views create a mental state where one feels totally at one with the mountains. Gallwey and Kriegel devote a good part of the book to being sensitive and observant. They feel that it is important to remember how a particular skill feels, especially when done correctly. They write about appreciating the environment, using all five senses, and getting as much feedback as possible. Awareness increases control.

A memorable chapter described how the best self-image when attempting to improve oneself is no self-image at all. The authors feel that an open mind has no limits and allows one to reach their potential. A skier may fear increasing their speed or attacking more advanced hills. They can dispel their fear by analyzing the perceived dangers and understanding what they are doing.

Mental fears (as opposed to physical fears which will release hormones such as adrenaline) lead to muscles tightening and infrequent breathing. The athlete may move stiffly or apply inappropriate technique adjustments in order to prevent injury. Each action takes more effort and endurance is reduced. Coaches must help athletes eliminate these fears in order to reach their peak potential.

Football Scouting Methods by Steve Belichick may not offer current football advice but it illustrates the importance of thorough thinking and detail. Bill Belichick’s father was a long-time assistant coach at Navy who revolutionized football scouting, enabling the service academy to achieve many upsets on the football field. Tips that still apply to any coach include self-scouting to eliminate predictable tendencies, asking outsiders to scout your team as a form of self-assessment, and evaluating the scouting report after the game has concluded. Belichick believed that a coach should keep good written records of each players’ skill level and what strategies were successful or required improvement over the years.

On his scouting reports, Mike Krzyzewski has a spot for “Our Offence vs. Their Defence” and “Our Defence vs. Their Offence” to remind himself of the key points for each games and anticipate what adjustments might be made during games.


Source: Marey, S., Boleach, L. W., Mayhew, J. L., & McDole, S. (1991). Determination of player potential in volleyball. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness , 31 (2), 161-4.

What I Hope to Learn this Summer, Part I

I hope to improve my ability to deal with people and egos, to better motivate student-athletes and demonstrate more empathic leadership. I recently read Competitive Fire by Michael Clarkson and learnt many facts that I hope to apply in the coming year. We often discuss how it seems that teenagers have a “fight or flight” mentality but there is a scientific basis to the argument. Under pressure, the brain releases hormones, such as adrenaline or noradrenaline, that can cause aggressiveness, increase feelings of fear, and inspire the body to perform faster, higher, or stronger.

All people, including athletes, need to manage these feelings. Teenagers at school or on the court may be sensing this stress for the first time. It is up to coaches to transform aggressiveness into confidence and fear and tension into increased focus. Some players need to be reminded of a comfort zone, such as the gym where they had fun as a child. Others need a combination of assurance and encouragement so that they channel their urge to defend their ego in a positive direction. It may be necessary to put the sport or evaluation into perspective so fear of failure is not catastrophic. Mental sets at the beginning of class or practice can help a group of student-athletes develop their ability to focus or one-on-one discussions afterwards can give an individual the boost they need to get through the day. Or it may be necessary to simulate game conditions in practice and help players visualize a successful performance.

The ideal of Tachypsychia is very intriguing. During a competitive situation, the brain releases hormones which allow the person to perceive more information. This creates the impression that time has slowed down, a player can see gaps in the defence, or that the ball has entered the net a moment before it actually does. Inducing that feeling - and handling it in a calm manner - is a challenge for a coach.

Visualizing that a big game is just another pick-up game back home is similar to thinking that the audience for a big PowerPoint presentation is comprised of friends and family. Focusing intently on a foul shot and ignoring distractions is similar to excelling on a final exam. That is why I want to help others handle stress better.

There are so many different strategies to maximize the affects of arousal that a coach may need to treat every player differently or a teacher may need to attempt multiple techniques with different groups of students. Sensing what is appropriate for each occasional is an aptitude that I wish to improve over the next two months. In addition to my own personal reflection, I hope to read Red and Me and The Gold Standard. The former is an account of the unique relationship between a superstar and an elite coach (Bill Russell and Red Auerbach) and the latter is the story of a team comprised of multiple egos under extreme pressure (the 2008 United States “Redeem Team.”