Incorporating coaching into training program

[AMax 0]

Lets say, your team just finished a season. You made some progress utilizing pretty modest training plan and getting sporadic coaching from different people. Now when it is time to decide what is next, everyone wants to stay on board for another year and more or less agrees on intensity of training and a new goal. You already know how much money and time you are willing to invest, but you are not sure how exactly to get to this new level. Isn’t it a good time to seriously consider hiring a coach on regular basis? So what would be the best strategy to invest coaching money you all agreed to spend if PC is out of question and you cannot even afford to have a coach for every training camp?

Here is my take:

1) Agree on common goal (target point average) and the training plan to reach the goal. This includes the number of training jumps, tunnel time and the amount of money you are willing to spend for coaching.

Firm financial commitment is critical.

2) Find a qualified coach who is willing to work with a team on regular basis. Make sure his/her personality is compatible with everyone on the team.

3) Discuss the team goal and training plan with a coach before the season begins and make the necessary adjustments considering his/her input. Obviously the adjustments should me made in a way that teammates are not forced to change their initial financial commitments.

Example: the team targets X point average and agrees to make 200 training jumps, get 20 hours of tunnel time and use a coach on 5 training camps. After evaluating the previous performance of every teammate as individuals and team’s performance as a whole, the coach makes a conclusion that the target point average can only be achieved with 400 jumps, 20 hours of tunnel and 5 coached training camps. In case the team decision on jump numbers is already made, such readjustment is not acceptable – get real and agree that X-1 is you new target average. On the other hand, following a suggestion to change the ratio between block and random training or making less jumps to get more tunnel training is acceptable.

4) Let coach decide on the schedule of coached training camps during a season and if possible, allow some flexibility. In other words, it is up to qualified person to make a decision when the team needs him/her most, not the other way around. I assume here that the team works with the same person during entire season and maintains communication with a coach to exchange the information on regular basis.

As usual, I am hopping for some input from people of all levels.

[pr0ject42 0]

Well as wishy-washy as it sounds, I'd say do what works best for your team.

Getting coaching early in the season to give you things to work on, then focusing on those things and trying to clean up mistakes of the previous season works. After you feel like you've gotten over the hump of the coached camp, get one more to really tweak things and finalize your techniques for the season, then just polish everything up.

No matter how much coaching you get, make sure you still make your own decisions about how to engineer or at least understand why the coach is telling you to do something. Nobody likes the coached automotons who can't line up a meeker in the door if they were on their own.

The big thing I would say is make sure you either have coaching at all times in the tunnel or be sure to have good game plans set up before getting in the tunnel, or you could waste a good bit of money.

[AMax 0]

Just to clarify. This thread is not about tunnel coaching.

[jmpwme 0]

In addition to the plan you have outlined above one effective tool is to divide the season in to thirds.

First third - coaching, second third on your own, final third coaching. If cash is shorter, use 1/4's with coaching 1st and 4th or 1st and third quarters. In any case, front load the coaching to get block technique down, be sure to take notes!!!!!

Steve
GT

[Ron 10]

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Now when it is time to decide what is next, everyone wants to stay on board for another year and more or less agrees on intensity of training and a new goal. You already know how much money and time you are willing to invest, but you are not sure how exactly to get to this new level. Isn’t it a good time to seriously consider hiring a coach on regular basis?

Coaching is good at any level at anytime. My team had coaching 3 times over the year. Airspeed has brought Joey out a few times. The GK's have used Airspeed. Coaching works well. It allows people to see different styles and ideas.

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what would be the best strategy to invest coaching money you all agreed to spend if PC is out of question and you cannot even afford to have a coach for every training camp?

1. Find a coach that will give you a deal. This makes your money go farther.

2. START the season with a coach. You have a year together so you already have the basics worked out. Get the coach to try and get you all on the same plan. Get the coach to develop a grip plan for the team and a training plan based on your goals/commitment.

3. Spread the coaching out. If you have two camps a mth, have the coach once a mth to give you things to work on. The other weekend work on the drills and concepts the coach gave you. Then have the coach back to check on progress, see if you are on track and modify the plan. Having a coach on every jump is best, but it can lead to depending on him. The best coachs will not only tell you what to do, but also have you try and work on things yourself in the correct way. That way you grow in more than just raw skill, you begin to understand the process.

4. Have the coach around for competitions if possible. It helps keep friction down.

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Find a qualified coach who is willing to work with a team on regular basis. Make sure his/her personality is compatible with everyone on the team.

A coach that everyone likes is good....A coach that everyone respects is better.

All in all, you have a good plan.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[bob.dino 1]

I'll also vote for coaching. It's done wonders for our team. We improve at about double the rate when we've got a coach on board.

When approaching a coach, we give them a tape of our last n jumps, and enter a dialog with them on what they can bring to our party. The coach has a pretty broad hand in what we jumps we do when we're with them.

Different coaches have different strengths; it may be worth using different coaches at different stages throughout the season.

Otherwise, what Ron said.