Wrestling Blogs - Brandon Scott
« older | newer »
Every coach knows an athlete that seems to "turn it on" when the lights are brightest. Guys like Mark Perry, who despite any odds, wrestle at their best when the pressure is the greatest. Does this mean that other competitors are not "peaking?" Of course not! What it means is athletes like this trained physically and mentally to be at their best at the time they need it the most. The psychological factors i will get into a later date, after I have done a much more significant amount of research on the subject.
The 4 keys to peaking are:
1. Potential vs Recovery is simply put as, can a wrestler wrestle the maximum amount of time possible, with the ability to recover every time necessary? If your wrestler can wrestle triple overtime matches, in every round, and with 45 minute rest, wrestle again at the same level physically, you have reached this delicate balance. You must be in supreme phsyical shape, which is achieved only through a rigorous and intelligent training regimen.
2. Near-perfect Neuromuscular Coordination - Can an athlete perform his set of skills near perfectly, under duress and throughout a competition? Wrestlers must drill consistently and, in practice, near perfect, every time. They must do it when they are tired, they must do it when they are perfectly rested, they must do it without thinking, no matter the circumstances! This is why it is so important drill, drill constantly, drill hard and drill perfect. Also, coaches, you must drill "situations" in practice on a regular basis. The best practice I usually have is our "situation" practice. Pick any scenario you want and make it live (near-live is fine too). Example: Wrestler A is down 10 points and on his back, and he has 1min 45 secs to win the match, either by points or pin. Now your wrestler is actively thinking, under duress and hopefully, wrestling with great technique.
3. Supercompensation - Is your wrestler's body responding to each workout by being at a higher level? When you workout, your body recovers and increases its ability, to compensate for the previous strenuous activity. If you do not push your body consistently, it will decline, because it has no reason to "compensate" for physical activity. This is why varying your workouts and increasing the intensity is so effective. Your body is an adjustable organism, and if you don't give it a reason to adjust, it will plateau. Coaches - do whatever is necessary to change the way practice is structured. You can still cover the same things, but something as simple as changing the order will reap rewards.
4. Correct Unloading - Is a wrestler rested correctly? There is no exact science here, however, there reaches a moment when you can train no harder. You body is at its peak, physically. A wrestler can wrestle 5 (or six, whatever the magic number is) overtime matches at the same, high, level. At this point, it is absolutely necessary to rest the body. This means shorter practices, less intensity and ultmately day(s) off. A great example is what I call, "the descending week." Say a tournament is on saturday. On Monday we train intense for 2.5 hours. Tuesday train intense for 2 hours. Wednesday train light for 1.5 hours. Thursday light for 45 mins. Friday no practice (check weight, and train only to lose weight). Obviously, you can vary what your descending week is, but I highly recommend at LEAST 1 off day (other than a typical day) in that time period. A coach is solely responsible for correct unloading. He must communicate the whats and whens of resting as a means of training.
Recovery vs Arousal - Is your wrestler excited about competing? A wrestler who is going to perform well, is a wrestler who is excited to compete. As a coach it is important to monitor and communicate with a wrestler how ready he is to compete. When talks about state, does he have noticeable excitement in his voice? When he talks about the state duals, does he talk about how excited he his to help the team win? When he talk about the Big Ten tourney, does he SOUND ready pin everybody he wrestles? In order to reach this level of awareness, there must be a trust between a wrestler and coach. A trust where the athlete will tell you if he DOESN'T feel like competing. At this time, it is important a coach figure out why. A coach must weigh outside pressures (friends, family, girlfriend, academics, drugs, alcohol, expectations, etc) vs the sport-specific (weight-cutting, proper rest at night, proper recovery between training, technique acquisition, etc.)
A coach who can help enable his wrestler reach his or her own peak level of arousal will have an athlete capable of performing at his/her best (if all the other factors are included, of course!). This is where a coach must communicate through body language, emotion, speaking and actions in a manner that says you, yourself are excited. This is when it is vastly more important to disguise whatever frustrations or imperfections that are in your life, or your athlete's ability. Your athlete will believe it, because you believe it. This is the time when you must make your best speeches, be at your most excitable and be relaxed. In that descending week, play a lot of games! They are still training, the team is bonding, and there is no pressure. It's as if the most important competition of all doesn't exist! Coaches, find out if your wrestler likes you to get them riled up before walking on the mat. Maybe they like for you to go over the game plan before walking on the mat. I've had great success with telling a joke before they walk on the mat! Wrestler's need to have perspective and they need to be focused.
Scheduling and Honesty - Do your wrestlers know when they are going to be competing and training? Be honest with your wrestler about the competition schedule and the training schedule. You don't have to give them the detailed practice schedule, and that doesn't mean you can't surprise them, but let them know ahead of time what type of practice will be instituted. If "Hell Week" is the next week, prep them. Let them know to be ready, prepared and focused for the pain that will come in the coming workouts. And more importantly, tell them WHY it's "Hell Week." Tell them what they are going to get out of it. This is what athletes want to hear.
