Coaching
The Paradox of Performance: Power Meets Grace
The performance of an athlete, in its most exquisite form, is a dynamic interplay of power and grace. A spectacle that mesmerizes us as it seamlessly blends fluidity with ferocity, combines violence with peace, and merges aggression with elegance. It's an art form where strength and subtlety coexist, creating a harmonious symphony of human potential. There's a reason Ali's motto...
The Nested Dynamics of Speed: Lessons from Russian Dolls
Russian dolls, known as Matryoshka dolls, are hollow wooden figurines originating from Russia. They nest inside each other, with the smallest doll at the center. They are adorned with vibrant colors and intricate designs. Matryoshka dolls symbolize family, generations, and Russian culture. They are collected and cherished worldwide as decorative items. But what the heck have they got to do...
Embracing the Unknown: The Island of Knowledge and Coaching
Recently, I reread Marcelo Gleiser's great book, ‘The Island of Knowledge: The Limits of Science and the Search for Meaning,’ and — as always with almost every book I read — reflected upon its implications in sport performance and coaching. One of the primary themes in the book is that of ‘embracing ignorance’. Gleiser argues that the acquisition of knowledge...
“Keep calm and carry on”
“Keep calm and carry on.” So the famous British WWII slogan goes. But what’s it got to do with us? Well, most track & field teams and groups are currently in the midst of their general fall training period. It’s an exciting time of rebirth, with fresh promise towards a new season. It is also the time for installation -...
The myth of work-life balance?
I come from a family tradition of storytellers. I love to hear and speak about stories. So when I’m guiding younger coaches through some of the pitfalls we encounter in our coaching lives, I tend to tell gut-level honest stories of failures, successes, trials, tribulations, etc. I also share biographies of coaches and other leaders who have fallen into some...
Is it worth it?
I have been consistently challenged in multiple environments. The two biggest challenges for me in scale and scope are constant battles with: Administration silos / scope of practice, etc. Support agencies around the athlete I have fought constant battles with NGBs, Olympic Committees, meet promoters, legislation issues, and world-politic. On the support side, endless and inane conflicts from agents, sponsors, parents,...
in Praise of my Mentors
When I was a young coach, I was desperate for advice and mentoring, but it was very uncommon back then (late 60s-early 70s), so the only way to get any sort of help was to volunteer at a school and pray that one of the coaches took you under his wing. I grew up with a father in the construction...
Elevator Philosophy
As coaches, we are faced with multiple questions every day, and having a framework to guide us in answering these questions is essential. It is an obvious statement - but one that is surprisingly often overlooked. Rather than writing programs based upon educated personal beliefs (or a 'training philosophy'), many of us mindlessly prescribe what was given to us when...
ALTIS 360 Highlight – Speed Development with Clive Brewer
The latest addition to the FREE section of ALTIS 360 comes courtesy of Clive Brewer and his presentation titled, Developing Speed in a Chaotic Movement Context. Clive has 25 years of experience coaching a variety of sporting populations with most of his work coming at the professional level in Rugby, Soccer, and Baseball. You can get an understanding of what...
Your Olympic Preparation starts NOW!
Did you know that ALTIS is actually the ancient name for the sanctuary of the gods in Olympia, Greece? What better place to prepare for your Olympic dreams? With Tokyo 2020 just two years away, begin your preparation with us here in Phoenix this Fall. We aim to provide an unparalleled athlete membership experience. This includes: An Experienced Team of Coaches World-Class Training...