Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
Thomas Alva Edison
I start with a quote today because I have been involved in planning the next Bath EJU debate this year. In my opinion lots of good topics we dismissed because the research looked like it would be hard work.
Well we have a debate title and hopefully we will stream it live on the net on 6th August 2009.
I would like your help if you have an opinion on the following....
Do you feel that the IJF have had rule changes to try and get TV coverage? If so what example would you give?
Also do you believe influence TV has had has been positive or negative. If you can give example let me know.
The reason being we are going to be debating this and I want to try and see if there are common opinions from the rank and file Judoka.
I was also wondering what rule change do you think would help get TV coverage?
When exploring the idea I generally thought about TV and its effect on sport. For instance football kick off times being altered to suit TV companies, the swimming at the Olympics taking place in the morning so it can go live in the major TV markets...or the Athens Olympic Marathon taking place in the peak of the day...for TV.
I agree TV brings in money to a sport through sponsorship and broadcast rites. It raises the sports profile and therefore encourages participation. But is it something that a sport like Judo should chase? Could we compete with boxing and MMA as a TV spectacular?
I don’t have answers yet just questions....your thoughts please.
Friday, 3 April 2009
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Non Fomral Learning
I sit at a desk tonight as I type this, having spent two days at Bath University on the EJU Level 4 coshing course. This 3 year block route course is the only of its kind in Europe. An extensive course on coaching Judo at an Elite level.
http://www.bath.ac.uk/sports/foundation/judo/index.html
Over the past two days we have been discussing how coaches learn. I have been looking at a concept of non-formal learning – the discussion, experiences and reflective practices that allow a coach to develop, where there is no formal structure or aim.
Do you as a coach reflect and keep a diary or note book of what you do well and can improve?
I suppose that this Blog is a way of me expressing idea that I haven’t always formulated as part of my coaching philosophy. Any one reading this could consider it to be non formal learning – as long as you discuss the idea.
I find it interesting that many sports NGB’s don’t have a formal CPD programmes, the BJA in Britain definitely don’t. But they are a bit Jurassic in their approach. They don’t recognise discussion and reading a form of development, they are non formal learning if you start to act on the information and actively engage with the subject. However it is non-formal learning that they try and promote as part of their paid courses discussion groups, break out groups, work in pairs and think about ...etc.
Maybe I am bias as the BJA send their staff on the EJU level 4 and 5 courses but don’t allow coaches to carry the qualification on their coaching licence – as it is not recognised by the BJA, but they will acknowledge it for coaching revalidation.
Now when you have stopped laughing just ask yourself how good is your coaching, and when was the last time you consider what you do well and why it works or what you could improve on and how you could do that.
I personally have a couple of coaches who help mentor me and discuss classes and incidents. I find these inform feedback sessions and mentoring invaluable. I think every coach should be able to chat and develop ideas. Those discussions should be suitable to note down and put in your coaching portfolio.
Just a thought for the day
http://www.bath.ac.uk/sports/foundation/judo/index.html
Over the past two days we have been discussing how coaches learn. I have been looking at a concept of non-formal learning – the discussion, experiences and reflective practices that allow a coach to develop, where there is no formal structure or aim.
Do you as a coach reflect and keep a diary or note book of what you do well and can improve?
I suppose that this Blog is a way of me expressing idea that I haven’t always formulated as part of my coaching philosophy. Any one reading this could consider it to be non formal learning – as long as you discuss the idea.
I find it interesting that many sports NGB’s don’t have a formal CPD programmes, the BJA in Britain definitely don’t. But they are a bit Jurassic in their approach. They don’t recognise discussion and reading a form of development, they are non formal learning if you start to act on the information and actively engage with the subject. However it is non-formal learning that they try and promote as part of their paid courses discussion groups, break out groups, work in pairs and think about ...etc.
Maybe I am bias as the BJA send their staff on the EJU level 4 and 5 courses but don’t allow coaches to carry the qualification on their coaching licence – as it is not recognised by the BJA, but they will acknowledge it for coaching revalidation.
Now when you have stopped laughing just ask yourself how good is your coaching, and when was the last time you consider what you do well and why it works or what you could improve on and how you could do that.
I personally have a couple of coaches who help mentor me and discuss classes and incidents. I find these inform feedback sessions and mentoring invaluable. I think every coach should be able to chat and develop ideas. Those discussions should be suitable to note down and put in your coaching portfolio.
Just a thought for the day
Monday, 16 March 2009
Books, The Internet and Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki
Books are often over looked by young people as a source of information. They grass on the internet skimming through lot of information. Though they don’t know the source and their credentials they will often cite things as being true because it was on the Internet.
