Before I share these five reads for this Friday, my thoughts and prayers go out to folks I know in the Kirkland, Illinois area who are recovering this morning from a tornado yesterday. We have played Kirkland Hiawatha High School in Football over the years and our track team once had to be evacuated from Genoa-Kingston High School (a neighboring high school) due to a potential tornado. News this morning says that the town of Fairdale, Illinois has sustained a direct hit. High School sports -- especially small school sports -- takes you all over this state, and I have driven through Fairdale -- a very small town on Route 72. I hope the casualties figures I have heard so far do not rise higher. So some somber thoughts this morning.
That being said, here are five reads for the week.
Track's Heartbeat is Fast as Ever in Jamaica -- NYT -- 4/5/15
Some readers might think I am showing my track bias right at the start here. Maybe. But this article is really about culture. Yes its true there are a lot of folks that are genetically disposed to being fast in Jamaica. But there are other places in the world which have lots of people like that too. So why are there so many Jamaican's at the top of the world lists in the sprints right now... One word... CULTURE. The culture rewards and recognizes this quality in events like The Champs!
Study Warns of Diet Supplement Dangers Kept Quiet by FDA -- NYT -- April 7th
When I was in college I tried taking Bee Pollen. The theory goes that it would increase my endurance. It didn't. But I bought in to the hype for a couple months. Now High School and college athletes seem to even more turn to dietary supplementation to help their athletic performance. But what you are actually putting in your body may not be what you think you are putting in your body. The supplement industry is rife for scandal. Read this if you are or are considering taking a dietary supplement. I am not saying don't do it -- there are lots of good reasons to -- but buyer beware.
FIFA 11+ A Critique -- Movement Dynamics Blog -- Kelvin Giles
Kelvin Giles is one of the worlds experts on athletic development. FIFA 11 + is a warm-up routine that FIFA (the global governing body of soccer) they are promoting. There are all sorts of things about this piece that I like. And I don't want to down play FIFA 11+. For lots of coaches it is a good recipe for a warm-up. But following a recipe may be a starting point but it is not great coaching. The marketing arm of FIFA will persuade many to endorse FIFA 11+ but great coaching is understanding why the routine is created the way it is, when to divert from it, how to regress and progress from it. Blinding following a recipe is where beginning coaches should start. Some great points here on the over emphasis on the tactical and the technical as well as session organization. Giles knows his stuff. Maybe FIFA should pay attention to him.
How Duke Saved Its Season -- WSJ -- 4/7/15
Maybe the most important article of the week. I promoted it earlier in the week and anyone who can't get it -- because it is behind the paywall -- but wants it, email me and I will send it on. Here is the thing about this crazy coaching world -- you never stop learning, you are always changing. No you may have some basic principles you follow, but every group you have every year is different. You as a coach need to adapt to them. We coach people not athletes and Coach K knows that and demonstrates that again and again and again.
Billions For March Madness but Pennies for Olympic Sports -- NYT -- 4/6/15
This is the great NCAA dilemma. The balance is off in college sports. I love March Madness too. But I believe a more balanced approach to college sports would be better in the long run.
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