Coaching is a Science Experiment

During the past two years, I have been experimenting with a few ideas, concepts, and thought patterns to assist the athletes and becoming a better coach.

Some of them seem to work, whilst others haven't, and some I am unsure of.

The three mains ideas, I been working on have been

1. In gym with undulating periodisation style, changing set and rep pattern every two weeks

2. Developing cues to assist athletes, one such is for throwers to think of their body and positioning as a corkscrew.

3. Adapting my philosophy as a sprints coach and introducing Mike Hurst Concurrent Program

My thoughts on the success or otherwise on the above.

Undulating Periodisation 

Most of the squad, struggled with finding applicable weights suitable for the rep scheme in the first week. This meant they really only had fifty percent of a training block that product results. Towards the commencement of the early competition we moved this to three week blocks.

It seemed to work, but unsure if we will continue with the experiment moving forward, especially with the current squad members.

Corkscrew


The cue seemed to work.
The reasoning behind implementing this as a cue, particularly for shot put and discus, was to give a visual representation of how I wanted the athletes to move when they into the power position and through to the delivery of the implement. 

The base of the corkscrew is the feet, the next part is the hip, then shoulder, and finally the arms. If the athlete nailed it properly the movement felt slow, but the final output ultimately the most powerful throw.

I will keep this one, and modify as I go along.

Mike Hurst Concurrent Program

This year I implemented, with my own adjustments, Mike Hurst's concurrent style into the program with some success even though we have not finished the season.

One athlete has performed big personal bests in the 100 and 200m, and good personal best in the 400m. Whilst another athlete is close to personal best levels, although this athlete the volume, density, and number of sessions were lower*

*This athlete is under 18, so I under train athletes under that age for a variety of reasons.

2020/21 Experiments


For the 2020/21 season I am considering my options. The older athlete will continue the Concurrent program he used this season with modifications, whilst the younger athlete we are changing focus a little bit and I am considering the following.

Three week blocks

Week 1: Neural and Speed Focus
Week 2: Neural and Speed Endurance Focus
Week 3: Speed Endurance and Conditioning Focus

The weeks may look like 

Week 1
Monday: Neural Activation: Low Amplitude Jumps
Tuesday: Speed: Acceleration Focus
Wednesday: Rest Day
Thursday: Speed: Maximum Speed
Friday: Speed: Short Speed Endurance
Saturday: Conditioning: Extensive Tempo + Body Weight circuits
Sunday: Off

Week 2
Monday: Low Amplitude Jumps
Tuesday: Acceleration Focus
Wednesday: Rest Day
Thursday: Speed Endurance
Friday: Short Hills
Saturday: Extensive Tempo + Body Weight circuits
Sunday: Off 

Week 3
Monday: Extensive Tempo
Tuesday: Intensive Tempo
Wednesday: Rest Day
Thursday: Special Endurance
Friday: Long Hills + HIT Circuits
Saturday: Extensive Tempo
Sunday: Off

Resistance Training
Still thinking about this, but as always the focus is working on technical proficiency in lifts. 

Do I stick to undulating, or block style. Something for me to ponder over the next few months.

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