02/16/2022
🔥 ARE YOU GETTING ANTI-COACHED? (Part 1) 🔥
Anti-Coaching has many forms, and depending on the sport is either rarely seen, moderately prominent, or in some cases, it has spread like a w**d because of some underlying issue that doesn't allow the w**ds to be plucked.
This series will help you to determine if your emperor has no clothes... err...
If you have finally chugged enough snake oil...
No, no, something about throwing money down the drain...
Anyway, if I think of it, I will let you know, but basically this series will help you see if you are paying CLUB or EXPERT prices for REC level coaching.
⚽ What is anti-coaching?
Anti-Coaching is when a coach, who may have the best intentions, has you doing things that will guarantee you to waste time (best case), or actually get worse.
Usually this simply stems from a lack of knowledge, the industry is years or decades behind, or sometimes, they are simply too lazy to be up to speed on what it means to DEVELOP talent... even though they offer lessons... I know, odd.
The most blatant anti-coaches put players at risk, or abuse them psychologically. The latter of these two is an odd phenomenon, because so players would say that Bobby Knight, one of the most successful basketball coaches ever was overly abusive, while others would say that he pushed them to their best, BECAUSE of the way he motivated and drove them... so it is often a subjective phenomenon.
For today, let's discuss simply missing the most basic principles in sport...
the ATHLETIC STANCE.
Here is the thing...
And once you see it... it cannot be unseen.
Below is a simple video of a VERY athletic female player, who operates well in a HIGH athletic stance. This is because she is very fast twitch in nature, running below 60s in the 400m without any training or coaching, and plays against men regularly at 103lbs...
So, her stance is higher than most can get away with, because she is very quick twitch genetically.
⚽ The ATHLETIC STANCE is simple... chest, over knees, over toes, b***y back, lower back locked in place, weight on front half of feet. The angle at the knee should be 110-135 degrees normally.
Stronger athletes like football defensive backs being able to play lower due to years of lifting weights... this relative strength is also why they are much faster than soccer players on average.
Weaker athletes will play higher, but this just means they will not generate the power that lower athletes can... if the lower athletes truly have the strength to play low...
It is a double edged sword... if you are weak and try to play low, you will play slower...
So, you MUST develop strength in order to maximize explosiveness found in the deeper angles.
⚽ So, what is the anti-coaching issue?
When you FIRST learn a skill is the ONLY time you should not be in an athletic position...
The moment you have a move 'down', then you must return to athletic angles, athletic change of pace, and train the 'move' in an athletic position...
Because the angles and touches are different at pace...
They are different when done athletically.
⚽ So, is it really that big a deal?
No, not if you want to waste your time doing moves that won't actually carry over very well to games. (WASTE OF TIME)
It's your life.
But additionally, you are PAYING to train yourself bad habits...
⚽ IN CONFLICT, YOU WILL NEVER RISE TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS, BUT WILL FALL TO THE LEVEL OF YOUR TRAINING. ⚽
Imagine doing hundreds and hundreds, or thousands of thousands of repetitions, all while training bad habits into your nervous system. (TRAINING TO GET WORSE)
I bet MOST of you don't have to imagine very hard...
You get to LIVE IT every night at the pitch.
Yay for you!
But wait, you also PAY FOR IT!
Ouch... that one stung.
You could have also been getting stronger in that low position by practicing in that low position, so it is lost opportunity to create a training efficiency (TECHNICAL + PHYSICAL).
⚽ So, what is the solution?
First, watch the video, and make sure you understand what being in an athletic stance means.
Then, any time you are a) on the ball,
b) in a position where you might receive a pass,
c) tracking another player, or
d) defending.
Or, any other time you feel that there may be some reason why you may be called on to move instantly.
Then, even if that isn't the standard for your team, your private sessions (please tell me you don't pay for private sessions where you aren't in an athletic stance... please), your club, whatever...
Then, you either have to upgrade from your 'club' coach, to a coach who is at least on par with U12 basketball and American football coaches...
You charge for skill work in those sports standing upright and you will be run out of town...
And, rightfully so...
Because that is the simplest PRINCIPLE...
Not negotiable.
PRINCIPLE of training athletes.
the ATHLETIC STANCE.
Literally couldn't be simpler.
And yet, in soccer the VAST majority of coaches never come close...
Trying to find the magic formation, or lineup, or coolest new drill to develop Soccer IQ?
Haha, yep...
All of that 'matters' at some stage of development...
But, if you aren't even close with the simplest things...
For you, hopefully this will open your eyes as to what you are paying for...
If your child isn't in an athletic stance, it simply isn't...
coaching.
It is Anti-Coaching.
Fine for a volunteer Rec coach who doesn't know better...
You know, the kind with no ego, not getting paid, probably has a kid on the team...
But for a 'Club Coach'?
Unacceptable.
It's Anti-Coaching.
Hope this helps you spend your precious time and hard earned money on development, and make sure to avoid the Anti-Coaching!
Take care RENEGADES!