Fit to Compete: Learn the skills and practise, practise, practise...

Recently while watching a basketball coach putting some youngsters through a training session I was struck by how much time relative to the overall session was spent on going painstakingly through the basic skills of their game: passing, dribbling, shooting and even their footwork. Each sport has its own set of basic skills that need to be mastered. Even in endurance sports such as running, cycling or rowing there are very specific technical skills to be mastered if an athlete is to perform to their best under competitive circumstances. In predominantly skills games such as gaelic football, golf, hurling, rugby they are essential for success. However, too often when time is a constraint, proper skills training at an early age is neglected; the kids plead to play games, the coach relents and the games are played out with poorly-mastered skills. Practice makes permanent NOT necessarily perfect. So if skills are not practised correctly, they will invariably break down when the coach least wants them to - in a competitive situation. You will, however, hear these same coaches trot out the clichés on match day: “lads, it's a simple gameâ€, “lets get the basics right†but how many of them will spend time in training developing their players' skills properly and pointing out weaknesses to each of their players? Players who have highly developed technical skills make their sport look easy under pressure. Mistakes are reduced and they seem to always make the right decision under pressure. This doesn't just happen by magic on match day and they weren't born that way. This has been painstakingly worked through over months and years of proper skills coaching. Two of the best examples I can think of in GAA are the recent travelling Aussie Rules team whose mastery of the skills of the International Rules game with a ball they don't even play with was quite astounding and closer to home the Tyrone teams at all levels. It's true to say that one of the main building blocks in Tyrone's consistent success over the past 15-20 years at all levels is a very high proficiency in the basic skills of the game (handling, catching, kicking, tackling). This spreads right through school teams, development squads, underage and senior teams and has taken years of high quality coaching by many people and belief in its benefits to bear fruit. Steps in Skill development There is a huge difference between learning a skill and learning to perform that same skill consistently well at speed when you are tired, under pressure and in front of hundreds if not thousands of spectators. Step 1: Perform the skill. This is the first, and unfortunately for most players and coaches, the last step in their skills development. Step 2: Perform the skill very well. Regular practice + quality feedback from your coach = skills mastery. This is the point most coaches stop coaching the skill. At this stage the job is about 30% complete! Step 3: Perform the skill very well and at speed. Good drills, good drills, good drills! Step 4: Perform the skill very well at speed and under fatigue. Most competitions come down to quality skills execution in the last 5% of playing time when tired, dehydrated and low in energy. This is when mistakes happen and it's where matches are won and lost. Step 5: Perform the skill very well, at speed, under fatigue and under pressure. This is where a good coach will adapt drills and conditioned games to ensure that training is MORE challenging and MORE demanding than the competition you are preparing for. Step 6: Perform the skill very well, at speed, under fatigue and under pressure, consistently. This is achieved through consistency of training standards over a prolonged period. Step 7: Perform the skill very well, at speed, under fatigue and pressure, consistently under competition circumstances. This is what it is all about. Simply put, the ability of a player or athlete to perform consistently and reliably under competitive conditions. Athletes or players do not fail because their skill level is poor. They fail because their ability to perform the skill in competition conditions is poor, and that's a coaching issue. Practise consistently under the conditions to be experienced in competition and success will follow. And as stated previously in this column success = performing to your maximum potential on the day of competition. Paul McCorry B.Sc MIAPT is a physical therapist based in Butlersbridge, Cavan. He has worked with the Ireland Ladies Cycling Road Racing team and is former coach to the Co.Cavan Minor team. Comments or questions to paulmccorry@gmail.com or 086-1705204.