Earlier, I touched upon the idea that the higher degree of training, the higher degree of effectiveness. Now, there are those who will disagree with me, but I do not believe in "wrestling into shape." Scientifically, the athlete will not be able to function at a capable level, one that is indicative of his true ability. You do not make the same mistakes when you are in shape as when you are not. It is better to have as much important and specific information as possible. When a wrestler competes, what areas can he improve? As a coach, I believe it is impossible to know what areas my athletes truly need to improve on, if they are not able to wrestle at a high level (notice, not "peak" level).
This is why preseason is so important. Through a combination of "open mats" and conditioning workouts, use the preseason to get your athletes at a level where they can wrestle 5 matches in one day. Not necessarily overtime matches, but physically, your wrestler can recover and compete, match after match at a high level (notice, not "peak" level). Now, when you do see them in actual match you will have a much better gauge on what an athlete truly needs to improve on, versus saying "he needs to be in better shape." Use the preseason as a means in which, you can focus in-season on drilling near-perfectly and live situations.
Ultimately, a coach, just like an athlete, must progress and increase his knowledge and effectiveness as a coach. Read literature on leadership, research articles on the body, the effects of training on the body, learn the newest techniques, watch matches, talk to other coaches, go to coaches clinics, etc. Much in the same way a wrestler will reach a plateau, so will you too as a coach if you are not constantly and consistently learning and applying new knowledge.
Scientific Approach To and How To Peak Wrestlers
October 10, 2008
With the season upon us, and many programs in some phase of the "preseason" process, I think peaking is on the minds of every coach and athlete. In the past, I've been very disappointed with the lack of scientific research available with regards to the sport of wrestling. Currently, we, as a sport are severly lacking in ability to apply scientific evidence to our training programs, and what evidence is available is not easily located. If you have not been indoctrinated in a good program, with good, knowledgable coaches or do not have the funds to purchase the plethora of books and vhs/dvds available, it is really hard to increase one's knowledge of our sport.
This site has broached the subject of peaking, and this blog is more of a how to - not specifics, but a base from which to build on. From both an athlete and coach perspective, hopefully I can shed some light for those who have the willingness to learn. Also, for those able, I highly recommend attending a Bronze Level Wrestling Clinic, available through USA Wrestling and your State (USA Wrestling) Office. This will give you a great base and if you feel passionate and have the time and resources available, attend the Silver Level Coaches College. Here, you will be able to rub elbows with and learn from some of the best and brightest in our sport.
Enough shameless USA Wrestling plugging! On with what I promised:
What is peaking?
4 keys to Peaking
Recovery vs arousal
Scheduling and Honesty
Purpose of Preseason
Peaking is the maximization of an athlete's physical and psychological ability. It is achieved through a systemic approach to acquistion of skills and increased work capacity. To achieve "peak" levels, an athlete must progress through consistent training states, each with varying degrees of difficulty and length. The higher degree of training, the higher degree of effectiveness. (This concept is my basis on the Purpose of Preseason)
Every coach knows an athlete that seems to "turn it on" when the lights are brightest. Guys like Mark Perry, who despite any odds, wrestle at their best when the pressure is the greatest. Does this mean that other competitors are not "peaking?" Of course not! What it means is athletes like this trained physically and mentally to be at their best at the time they need it the most. The psychological factors i will get into a later date, after I have done a much more significant amount of research on the subject.
The 4 keys to peaking are:
Potential vs Recovery
Near-perfect Neuromuscular Coordination
Supercompensation
Correct Unloading
1. Potential vs Recovery is simply put as, can a wrestler wrestle the maximum amount of time possible, with the ability to recover every time necessary? If your wrestler can wrestle triple overtime matches, in every round, and with 45 minute rest, wrestle again at the same level physically, you have reached this delicate balance. You must be in supreme phsyical shape, which is achieved only through a rigorous and intelligent training regimen.
2. Near-perfect Neuromuscular Coordination - Can an athlete perform his set of skills near perfectly, under duress and throughout a competition? Wrestlers must drill consistently and, in practice, near perfect, every time. They must do it when they are tired, they must do it when they are perfectly rested, they must do it without thinking, no matter the circumstances! This is why it is so important drill, drill constantly, drill hard and drill perfect. Also, coaches, you must drill "situations" in practice on a regular basis. The best practice I usually have is our "situation" practice. Pick any scenario you want and make it live (near-live is fine too). Example: Wrestler A is down 10 points and on his back, and he has 1min 45 secs to win the match, either by points or pin. Now your wrestler is actively thinking, under duress and hopefully, wrestling with great technique.