The same can be true of Judo – player trying techniques they have seen on You-tube that are wholly in appropriate to their size, maturity and skill level.
Digital Natives in Judo is an excellent talk by Lance Wicks and forms part of a BJA coach revalidation day. For those of you who have seen his lecture it listen to this Analysis from Radio 4 broadcast on 15th March– it is on the BBC website.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00j17xt
There are 3 days left to listen to it, it explores youngster reliance and how different generations use the Internet.
I was coming back from London Last night from the Budokwai when I heard it and I had an idea – as a marketing tool or teaching aid – why not provide a class with example of a throw you are teaching taht can be found on You-Tube? Allowing them also to see the classics form the great masters of the past.
Which brings me back to books many youngsters prefer DVDs to book when learning or finding out about judo which is a shame.
One of eth nicest Judo books ever produced is Fighting Judo by Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki with Photos by Terence Donovan. A must for any true Judo library.
It was at the Training session at the Budokwai in London last night that I met Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki and experienced just how versatile his Yoko-Tomanage is and his amazing ground work skills. It was a mixture of randori and training session and I know his 5 students from Tokyo University had a great time.
I was saw things I couldn’t work out on the mat and so i trotted back to the book at home to revisit. It was an exceptional mat with 9th Dan’s, World Champions, former Olympic Medallists and it struck Judo is a beautiful sport – orange belts training along side and fighting Olympic champions in a warm fun environment no other sport could do this.
When I left I didn’t take photo to go on the web site as some might – for me it was about the experience and knowing – no matter what happens in the future I have met, trained with and experienced the beautiful judo of Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki, a Judo Legend and the author of one of the definitive books on Judo.
Speak again soon.
The same can be true of Judo – player trying techniques they have seen on You-tube that are wholly in appropriate to their size, maturity and skill level.
Digital Natives in Judo is an excellent talk by Lance Wicks and forms part of a BJA coach revalidation day. For those of you who have seen his lecture it listen to this Analysis from Radio 4 broadcast on 15th March– it is on the BBC website.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00j17xt
There are 3 days left to listen to it, it explores youngster reliance and how different generations use the Internet.
I was coming back from London Last night from the Budokwai when I heard it and I had an idea – as a marketing tool or teaching aid – why not provide a class with example of a throw you are teaching taht can be found on You-Tube? Allowing them also to see the classics form the great masters of the past.
Which brings me back to books many youngsters prefer DVDs to book when learning or finding out about judo which is a shame.
One of eth nicest Judo books ever produced is Fighting Judo by Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki with Photos by Terence Donovan. A must for any true Judo library.
It was at the Training session at the Budokwai in London last night that I met Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki and experienced just how versatile his Yoko-Tomanage is and his amazing ground work skills. It was a mixture of randori and training session and I know his 5 students from Tokyo University had a great time.
I was saw things I couldn’t work out on the mat and so i trotted back to the book at home to revisit. It was an exceptional mat with 9th Dan’s, World Champions, former Olympic Medallists and it struck Judo is a beautiful sport – orange belts training along side and fighting Olympic champions in a warm fun environment no other sport could do this.
When I left I didn’t take photo to go on the web site as some might – for me it was about the experience and knowing – no matter what happens in the future I have met, trained with and experienced the beautiful judo of Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki, a Judo Legend and the author of one of the definitive books on Judo.
Speak again soon.
Friday, 13 March 2009
Team Selection
I have had a hectic week with a number of events and competitions. As a coach one of my schools caused me a huge problem, the reason team selection. How do you select a team as a coach, 22 eligible players but only allowed to enter a team of 12.
Three age groups under 14, 14 – 16, and 16 – 19 year olds, you could then have up to 3 players in a weight group. With a team comtpeition based on medal rankings so how do you pick the team?
Do you select the 12 players with the best chance of winning in a weight group? Or do you select the 12 players who have committed and turned up at training?
Do you have a policy that is open and people know what they need to do to get in, then select the top 12, or do you look at the event selecting suitable players – perhaps excluding good players because their chances in an age/weight group may be limited?
Judo is an individual sport but when you put a team together how important is team cohesion. Some sports like Netball may exclude some players at higher levels because they don’t fit the teams cohesion but may be better than players included.
In my case I took 18 players everyone available, not with other commitments or injuries, no-one was told of weights to make, they arrived and we weighed them, then selected the team. I know some where disappointed but as a team 8 out of 12 had podium places, we came 2nd in the team event But the best thing was though 12 fought we had a team of 18.
Everybody had a role and function during the day and there was no stars, every fight was watched and supported the good and the bad, no criticisms just strong support.
