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
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?
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