3. Supercompensation - Is your wrestler's body responding to each workout by being at a higher level? When you workout, your body recovers and increases its ability, to compensate for the previous strenuous activity. If you do not push your body consistently, it will decline, because it has no reason to "compensate" for physical activity. This is why varying your workouts and increasing the intensity is so effective. Your body is an adjustable organism, and if you don't give it a reason to adjust, it will plateau. Coaches - do whatever is necessary to change the way practice is structured. You can still cover the same things, but something as simple as changing the order will reap rewards.
4. Correct Unloading - Is a wrestler rested correctly? There is no exact science here, however, there reaches a moment when you can train no harder. You body is at its peak, physically. A wrestler can wrestle 5 (or six, whatever the magic number is) overtime matches at the same, high, level. At this point, it is absolutely necessary to rest the body. This means shorter practices, less intensity and ultmately day(s) off. A great example is what I call, "the descending week." Say a tournament is on saturday. On Monday we train intense for 2.5 hours. Tuesday train intense for 2 hours. Wednesday train light for 1.5 hours. Thursday light for 45 mins. Friday no practice (check weight, and train only to lose weight). Obviously, you can vary what your descending week is, but I highly recommend at LEAST 1 off day (other than a typical day) in that time period. A coach is solely responsible for correct unloading. He must communicate the whats and whens of resting as a means of training.
Recovery vs Arousal - Is your wrestler excited about competing? A wrestler who is going to perform well, is a wrestler who is excited to compete. As a coach it is important to monitor and communicate with a wrestler how ready he is to compete. When talks about state, does he have noticeable excitement in his voice? When he talks about the state duals, does he talk about how excited he his to help the team win? When he talk about the Big Ten tourney, does he SOUND ready pin everybody he wrestles? In order to reach this level of awareness, there must be a trust between a wrestler and coach. A trust where the athlete will tell you if he DOESN'T feel like competing. At this time, it is important a coach figure out why. A coach must weigh outside pressures (friends, family, girlfriend, academics, drugs, alcohol, expectations, etc) vs the sport-specific (weight-cutting, proper rest at night, proper recovery between training, technique acquisition, etc.)
A coach who can help enable his wrestler reach his or her own peak level of arousal will have an athlete capable of performing at his/her best (if all the other factors are included, of course!). This is where a coach must communicate through body language, emotion, speaking and actions in a manner that says you, yourself are excited. This is when it is vastly more important to disguise whatever frustrations or imperfections that are in your life, or your athlete's ability. Your athlete will believe it, because you believe it. This is the time when you must make your best speeches, be at your most excitable and be relaxed. In that descending week, play a lot of games! They are still training, the team is bonding, and there is no pressure. It's as if the most important competition of all doesn't exist! Coaches, find out if your wrestler likes you to get them riled up before walking on the mat. Maybe they like for you to go over the game plan before walking on the mat. I've had great success with telling a joke before they walk on the mat! Wrestler's need to have perspective and they need to be focused.
Scheduling and Honesty - Do your wrestlers know when they are going to be competing and training? Be honest with your wrestler about the competition schedule and the training schedule. You don't have to give them the detailed practice schedule, and that doesn't mean you can't surprise them, but let them know ahead of time what type of practice will be instituted. If "Hell Week" is the next week, prep them. Let them know to be ready, prepared and focused for the pain that will come in the coming workouts. And more importantly, tell them WHY it's "Hell Week." Tell them what they are going to get out of it. This is what athletes want to hear.
Earlier, I touched upon the idea that the higher degree of training, the higher degree of effectiveness. Now, there are those who will disagree with me, but I do not believe in "wrestling into shape." Scientifically, the athlete will not be able to function at a capable level, one that is indicative of his true ability. You do not make the same mistakes when you are in shape as when you are not. It is better to have as much important and specific information as possible. When a wrestler competes, what areas can he improve? As a coach, I believe it is impossible to know what areas my athletes truly need to improve on, if they are not able to wrestle at a high level (notice, not "peak" level).
This is why preseason is so important. Through a combination of "open mats" and conditioning workouts, use the preseason to get your athletes at a level where they can wrestle 5 matches in one day. Not necessarily overtime matches, but physically, your wrestler can recover and compete, match after match at a high level (notice, not "peak" level). Now, when you do see them in actual match you will have a much better gauge on what an athlete truly needs to improve on, versus saying "he needs to be in better shape." Use the preseason as a means in which, you can focus in-season on drilling near-perfectly and live situations.
Ultimately, a coach, just like an athlete, must progress and increase his knowledge and effectiveness as a coach. Read literature on leadership, research articles on the body, the effects of training on the body, learn the newest techniques, watch matches, talk to other coaches, go to coaches clinics, etc. Much in the same way a wrestler will reach a plateau, so will you too as a coach if you are not constantly and consistently learning and applying new knowledge.
Archive
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
Official Bloggers
