Free Play Academy Newsletter #33
Topics that will be covered:
1. Technique in Sport is misunderstood. (The final edition)
2. Stop trying to start so fast.
3. A Football Life, Bill Belichick.
Technique in Sport is misunderstood. (The final edition)
What if our misunderstanding of what technique actually is, underpins the work we do with our players?
What if the technical training that has become a main pillar in the way we develop our young lacrosse players, only really acts as a placebo for learning and improvement?
What if consistently drilling players in movement patterns builds coordination and confidence, but not a lot else?
We’re going to break down what technique is and how we should go about developing it.
For the next few weeks we’ll be touching on the many facets of what comprises technique today with Quality, not Quantity.
Lastly, some coaches may suggest that the amount of repetitions or the actual amount of touches is why you should use a traditional approach to develop technique.
However, I would rather a really great technique to be applied ten times in context, than to force 100 touches out of context.
We should look for quality, not quantity.
We are obsessed with the idea that more is better. And maybe Malcolm Gladwell and the 10,000 hour rule is partly to blame.
I would consider reading David Epstein’s Range: Why Generalists Triumph In A Specialised World. Epstein’s work brings into consideration that with very few exceptions, 10,000 hours of the same thing doesn’t lead to mastery, in fact, playing a variety of sports will lead to more unique movement solutions.
If we want to develop the brightest, most creative and innovative players in lacrosse; we need to develop their ability to assess and exploit space in their own individual ways.
And remember, it is not repeating the same action again and again that will improve our players, it is repeating the search for an action.
Variability in technique is what makes a lacrosse player ‘technical’.
With more variability, there are more keys to attempt to unlock the safe.
Technique is not what we think it is, it is not the search for technical perfection – more so the search for technical variety.
Let’s stop the obsession with making our players more ‘technically efficient’ and start taking steps to help them become more skillfully adaptive.
Stop trying to start so fast.
Interesting story here about Lionel Messi early in his soccer career.
He’s famously quite anxious, especially when he would get onto the pitch he’d be unable to perform.
Because of this much doubt was sprayed upon his potential to be a great player.
A wise coach of his noticed how much talent he had, and knew that he needed to grow out of his anxious nature, especially at the start of games.
The first attempt was for Messi to have a prescribed routine of mantras before the game in order to prepare for the start of the game, but it didn’t help, the game would start and he’d be nervous all over again.
So this wise coach suggested that Messi should sacrifice the first couple moments of the game in order to get settled in, while other players would frantically be running around and trying to grab a hold of the game immediately.
Messi would slow down instead, he would walk around and not do much, watch what others are doing and get a feel for the flow of the game and everyone is interacting with one and other.
And because of this he develops this strategic advantage that the other players don’t have because they are all focused on the fact that the game has begun.
He has a bird’s eye view because he slows down and observes what is happening.
He is certainly less effective in the first moments of the game, he has never scored in the first minutes of the game, but has scored in all the other minutes of the game.
What he is affectively doing, and done, is sacrifice the first moments of the game in service of the whole rest of the game.
This has made him a dramatically better player, and arguably the best player in the history of the game.
A Football Life, Bill Belichick.
Considered one of the greatest coaches of all time in the game of Football.
A must watch for all aspiring coaches, in any sport.
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=NOUmTwpZGGo&pp=ygUOYmlsbCBiZWxpY2hpY2s%3D
The Free Game
The part of lacrosse that is played with the mind.
What will be covered are the 8 Principles of Performance.
Any lacrosse player can own the 1st ever sport psychology methodology specific to the game of Lacrosse.
This purchase will include a FREE consultation with Coach McDonnell via in-person or Zoom.
Here is a preview.
The cost is $24.99
You can purchase The Free Game here.
Lean in, do the work, stay focused and become uncommon.
Have a great week.