We have worked with athletes for over a decade now, and the number one thing that coaches ask is if we can work on conditioning the athlete better. The short answer is yes–of course we can work on that. However, we are always in search of the best techniques and methods we can utilize to condition our athletes for their sport. What we have found, is pretty simple to comprehend, and we feel that more coaches need to be utilizing this strategy.
The first component we look at, is the sport that the athlete needs to prepare for, in addition to amount of time we have with the athlete. Every sport stresses the body in a different way–meaning that we will condition our football athletes differently from how we condition our basketball, soccer, lacrosse or baseball athletes. In football, each play is on average 4 to 8 seconds, with 20 to 40 seconds of rest in between plays. In soccer, lacrosse and basketball, there are no breaks during time of play, so the athletes need to move continuously–jogging, sprinting, jumping, changing direction, accelerating and decelerating in a moment’s notice. If you break down each position within the sport, you can better prepare each athlete. For example, a goalie and mid fielder in soccer have different stresses on their body during a game. Just looking at that alone, you can see why every athlete needs to condition properly for their sport.
The best way to condition for any sport is by playing the sport. Yes, we have methods and techniques to improve the conditioning of any athlete for their sport, but nothing can duplicate what happens on the field of play. We can simulate a game or practice in training by moving the body in all the ways it will move in a game, but the components of competition, team work, time and all the things that come in at practice and at games cannot be replicated. In order to take your conditioning to the next level, you need not only play or practice, but you must do so with 100% effort and enthusiasm. If we are not aware of how hard we can work, we will never push ourselves to that level of effort.
When John Wooden coached at UCLA and won 10 straight NCAA championships, his teams did not condition at all. They practiced with a whole lot of energy and never wasted a moment at practice not running a drill or scrimmage at 100%. The Seahawks do not condition during the season because they believe that when you practice as hard as you possibly can, there is no need for conditioning. I myself have experienced this. When I practiced as hard as I possibly could, I would be ready to go into a game without any conditioning needed.
So how can you get yourself or your team to practice with the kind of effort and enthusiasm needed to properly prepare you for a game? We suggest you experience it for yourself. The Seattle Seahawks have open practices at times, and it is amazing to watch how they practice. You will be blown away with the effort and excitement the team practices with, and it only transfers on to the field during games. Use that as a guide to see how upbeat and exciting practice can be.
Enthusiasm is an extremely important component. If your athletes, especially at lower levels, (pee wee, junior high, high school, and college) are not having fun, they will mentally check out. When an athlete checks out mentally, it is hard or next to impossible to get the best out of them physically. Enthusiasm and energy at practice, is totally controlled by the coach. The head coach will set the bar of intensity and enthusiasm. The assistant coaches and players will follow suit like any other organization.
The athletes are not in control of how they are being coached, or sometimes have no control about who their coaches are but they do have control over their attitude and their effort. We try and encourage our athletes to practice and play with 100% effort and enthusiasm no matter what is going on around them. When you practice in that way, your conditioning will take care of itself.
This is only one of the ways that we help our athletes to perform their best. To be honest, most people are set in their way of doing the same things and expecting a different result. So we constantly challenge the idea that our athletes arrive with only a need to improve speed, agility, and strength. The biggest victory for us, is when athletes begin to believe in themselves and how much they can achieve. When that happens, the potential that has been inside them, begins pouring out. Some start to gain confidence as their numbers improve, others wait for the actual performance to improve first, then their confidence improves. Whatever the case is for you, we can help you get there. Contact us now and we will help you take your game to the next level.
Sincerely,
Donny Mateaki
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