At the end of the day I came to a conclusion that a coach shouldn’t worry about selecting a team it is a coach’s job to build a team, the team is more than the individual player it is the essence of your club, its’ spirit. When you chose individuals to fight it is the spirit of the player and what it adds to the team reflecting its values is important.
I am a participation coach first and an elite coach second – perhaps that effects my judgement but your comments are appreciated.
Till next time.
Marc
Three age groups under 14, 14 – 16, and 16 – 19 year olds, you could then have up to 3 players in a weight group. With a team comtpeition based on medal rankings so how do you pick the team?
Do you select the 12 players with the best chance of winning in a weight group? Or do you select the 12 players who have committed and turned up at training?
Do you have a policy that is open and people know what they need to do to get in, then select the top 12, or do you look at the event selecting suitable players – perhaps excluding good players because their chances in an age/weight group may be limited?
Judo is an individual sport but when you put a team together how important is team cohesion. Some sports like Netball may exclude some players at higher levels because they don’t fit the teams cohesion but may be better than players included.
In my case I took 18 players everyone available, not with other commitments or injuries, no-one was told of weights to make, they arrived and we weighed them, then selected the team. I know some where disappointed but as a team 8 out of 12 had podium places, we came 2nd in the team event But the best thing was though 12 fought we had a team of 18.
Everybody had a role and function during the day and there was no stars, every fight was watched and supported the good and the bad, no criticisms just strong support.
At the end of the day I came to a conclusion that a coach shouldn’t worry about selecting a team it is a coach’s job to build a team, the team is more than the individual player it is the essence of your club, its’ spirit. When you chose individuals to fight it is the spirit of the player and what it adds to the team reflecting its values is important.
I am a participation coach first and an elite coach second – perhaps that effects my judgement but your comments are appreciated.
Till next time.
Marc
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
LTPD and a great Manager
LTPD
Today I want to chat about Long Term Player Development. This has to ne a god thing as long as it is not just performance focused. Many LTPD plans are focused on performance and goals not on holistic player development. Too many coaches don’t see LTPD as part of there remit when they should.
Alex Fergusson the Manchester United Manager is an excellent LTPD coach. HE has player from 12 and many he takes to the pinnacle of their careers. Often the relationship only stops when one or two conditions are meet.
1.The player fails to maintain the standards Fergusson sets for off field and private life activities. E.g. David Beckham
2. The player is given a choice by Fergusson, you can play as a squad member with limited starts or as you are still a good player move clubs to play as a first choice.
Fergusson will blood a younger player and then remove them form the first team to build on their weaknesses, as he did with player like Wes Brown, he also allows for injuries and drops in performance as he did with Alan Smith and Ben Foster.
Fergusson plays the short game – season by season but has long plans 4 – 8 years for his future teams – he is on his 4th rotation of teams over 20 years – that is Long term Player devlopment. But Fergusson has gives his players exit strategies.
They hit 30 – 35 and they are already working towards coaching awards – look at the number of ex- Manchester United Players now managing in the premiership who all were put on the ladder by Fergusson. Ryan Giggs is the current older player moving on this path.
Now does this relate to Judo.....to me it is about a whole player – I have a student who is currently getting points for his Black Belt, once he get it he will slack off his judo because of exams – but in the next year he will do a coaching award.
So many times we see elite level athletes’ who get injury and leave the sport because the LTPD is focused on performance, at places like Bath the Elite players do degrees laying the foundation of the exit strategy. The problem is Judo like many sports is focused on the Olympic cycle if you might be too old you are out, a dip in form you are out. A true LTPD programme should support during injuries and help develop suitable exit strategies for players.
SO I think:
1. Every player recreational or performance should have an LTPD plan
2. It should reflect the needs and desires of the player.
3. The exit and contingency strategies are as important as the goals and time scales.
4. Coaches should be judged not just on immediate results but there LTPD.
Your thoughts are appreciated.
Have a good day.
Marc
Today I want to chat about Long Term Player Development. This has to ne a god thing as long as it is not just performance focused. Many LTPD plans are focused on performance and goals not on holistic player development. Too many coaches don’t see LTPD as part of there remit when they should.
Alex Fergusson the Manchester United Manager is an excellent LTPD coach. HE has player from 12 and many he takes to the pinnacle of their careers. Often the relationship only stops when one or two conditions are meet.
1.The player fails to maintain the standards Fergusson sets for off field and private life activities. E.g. David Beckham
2. The player is given a choice by Fergusson, you can play as a squad member with limited starts or as you are still a good player move clubs to play as a first choice.
