The Miracle of Mindfulness

Posted on 11 March 2013 by CoachMeg
When I first began reading this book, the author discussed washing dishes– am I washing dishes to wash the dishes? Or am I washing dishes? My thought was huh? Of course I am washing dishes to be done…… And the point of the book is to be present in our current activities.
By being present in our current activity, that activity or moment is the most important at that time. There is nothing more important, and the present has our attention. This is significant to me as I catch myself daydreaming of the future or wishing or planning, when I am supposed to be reading, eating or performing some other task.
I experienced it this morning while teaching spin class……. I was not present in class, I felt distracted….. And while the participants did achieve a successful ride, I don't feel my effort, attention or enthusiasm was what they demand or expect. (Of course, I am the one who notices).
It is my challenge to self to be present in those activities and tasks regardless of how small or large. I trust as I shift my attention and mindfulness on the present as opposed to the next thing, my rewards will be greater.
Are you washing dishes to wash the dishes?

 

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Practice Perfect

Posted on 6 March 2013 by CoachMeg
 
The book Perfect Practice discusses the mindset of practice. 'Practice without intentionality and you will perform without intentionality'. The author, Doug Lemov, provides forty-two rules to create that perfect practice.
With the current trends of mindless and cookie-cutter training, I want to make a difference in the training of my athletes. I want to create opportunities for these individuals to excell through well-designed and thoughtful programming.
One critical goal of practice is to ensure the practice encodes success. The book discusses how to create those opportunities to achieve success.
This book looks not only at the athletic realm, but also in business creating opportunities to practice outcome for communication, teaching, leadership and selling. I reflected on all of these as I read the book, and am challenged to set forth goals and have predicted outcome for each of my athletes in practice.
I think of John Wooden and the intent he had in each practice. I expect to learn from his example and continue to develop my skills as a coach.
 
 

 

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Cookie Cutter Programming

Posted on 6 March 2013 by CoachMeg

It astounds me…… While it shouldn't…… How many athletes with an intelligent thought process allow themselves to succumb to a mindless training protocol. A woman in a spin class wants to go hard all the time, to have someone kick her butt, because she is more interested in calories burned and not improving her overall training. Athletes run to video programming, various military-style training, fitness gurus to gain all those latest fitness buzz words……. And many of those coaches sought out provide programming that is one-size-fits-all. Every program is identical. There is no creativity, no flair, no personality, no problem solving…….. If you ask me……BORING!!! For the athlete and the coach.

It amazes me that athletes who are SO serious about training, choose to accept trends and cookie cutter programming for themselves. They are essentially leaving the foundations to chance.

 

I refuse to accept that for myself and my athletes. It does take more time to plan. It is easier to create a single program and be finished. Part of the excitement for me is solving the problem. The athletes has deficiencies in single-leg strength– how do I program to enhance that so the athlete can meet the demands of the sport? Granted, not all problems are that simple. But it creates a challenge and some excitement to create the program.

While some programs will have similarities because of me the programmer– each program is written for the individual. The athlete. The person who has set out to achieve a specific goal.

Each program is individual and unique.

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The Speed of Trust

Posted on 9 January 2013 by CoachMeg
I have been audio-'reading' the book, The Speed of Trust, by Steven Covey. This book while designed for the business world, has some valuable insights into developing trust in relationships. I have been learning and utilizing tools to develop trust between my swimmers and myself, and the trust of ourselves as well as each other.
One point brought out in the book is the dynamics of the relationship of trust. Trust, cost and speed are all interrelated. If trust is high, costs are low and speed is fast; while, if trust is low, costs are high and speed is slow.
Again, the dynamic refers to the business world and global economy, but I have observed the dynamics of this relationship within the infrastructure if my high school team. Trust, when it was low, like at the beginning of the season….. Cost us a lot– practice time, etc….. And we were slow to perform in any capacity. As the athletes are 'buying into my coaching philosophy and seeing personal improvement, trust is higher, and so our costs are low– practice is more efficient, drama is minimal, as well as those other time consuming things– and the speed is high….. The girls are swimming faster and producing more.
Throughout the book trust is discussed as an issue in relationships…..employer/employee, business/consumer, family, as well as personal trust, I like the way ideas and guidelines to evaluate and improve trust are started with building self-trust. When one trusts him/herself, the ability to build trust from others is higher.
I am striving to build and maintain high trust relationships. To do the right thing, even when no one is looking.
 
 

 

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Forever Young

Posted on 7 January 2013 by CoachMeg

How does one stay young? I think some of it is attitude toward life.

 

John Wooden stated that, '……I wants to operate to the best of my abilities. I will continue to do the best I can do with what I have. I won't stand still. I will always try to move forward. I want to keep learning. I want to function as well as I am capable of functioning. Whatever comes out of that comes out of that. It will be a by-product of always striving to be the best I can be.'

 

I am currently redefining my professional goals and objectives. I am redefining myself. I am reading everyday– a variety of genres, from novels to textbooks to inspirational books. I am learning new things everyday. I want to stay young physically (or as best as I can), and mentally. I want to have fun everyday, laugh out loud and be silly. It is in this, I am able to coach and gain the respect of my athletes and peers.

