Hugh Byrne

Wonderful quote by an old friend no longer with us unfortunately - Coach Gennadi Touretski: "Adding more volume is the LAST resort". Gennadi added, "A coach must consider all the possiblities when an athlete is not performing to their potential. Simply adding more work should be the last resort. Firstly consider technique, then skills, mental approach, attitude - then - if the solution you seek is not found - add more training volume. But if your immediate response to every performance problem is "lets do more training" - you will very soon hit an unsumountable performance limit". Totally agree. It's no good adding volume unless the actual problem is volume related. Read more about his philosophies here - an article I wrote a while ago - but his thinking and intelligence are timless and apply to all sports. swimmingworldmagazine.com/ne…

Today's #coaching story. I was invited to participate in a #player development workshop. A colleague of mine - an experienced, highly credentialled professional football player was asked to do a "motivation" type talk to the group of 16 year olds who'd been selected in a representative team and were heading to the national championships. He told them, "I've been in your seat. I've been a 16 year old in this very team - 20 years ago". He then asked, "Of all the players who were in that team with me 20 years ago - how many do you think played professional football?" One player said, "12?" Another answered "10?" Another player replied "6?". My colleague touched his chest, looked at the group and said, "Only me". He then followed with, "So why only me?" One of the players said, "Because you were the most talented?" He laughed and said, "I'm a defender. You don't need #talent for that.". He answered his own question..."Because I loved the game more than anyone else. I slept with my favourite ball on my bed. I dribbled and kicked the ball all the way to school every day. On non-training days I organized little games with other players in my neighbourhood. I lived the game". #Coaching message - TALENT IS OVER-RATED. Create an environment where everyone you #coach falls in love with the experience of playing - and the rest is up to them.