“Does your
program really work?”
Program Attendee: “Does your program really work?”
Program Presenter: “Do you work?”
In a real life McFarland USA saga, the Lindbergh Cross Country Team (aka, the pack is back, the green and gold) built a Dynasty,
one year at a time.
Photo Credits, Races and Participants, please TAG.
Growing up the eldest son of a cross country coach built a
foundation competition, winning and championships. Hosting these championship
teams year after year with team after team left tremendous memories, lessons
and expectations about the “right “ way to lead, inspire and grow. Capacity building formed the basis or quest
of each parameter and together, the team with the best built capacities ended
up higher. Physical, mental, academic,
as well as cardiovascular, skeletal and molecular capacities are among the
obvious as well as latent. In an effort
to not be redundant, some anecdotal and historically relevant points will
follow.
Of course the physical realm is the first and typical area
of attention. Coaches all expect their players to perform up to their
best. It is the coach’s responsibility
to maximize the player’s potential through training, preparation and research
based workouts regiments. Repeating the
same workouts the same way learned will only produce the same results. Aspiring champions should look to other
champions, glean and then tune their workouts to reach new goals. To do what all other teams do and expect
different results is a troubling sign.
We attribute that quote to Einstein.
Physical capacity is more than just running more, or doing
additional workouts but knowing the purpose, reason and motive behind these
workouts often times inspires the participants to exert extra effort, work even
harder and widen the gap between them and opposing teams. At this point of understanding and
comprehension the physical becomes the mental.
Sports and competition are so often labeled physical but often the
margins are so close and training matched perfectly, a slight mental advantage
is all that is necessary. Mental dominance ebbs from many factors but
confidence, experience and trust in the leader builds the first step. Hearing a talk about why these workouts are
so important, then competing knowing others is NOT doing those same workouts
and recognizing their shortcomings widens the gap even farther. In cross country for instance, it is the 5th
person to cross the finish line that often times determines the team
status. Having confidence throughout the
team verses just the number 1 or 2 man demonstrates depth, the beginning of
mental capacity and ability to envision or imagine or believe the event could
occur. Believing, hope, faith or
persistence knowing there is a finish line, it will be crossed and we can do it
faster than any others comes not just on workouts but internal belief in the
outcome!
Physical and mental capacities are the obvious few, but
underneath or behind them are nuanced variables that must be addressed for
champions to reach a new level. Draft
Day and McFarland
USA, starring Kevin Costner and Moneyball
with Brad Pitt, all infer a back-story prevalent and so vital to the overall
success. In Draft
Day, the star knew his goal and had to write it down to remind him of
the vision. In McFarland
USA, it was the collective struggle physical that formed the team to unify
them so the 7th man rose to 5th man status. Moneyball
reminded us that talent can be bought or grown and uncovered.
These “feel good” movies often time succeed at reminded us
to persist but champions are more than just a good feeling. Winners are not born but must be made, fermented,
tested and fired in a crucible long before they stand at the winner’s circle
and have their name announced. The work,
effort and practice that goes in before the contest helps determine the final results
better than many other indicators but alone, they are not guarantees.
There are many more capacities to address when building champions. Additionally, physiological, academic,
experiential and a true desire and willingness to win all fall under the
umbrella of a type mental capacity. These mental capacities are seldom
addressed but imperative to successful competition. Physical preparation and development of a
tuned cardiovascular system, anaerobic, aerobic and cellular development and
muscle memory form the building blocks but the mental understanding creates the
will, drive and passion necessary to win.
Where else can we instill in our wards the big picture? Do they know why we do something? Do they know the purpose for our behaviors?
Do we believe our efforts will work? Are
they convinced our efforts will work?
Personally, I was at a conference and the presenter was
asked by a member of the audience, “Does your program work?” He replied, “Ma’am, do you work?” The implication was clear. Nothing was going to make it happened
automatically. There are no
guarantees.
Capacities: Physical
Physiological Psychological Mental Academic Cellular Molecular Anaerobic Aerobic
Competition
Please Tag the runners and Photo Credits in the heading.
