Simma Down Now!

Reina Sofia (black and white 5 y.o. female) and New Kitteh (9 week old female) in territorial negotiations. What will her name be? She kind of looks like a pointy-eared alien in this picture!

Hexlite: High Handle vs Low Handle Position

As demonstrated by The Thin Man, at 6' 9", wingspan of 6' 10". Teach the big people to get low and play low. It can be done.

Lil and Stan The Man

I had the great honor of meeting and working with Lil and Stan Musial a few years ago. You will not find two more down to earth, wonderful people.

For a few months, I trekked to their modest suburban home twice a week and spent time working with Lil. Stan was usually be around the house and enthusiastically kept us updated on the Cardinal game score that day. Let me tell you, Lil, never afraid to speak her mind, had some great stories about the journey from Donora, PA through a life in major league baseball. And like any good wife, she was quick to let her 24-time All-Star husband know that, at 80, he didn't need to be getting up on the roof anymore to clean the gutters.

Despite being in their early 80s, they still looked forward to making the journey to Florida every February for spring training. They made their children and grandchildren the focus of their time in St. Louis. Their house was a welcoming home, filled with wonderful pictures of Stan with many of the great players of the past, along with the many awards he had received throughout his career.

I could only smile as I parked behind Stan's car with the Cardinal license plate that had "3000" on it. What a thrill to meet one of the best athletes of the 20th century, and to know that he and his wife conducted themselves with dignity and humility in and out of the spotlight of professional sport. They are truly treasures of St. Louis.

Focus

Process or Outcomes Oriented?

Is your training, or your philosophy of training others, process oriented or outcomes oriented? Is the what, why, when, how put into the context of a bigger picture or larger goal? Or do you just attempt to super-size each workout and if you (your client) survive(s), then it is mission accomplished?

People often wonder why progress stalls, performance lags or injuries creep up. Many times, these issue can be traced back to poor planning and a focus on outcomes vs. process. When working with competitive athletes, the athletic development coach must focus on process. It is about comprehensive development, not just getting stronger, bigger or faster as measured by some test. Sport coaches, particularly youth team coaches, and fitness professionals in this country tend to get caught in the outcomes trap. They fail to get the big picture and help the people in their care understand what the big picture is all about.

My '09 GAIN Experience

Wow, what can I say about Vern Gambetta's 09 GAIN Apprentorship? I went to Ft. Lauderdale on June 19 with no idea of what the next 5 days would bring; I emerged a changed person. I have been super-charged from a personal and a professional standpoint.

For 5 days we (about 35 of us) were immersed in all things related to athletic development--physical assessment, skill acquisition, strength/power, speed/agility, martial arts, shoulder/core issues, rehabilitation of the elite athlete, current concepts in controlling MRSA, and cautionary tales regarding research in sport science. And I probably missed a few other topics. We started at 7 am and finished around 9 pm each day, and then usually retreated to the lobby bar for more discussion. Of course, by the last night, Mick, our Irish futbol performance coach from Abu Dhabi, took charge of the bartending!

There were extraordinary people from all professions involving sport, movement, coaching and physical health: strength coaches, PE teachers, athletic trainers, and physical therapists. I think most of the American participants were seriously impressed with our Australian Institute of Sport friends. These people have got it going on. They know their stuff and they are out in front when it comes to integrating athletic development, sport coaching, rehabilitation and sport science. We have so much to learn from them and their processes.

One of the highlights for me was meeting my blog buddy, Joe P. Joe can interpret the research literature and apply it in the most challenging of settings--the high school. This guy is not afraid to get in the trenches and work his tail off for his kids; he also does a great job of presenting some pretty technical information in a palatable and humorous manner. Bada-bing for tensegrity!

Thank you, Vern, for inviting me to participate in this wonderful, wonderful experience. I will be back next year, with the AD in tow.

Go See Food Inc.

Just watched Food Inc. in a theater less than 3 miles or so from the world headquarters of the multi-national company in the picture below. Interesting there was a cop cruising the end of the exit. The movie will make you think about what you eat, why, where it really comes from, the policies that support it, and who controls it.

It's time for a little blessed unrest.