administration guru Stephen Covey calls 'Sharpening the
Saw. ' While this individual was aiming this idea towards the business
world, it has applicability to people who coach and play sports activities
as well.
Basically, the concept goes such as this:
Don't get so busy sawing which you forget to sharpen the saw.
What goes on to the saw while you are sawing?
This gets dull.
What happens when your noticed becomes dull?
You can still noticed, but the process becomes much less
efficient. The work is harder and requires longer - you just
don't noticed as well.
To bring this back to football and softball, I've noticed the
trend that is not new, but may be developing into a
problem. The situation may be the growing proliferation of travel
groups at all age levels at almost all times of the year.
While points do slow down a bit in regions of the country
with cold winters, in numerous places, baseball and softball tend to be
becoming nearly a year round action.
First, there is the normal spring golf ball season. Practice for
this may start in January or February (in some places, even
earlier), along with games beginning in late March. The growing season
continues until June, then summer time league begins. This
typically will certainly run into August, and then school begins again.
In many areas of the country, what this means is Fall league ball.
Practice with this often begins in August, and also the Fall season
can run into later October.
So , you have 10 approximately months of 'sawing' with younger ball
players, leaving perhaps 8 weeks to 'sharpen the saw. ' I
wonder if this is enough period for players to work on brand new skills
development, along with appropriate power and conditioning.
No doubt that the easiest way to improve in baseball and recreational softball
is to play a lot. This is why most of the best (but not all! )
gamers come from warm weather states - LOS ANGELES, TX, FL and
others. These people simply have better weather letting them
play and practice more.
However is there a point where the returns for many these games and
travel reduce? Where it's time to stop as well as take some time
to 'sharpen the noticed? ' I think there is. Consider the main
league season: April - Sept, then the playoffs. Two
teams proceed all the way to the World Series within October.
Therefore , the vast majority of big leaguers are playing
about 5 a few months (admittedly, a LOT of games), not keeping track of
Spring training (pre season). As well as there are various winter
leagues that certain gamers participate in for additional skill
development.
However, while playing a lot of games within a relatively short
period of time is challenging, the big boys
have a LOT of down-time with which to recover or
Develop the Saw.
I submit which coaches and parents need to think about this
idea carefully. It is well known which acquiring a new skill
takes period, and that there is usually a decrement in
performance as one learns as well as implements a new skill.
That's why it is almost always best to not make any main mechanical
adjustments during the regular time of year. And, with all the
games and methods during the regular season, coaches
understand it's tougher to provide a lot of person attention to
their players.
This is getting more apparent by the increasing quantity
of questions I get about how exactly to implement a good all
about Strength & Conditioning program throughout the season.
Or how to fit in equip strength or bat speed exercises between
games and practices. They allow this, but it's not easy.
Here are some tips to consider:
1) In what areas did your player(s) need to improve?
Prioritize all of them.
2) Take the first priority (let's say it's running speed
improvement) and make it the first thing to work upon
after any skill work for which day. Skill work requires much more
precision as it is performed. For this to become most effective,
one should not be exhausted or the skill work can endure.
3) If your player has several areas where they need
to improve, consider using some time off from all the
playing as well as games. Will missing Summer or even Fall ball
really hurt a person, considering you'll be working on new
ability development, along with S & D?
4) This brings us to the concept of 'active rest. ' The
sportsman remains physically active, but in a few other sport
or activity than football or softball. Sort of the 'cross
training' concept, which allows the ballplayer to recover
physically and mentally from their regular program. As long
as the ball player is actually staying active, most any action will
suffice.
Here's a basic file format for a well rounded off-season H & C
workout:
M -- Strength, Flexibility work
T -- Power work, Flexibility, Energy Program conditioning
W - S, Farrenheit
TH - P, F
Farrenheit - S, F
Sat -- ES, F
Do any hitting or even pitching mechanical work before these types of
workouts, e. g., skill function in the AM, S & D work in the PM.
5) Allow the energy level of your player(s) be your own guide.
If s/he is having a good time, is full of energy and enthusiasm regarding
their workouts, is not feeling unduly sore, etc ., then let all of them
go. On days they may be sensation tired and worn down, it can
time for a day off. Simply pick up at the next day's exercise -
don't worry about making up for your missed work.
Remember, everyone must stop and 'Sharpen the Saw'
at some point. If it means not actively playing as many games in
order to do this, so be it. The idea of taking 1 step back in
order to faster take two steps forward is extremely legitimate
and worth making a portion of your player development program.
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