Friday, June 19, 2015

The Importance of Measuring Progress


The Importance of Measuring Progress
 
What are the developmental objectives of your Judo program? How are your players progressing toward those objectives? Are your players meeting your expectations? How do you measure progress of your players? More to the point; Do you measure the progress of your players?

“That which is not measured cannot be improved.”

Measurement is really a very simple concept. However, being able to measure effectively requires a few preparatory decisions.

1)     You and your players need to understand WHY you’re measuring.

2)     You need to decide WHAT you’re going measure.

3)     You need to decide HOW you’re going to measure.

4)     You need to decide WHEN, or how often, you’re going to measure.

5)     You need to decide on a method for recording your measurements.

What to Measure -----

As the Coach, you have to decide what to measure based on the needs of your players and your developmental objectives. In my Judo program I focus on two key areas of development;

a)     The Seven Requisite Habits of Competitive Judo

b)    Physical Fitness

Seven Habits of Competitive Judo -----

Research has revealed the seven habits common to elite Judo competitors.

Inside Power Hand: Your power hand must be placed to generate maximum rotational force. The term "power hand" must not be taken literally. In actuality your "power hand" can be any part of your body with which you push the defender's back toward the mat. Maximum rotational force is generated when your "power hand" is placed inside, and toward the outer edges, of the area spanned by the opponent's shoulders, preferably between the sternum and the inside edge of the shoulder. Gripping configurations such as Back Grips, Cross Grips, Over Shoulder Grips etc., are not obvious as regards power hand placement. Many, aggressively dominant, gripping configurations transfer the force with which the defender's back is pushed to the mat via contact through the attacker's chest or side. Irrespective of the form of the attacker's "power hand"; hand, elbow, chest, etc., the most efficient contact point is inside, and toward the outer edges, of the defender's shoulder span.

Feet Never Still: Your first line of attack must be movement. Your first line of defense is always movement. Movement exposes vulnerability in the opponent's position. Movement keeps you out of harms way.

Chest to the Hole: Driving your chest to the "hole", into which you intend to push your opponent, affords maximum commitment to your throwing action. Driving your chest to the "hole", into which your opponent intends to push you, reduces the possibility of your attacker receiving a score. Driving your chest to the "hole", into which your opponent intends to push you, increases the possibility of wresting the initiative of the situation from your attacker.

Inside Leg Step Around: Movement is always your first line of defense. Inside leg step around is your secondary, and perhaps most important, line of defense. Inside leg step around keeps your chest toward the hole. The inside leg step around fills the "hole", into which your opponent intends to push you, with your leading leg.


Up-Hill Turn: During ground play, the possibility of escape is determined by the defender's initial reaction. If the defender turns down-hill, away from the attacker, he/she (defender) actually exposes him/herself to greater control. Conversely, an up-hill turn reduces your area of exposure and creates space through which to escape.

Knees Off The Mat: Resting on your knees, severely, restricts your mobility. Resting on your knees limits your ability to force your opponent to bear your weight. Get yourself to your feet so you can move where and when you need to move. Knees are for begging. Your feet are for moving!

Position of Control: The first step in any ground play situation is to stop and think. Evaluate the situation and determine your necessary action. Your objective is, of course, to maintain mobility while depriving the opponent's ability to move. If you want to restrict the opponent's movement, place yourself in position to apply immobilizing pressure at an angle of between 45 and 90 degrees across the opponent's torso. Conversely, if you want to maintain or regain your mobility square your shoulders with the opponent.

Monitoring Physical Fitness -----

The Level II USJA Coaching Course recommends measuring stamina, functional strength and flexibility. These traits may be measured through simple trials such as;

Timed distance run

Push-Ups performed in one minute

Sit-Ups performed in one minute

Measured Sit and Reach[1]

Physical fitness trials should be performed at regular intervals. Results should be recorded and used to monitor progress.

Recording Methods -----

Recording methods can be as simple as a sheet of graph paper or as complicated as a specially designed computer application. Your recording method should be easy to use. Your recording method must also allow you to keep records over an extended period of time. Given the ubiquity of computer-based graphics, data management and word processing programs development of a team development system is within reach for all.

Why Measure? -----

Why should you bother to measure your players' progress? After all, it means more paperwork. It means finding time to perform the tests. It means learning to use the information. Besides, you already know how well your players are doing. Right?! No doubt, your players know exactly where they stand in their development. Right?

We had proverb in the quality department. "In God we trust, all others bring data". Until you have proof of your theory you have nothing more than unsubstantiated conjecture and supposition. At the very best you're making an education guess. The development of your players is far too important to trust unsubstantiated conjecture. Measurement at regular interval keeps you informed of exactly where your players are and exactly where they need to go. 

There is one more, extremely important, reason to measure progress. We all seek to reinforce our self-worth through accomplishment and approval of significant figures in our lives. A carefully established and properly administered program of measurement reinforces and rewards the effort put into a hard training program. When we receive positive reinforcement we feel good about ourselves. We when we feel good about ourselves to want to do what makes us feel good even more, in this case hard training for competition. The more we do the better we feel and subsequently the better our Judo becomes. It's a positive spiral set off by your efforts to be a better Coach. Admittedly, measuring a player's progress takes a little extra effort but the benefits far exceed the effort. How do your efforts measure-up?



[1] Physical Fitness tests are described in the USJA Level II Coaching Certification Course manual.

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