Sports Coaching in Africa Challenges & Solutions. By Roger Barrow National Coach Rowing South Africa 12th September 2013

Transcription

1 Sports Coaching in Africa Challenges & Solutions By Roger Barrow National Coach Rowing South Africa 12th September 2013

2 Introduction My objective has been to develop, implement and coach a programme that will build South African rowing into a top sport, achieving the highest possible standard at international level. I coach athletes to an elite level where they can achieve their highest potential in rowing. We have achieved much as a small federation with financial constraints and have managed to produce world medals My approach is based on my experience I do not have all the answers I bring passion, enthusiasm and hard work

3 Unique situation in South Africa Multicultural The need to confront the imbalance and disadvantage International competition since 1992 we have come a long way, but there is so much more.. Financial support for mainstream sports Far from Europe, competitions

4 Africa has unique issues Africa needs to stop seeing itself as a development programme Needs to develop its skill in appropriate disciplines Hone in on fewer sports and perfect them

5 Solution orientated approach One can be incapacitated by challenges One s attitude to challenges and difficulties is important Possible to overcome the difficulties Victor Frankl Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms to chose one s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to chose one s own way

6 Winner Loser approach Winners Losers Always part of the answer Always part of the problem Always have a programme Always have an excuse Say lets do it Say that is not my job See answers for problems See problems in answers Say it may be difficult but it s Say it may be possible but possible its too difficult

7 Sport is Humbling There is nowhere to hide when against the rest of world Shows the weakness/strength and levels you Important to compare oneself to the world and build to that level Gives you the honest truth which must be noted

8 Good preparation makes anything possible The secret is in the preparation Training hard all year, continuous Miss as little training as possible No shortcuts Attention to detail Technical skill The race is won in the months before the competition

9 Vision The vision of the South African National Rowing Programme is to build an elite rowing squad with an attitude and culture of winning and performing at international level, based on the success of the last cycle Development of athletes has 4 phases comprising early development, customization, selection and consolidation and requires a strong support team using current best practice in training and coaching, sports science and medical care of the athletes as well as using the best quality equipment

10 Strategy Important to have a strategy in order to build the system Strategy implies planning and constructing a system to support a winning team Strategy needs to be multidimensional and requires extreme attention to detail

11 Aim / Target Important to have a clear aim and target at a national and international level towards that and work systematically It may be a slow process The aim of the South African National Rowing Squad is to prepare 4 boat classes for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games 2016 with the target of medalling in three of these classes This aim will take 4 years to execute

12 Philosophy The philosophy of training as a squad together, based in one place and feeding off each other emotionally in a competitive, physical environment, ensures the success of the training programme. This centralized approach ensures the senior elite team is monitored from a coaching, physiological and medical point of view on a daily basis, training 320 days a year.

13 High Performance National Coach Structure High Performance Coach Women High Performance Coach Asst Coaches Asst Coaches KZN Regional Eastern Cape Regional Gauteng Regional High Performance Coach Junior High Performanc e Coach Para Asst Coaches Asst Coaches Athlete Rep Sports Science and Medical Selection Panel Selection Panel Western Cape Regional Impact Coach (International) General General admin admin University Marketing High Performance Office Selection Panel Legal Finance Selection Panel

14 Find a Home Align with an institution Recourse and impetus Organization that can back you and give support Gives confidence to athletes

15 Understand your sport Knowledge and experience is power Constant research and analysis of international trends and building base of knowledge is important Control the controllable Emphasis on correct training and technique

16 Coaching and mentoring Coaches should bring out the best in the athletes What makes a good coach? Leadership Professionalism Competence Confidence Connections Character We need guidance as coaches, its too lonely on your own

17 Support team passion and professionalism Build a support team for the coaches and athletes Need to find the right people for support team with: Passion for the sport Professionalism Ethic of hard work Dedication Prepared to go the extra mile Skill and drive to support the coach taking the athlete to the next level

18 Goal of support team Once you have found the right People Need to establish ONE GOAL that is clear to team Rowing GOAL is to make athletes faster Team approach

19 Manage the Team Manage the inevitable conflict Sport has personalities with big egos Egos need to be understood For the good they bring which enables a winning mentality For the problems they bring as conflict creeps in

20 Athletes Best athletes are those who want to do the work Best athletes are not necessarily the most talented Best athletes are not those you have to convince and beg Will lay themselves on the line at the right moment and deliver the winning performance In rowing, the best athletes have climbed up through the system school, junior, student, U23, senior consistent hard work, building strength and skill

21 Finding the Rough Diamonds TID Temper your young up and coming hungry athletes Manage the passion and use the dedication Create the finesse, skill and instinct necessary for winning Important to manage older athletes they have unique issues Financial constraints Starting a family and children, Injuries, Flexibility may be required.