 

 

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86,400 Seconds

Posted on 7 January 2013 by CoachMeg

So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. — Ephesians 5: 15-16


There are 86,400 seconds in a day. We can use each of these as we choose, but when the second is gone, we can never get it back. It is gone.

Coach Wooden expected his basketball players to work hard in three areas life– physically, mentally, and emotionally. He asked his players to have their studies first, basketball second and social lives third. (Similarly, I ask the same of my athletes: studies, sport, social lives). In this, discipline is required.

The discipline was not only necessary for the sport, but in time management, and prioritizing choices and goals.

 

As a coach, I am allotted a portion of those seconds to work with my athletes. I need to use this time wisely to develop the best protocols for my athletes, based on the objectives for the training session. I need to program with the end in mind.

As a person, I too am allotted 86,400 seconds in my day. I can use this time wisely, or I can waste it. I am redefining my work, my goals and objectives. I am learning more about coaching and being coached, as I am pursuing this adventure. Today, I spent the day close to home resting and reading. This rest time was valuable. I trust I will be diligent in the use of my time as each days unfolds. I will be accountable for my time.

I am reading the book Coach Wooden One-on-One. It is a daily devotional of inspiring conversations on purpose, passion and the pursuit of success. I look forward to learning and sharing with you some insights I gain from this writing.

 

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Technology

Posted on 6 January 2013 by CoachMeg

As our world becomes more and more technology driven, athletes are able to get instant results on performance. Whether it is GPS, photography, computer movement analysis, various applications for video, stats and computer generated predictions, athletes and coaches have a variety of tools available to assist in overall development of programs and training; overall development of the athlete. AND while I am struggling to keep up with the technology, I wonder if we place too high a role on the gadgets. Is the technology replacing the coaching?

 

I recently watched the movie 'Trouble with the Curve.' The movie raised the question of technology and using it to scout. In the movie, the numbers reported through the stats did not reveal the fact that the athlete struggled hitting curve balls. It was discovered through the sound of the bat when the athlete hit the curve ball. It was observed when a scout watched the swing the athlete took to hit the ball.

I really considered the technology that I have available to me. I use several applications for taping and observing movement patterns for the sports I coach. These provide instant feed back not only for me, but for the athlete I am coaching. It helps the athlete see his performance.

But if I do not know how the movement is supposed to look, or what I should expect to see, having the technology available is not going to assist me in the coaching process. If I do not know what it should sound like, video cannot assist me either.

As coaches, we need to know our sport(s). We need to use all our senses in the coaching process. And when we do, the technology assists us. Technology should enhance and not replace the coaching process.

 

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Practice Perfect Quote

Posted on 6 January 2013 by CoachMeg

The enemies of practice are pride and fear and self-satisfaction.
To practice requires humility. It forces us to admit that we don't know everything.
It forces us to submit to feedback from people who can teach us. But surely practice isn't a sign if weakness — after all, some of the people most famously disciplined about practice are Michael Jordan, Jerry Rice, Roger Federer, Mia Hamm, and Tiger Woods.
To practice isn't to declare, I'm bad.
To practice is to declare, I can be better.

— taken from Practice Perfect, by Doug Lemov

 

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Stepping into 2013

Posted on 1 January 2013 by CoachMeg

I spent the past week enjoying some time visiting my mom and in turn reflecting on the past year, as I prepared for the next. While I do not necessarily believe the new year washes away the choices or results of the past, I believe that times of reflection are imperative in teaching and learning.

 

I needed the time of reflection. I needed some time to grieve. The past year did not bring the bring the successful results to dreams I had been pursuing, and in some situations I needed to separate myself from the situation and completely turn my back and walk away. This was true in both professional and personal aspects of my life. While the choices were not necessarily my first choice, I have no regrets with the path I am now traveling.

I am thrilled to be coaching sports again (field hockey and swimming), and being more involved in the world of running and triathlon. I am privileged to be part of several networks in which I am supported, challenged, and in which I can further my growth as a coach and mentor

I stopped making resolutions many years ago, when I realized that these were feel-good solutions to a bigger problem. Instead, I make goals and create plans. Similar to the programming I write for my athletes, I challenge myself with means to achieve the goals set before me.

 

And I choose a word that will encompass the objective of the year. This word becomes what I aspire to achieve; it represents me and how I will live and work through the year.

 

The word of the year is: Soar.

 

Eagles soar. Eagles are majestic. Eagles soar.

 

Something fascinating about eagles is that they will not fly unless the baby is pushed out of the nest. yes, you read that correctly, THE EAGLE MUST BE PUSHED FROM THE NEST. And so the thrill of soaring is closely associated with the fear of falling. And in this PUSH, this majestic bird is able to soar.

 

I am striving to soar in 2013.

 

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Celebration of Snow

Posted on 31 December 2012 by CoachMeg

Snow has arrived on the south coast of MA. While it was only three inches, you benefit from my laboratory of shoveling.

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To celebrate the snow, I am offering four months of training (running/Tri) at the price of three months. (Buy three, get one free). This is the perfect opportunity for those who have been wanting to start a running program, need guidance/coaching to prepare for a specific race or just want to improve your overall fitness.

For local peeps, the offer includes four private, semi-private or small group training sessions for the price of three.

The offer is valid (you must commit) through 5 January 2013.

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