Fergusson will blood a younger player and then remove them form the first team to build on their weaknesses, as he did with player like Wes Brown, he also allows for injuries and drops in performance as he did with Alan Smith and Ben Foster.
Fergusson plays the short game – season by season but has long plans 4 – 8 years for his future teams – he is on his 4th rotation of teams over 20 years – that is Long term Player devlopment. But Fergusson has gives his players exit strategies.
They hit 30 – 35 and they are already working towards coaching awards – look at the number of ex- Manchester United Players now managing in the premiership who all were put on the ladder by Fergusson. Ryan Giggs is the current older player moving on this path.
Now does this relate to Judo.....to me it is about a whole player – I have a student who is currently getting points for his Black Belt, once he get it he will slack off his judo because of exams – but in the next year he will do a coaching award.
So many times we see elite level athletes’ who get injury and leave the sport because the LTPD is focused on performance, at places like Bath the Elite players do degrees laying the foundation of the exit strategy. The problem is Judo like many sports is focused on the Olympic cycle if you might be too old you are out, a dip in form you are out. A true LTPD programme should support during injuries and help develop suitable exit strategies for players.
SO I think:
1. Every player recreational or performance should have an LTPD plan
2. It should reflect the needs and desires of the player.
3. The exit and contingency strategies are as important as the goals and time scales.
4. Coaches should be judged not just on immediate results but there LTPD.
Your thoughts are appreciated.
Have a good day.
Marc
Sunday, 1 March 2009
A bit of History and a Dream
Today I fulfilled a small dream.
I taught at the Budokwai in London.
http://www.thebudokwai.com/
The oldest Judo Club in Europe. I was fortunate enough to be on the coaching team for a training season for Boys attending the Headmasters Conference Independent Schools championship next week.
For those who have never been the Budokwai’s reception is full of photos of the great and good of British Judo from Palmer and Inman to Stevens and Jacks, form Sweeny to Adams they all have trained there.
Watching my boys look at the these and be more impressed by Guy Richie than Angelo Parissi, it made me realise how little they know about Judo in the UK. Now that may be my fault as a coach but how much do we teach our students about the history of Judo?
To me the Budokwai was a place my dad trained in the 1960’s and was iconic in my judo upbringing. It was hallowed ground, I wonder with modern training centres if there will be places like that in the future.?
So perhaps I will dig out old clip on You-tube of Starbrook or Jacks and recount their big wins. I am fortunate I have Jane Bridge as a tutor at Bath University but my students don’t know she was the first ever Female Judo World Champion in New York where she also won the Style Award. Perhaps we have Judo traditions on the mat but it might be time for me to start and let students know about the footsteps they are following in.
I hope 2012 in London will give 1000’s of young judo players an inspiration and the ability to say I remember when I saw....... today I added my own first ...the day i first bowed on as a guest coach at the Budokwai.
It is the small things that mean a lot.......hope you fill a small dream soon they make life feel sweet.
I taught at the Budokwai in London.
http://www.thebudokwai.com/
The oldest Judo Club in Europe. I was fortunate enough to be on the coaching team for a training season for Boys attending the Headmasters Conference Independent Schools championship next week.
For those who have never been the Budokwai’s reception is full of photos of the great and good of British Judo from Palmer and Inman to Stevens and Jacks, form Sweeny to Adams they all have trained there.
Watching my boys look at the these and be more impressed by Guy Richie than Angelo Parissi, it made me realise how little they know about Judo in the UK. Now that may be my fault as a coach but how much do we teach our students about the history of Judo?
To me the Budokwai was a place my dad trained in the 1960’s and was iconic in my judo upbringing. It was hallowed ground, I wonder with modern training centres if there will be places like that in the future.?
So perhaps I will dig out old clip on You-tube of Starbrook or Jacks and recount their big wins. I am fortunate I have Jane Bridge as a tutor at Bath University but my students don’t know she was the first ever Female Judo World Champion in New York where she also won the Style Award. Perhaps we have Judo traditions on the mat but it might be time for me to start and let students know about the footsteps they are following in.
I hope 2012 in London will give 1000’s of young judo players an inspiration and the ability to say I remember when I saw....... today I added my own first ...the day i first bowed on as a guest coach at the Budokwai.
It is the small things that mean a lot.......hope you fill a small dream soon they make life feel sweet.
Drugs in Sport – Biographies
Once again I open my paper to see a story about drugs in sport.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-1157606/DWAIN-CHAMBERS-TALKS-TO-MARTIN-SAMUEL-How-drugs-shame-brought-brink-suicide-physical-cost-fight-win-gold-clean.html
But this is a bit greyer than most. It is a review as selection of writings from Dwain Chambers autobiography – Race Against Me, My Story.