22 Building motivation in the athletes Doing it for the right reasons Adopting an all encompassing approach Believing in a system Building confidence in the squad Backing the process and training program

23 Understand your athletes Relationship between the support team and athlete is important Build understanding and knowledge Know your athletes, understand what is core to them, key to their winning performance Be there for all training, I believe correspondence training does not work

24 Nurturing athletes Athlete Age (Total Months) As at Ag ge (total mon nths)

25 What makes medals Vision Implementation of a strategy creates a system Responsibility and accountability for the program Create pocket of excellence Learn from mistakes - mistakes were made Expertise Create high performance lifestyle Use Best Practice

26 Creating a competitive environment Healthy Rivalry everyday controlled! (World Class) Getting the best out of training No excuses Ranking Information for coaches What did we learn in training Mistakes are shown Brutal

27 Money Its not about the money Money helps and frees you but it must not become the excuse More money does not mean more medals (core principles in place) Obviously money needed but how much? Volunteers with the right temperament, we have to use

28 Main Points of Focus Technique Psychology Selection Evaluation Development Training Methodology

29 Scientific input Medicine & Health Biomechanics & Video Analysis Training Status & Physiology Nutrition & Supplements Psychology Planning & Athlete Monitoring Innovation & Ergogenics Physiotherapy & Prehabilitation Strength & Conditioning Performance Lifestyle Performance Analysis Research

30 Medicine & Health

31 Training Status & Physiology Average Power (W) TEST RESULT CURRENT IDEAL CATEGORY COMPARISON

32 Psychology

33 Preparation & Planning

34 Nutrition & Supplements Sustained support for performance, recovery & adaptation Immersion & dialogue, food diaries, anthrop, feedback, orders Daily quality, quantity & timing of nutrient availability

35 Biomechanics & Video Analysis

36 Innovation & Ergogenics

37 D is t a n c e ( c m ) Stand & Reach Flexibility GROBLER SMITH N PERSSE BRITTAIN J SOTSAKA WILLIAMS MILLER VOERMAN DONALDSON SMITH J THOMPSON NDLOVU MAYBERY GREEN BEMELMAN BRITTAIN L KEELING Physiotherapy & Prehabilitation

38 Strength & Conditioning

39 Research

40 Performance Analysis M2- World U23 Championships 2010 Brest, Belarus. A Final 01:26.40 RSA 01:30.72 CAN ROU 01:35.04 GER 06:45. 06:49. 06:46. 06: :51. 06: : : :48.00 FRA SRB 01: : : Distance (m) Performance Analysis

41 Performance Lifestyle

42 WADA Athletes adopt the WADA code of behavior Careful use of Medication Absolute prohibition of performance enhancing products/practices Rowing has been a clean sport in SA Athletes must conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times Continued education

43 Small dynamic support team Coaches o Head Coach Physiologist o Assistant Coach Doctor Strength Trainer Psychologist Volunteer Coaches o 3 Coaches Consultant Mentor Coach o International Coach Sports Science and Medical Full time High Performance Admin o (part time)

44 Importance of constant review and evaluation Never a time for complacency Always work to be done Improvement and upward trend Need to confront the mistakes Need to make changes

45 When things go wrong Ability to be flexible Change things accordingly Ability to pick oneself up and continue Importance of resilience Inner strength and character Emotional state Yield and robot system

46 Definition of High Performance High performance can be defined as achieving at a superior and exceptional level, reaching the highest possible international standard. It requires a complete commitment to achieving at an elite level. Winning Percentages compared to world best Commitment to training and program High performance lifestyle Responsibility athlete takes