Available from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Race-Against-Me-My-Story/dp/1905988753
Now fact Chambers severed a two year ban for using THG, he is banned form competing for Britain at the Olympics for life, and he is now back – clean – competing and winning Gold medals as a sprinter.
So the book raises a number of points should an athlete prosper from selling the story of cheating? Or is it part of the life experience and an autobiography can be justified? Should the athletic cheat be covered by the same laws that stop criminals prospering form book deals on bank robberies etc?
All that aside the book appears to be different to many other on a number of levels. The first is Chambers wrote it himself – no ghost writer hearing stories and creating a book that flows in a readable manor, Chambers just has had a friend tidy up the prose, so it is to quote Marten Samuel in the Daily Mail...
“It is , for the most part, a searing, honest account of his life in athletics and time as a walking junkie- Chambers Words – under Conte. Chambers goes further than any athlete in revealing how, why, when and where”
I hope the book will be a deterrent but it also highlights failing in managers and other coaches in spotting the drug use or not acknowledging the problem. Also the athletes mind set that others are doing it so why shouldn’t I.
I think the most telling comment I have read so far is ....
“There will be a lot of people out there cheating, though, people who know how to manipulate teh programme.”
This last statement made me think about all the coaches I have heard talk of “getting in the refs head” it is just playing to the letter of the law, or at the edge of the rules. Is that cheating – if so can one form of cheating or performance enhancement etc playing the letter not the spirit of the law be more acceptable than a performance enhancing drug?
The bottom line is to the average kid who comes to a Dojo to train drugs in sport isn’t an issue, it is only an issue to them when it is normalised in the hero’s or stars they idolised are seen taking drugs of any kind that it has a real impact on them. SO Chambers book I will buy and read, as a coach to see what went wrong and perhaps help me see signs to look out for, as a warning to other players....perhaps someone should send a copy to Mr Phelps.
Phelps and Chambers both part of teh same problem – misuse of Drugs – but is there a consistancey across sports, or sanctions and consequences applied faily to all?
Should Cambers profit form the book? I don’t know, should he have written it? ...yes – and every coach should read it.
Todays rant over, see you Tuesday,
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-1157606/DWAIN-CHAMBERS-TALKS-TO-MARTIN-SAMUEL-How-drugs-shame-brought-brink-suicide-physical-cost-fight-win-gold-clean.html
But this is a bit greyer than most. It is a review as selection of writings from Dwain Chambers autobiography – Race Against Me, My Story.
Available from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Race-Against-Me-My-Story/dp/1905988753
Now fact Chambers severed a two year ban for using THG, he is banned form competing for Britain at the Olympics for life, and he is now back – clean – competing and winning Gold medals as a sprinter.
So the book raises a number of points should an athlete prosper from selling the story of cheating? Or is it part of the life experience and an autobiography can be justified? Should the athletic cheat be covered by the same laws that stop criminals prospering form book deals on bank robberies etc?
All that aside the book appears to be different to many other on a number of levels. The first is Chambers wrote it himself – no ghost writer hearing stories and creating a book that flows in a readable manor, Chambers just has had a friend tidy up the prose, so it is to quote Marten Samuel in the Daily Mail...
“It is , for the most part, a searing, honest account of his life in athletics and time as a walking junkie- Chambers Words – under Conte. Chambers goes further than any athlete in revealing how, why, when and where”
I hope the book will be a deterrent but it also highlights failing in managers and other coaches in spotting the drug use or not acknowledging the problem. Also the athletes mind set that others are doing it so why shouldn’t I.
I think the most telling comment I have read so far is ....
“There will be a lot of people out there cheating, though, people who know how to manipulate teh programme.”
This last statement made me think about all the coaches I have heard talk of “getting in the refs head” it is just playing to the letter of the law, or at the edge of the rules. Is that cheating – if so can one form of cheating or performance enhancement etc playing the letter not the spirit of the law be more acceptable than a performance enhancing drug?
The bottom line is to the average kid who comes to a Dojo to train drugs in sport isn’t an issue, it is only an issue to them when it is normalised in the hero’s or stars they idolised are seen taking drugs of any kind that it has a real impact on them. SO Chambers book I will buy and read, as a coach to see what went wrong and perhaps help me see signs to look out for, as a warning to other players....perhaps someone should send a copy to Mr Phelps.
Phelps and Chambers both part of teh same problem – misuse of Drugs – but is there a consistancey across sports, or sanctions and consequences applied faily to all?
Should Cambers profit form the book? I don’t know, should he have written it? ...yes – and every coach should read it.
Todays rant over, see you Tuesday,
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