Goals of Young Athletes
So I was in Long Beach California last week giving a talk at the Perform
Better Summit on the state of youth fitness and sports training.
I got to the portion of my presentation where I hash out the difference
between Principles and Results when it comes to fitness and the
objectives we carry for our client or young athletes success.
I have long maintained that we are far too results-focused and that, in
fact, results are quite easy to achieve when it comes to fitness-related
goals.
But they are often short-lived and extremely temporary because they
are unilaterally pursued and not anchored by the realities of principle-based
methodology.
Simply put, it’s very easy to have a young person lose 10 pounds or
increase their vertical jump by 4 inches in a short-period of time, but
if we do not focus on the long-term success points and create training
routines appropriate to that, then any of the "goals" we achieve will be
gone almost as quickly as they came.
Got me thinking…
How backwards is our industry?
Consistently promising any and all who will listen that we have their
solution.
And it is an "EASY" solution that will only require a "MINIMAL" amount
of work on their part and show results in a very "SHORT" period of time.
Are we really that messed up or am I dreaming up this problem?
What say you?
Let me know below:
The industry (+ pushy parents, & egocentric coaches!) have put the applecart before the horse Brian- thats why i LOVE the IYCA philosophy… build the FOUNDATION first then the structure (youths/ fitness programs/ future athletes) will stand STRONG, with decreased injury incidence, more focus on enjoyment & development, longevity in their athletic participation/careers & for that 1% a career as a pro athlete!
I agree with you. What we sell is not easy. It is a complete lifestyle change, that you must maintain throughout a lifetime. I look at most of the athletes that I played with and they are now over weight/obese and no longer are comitted to living out the dedication it took to stay in shape during their playing days (daily workouts, proper nutrition, proper supplementation, rest). We need to stress that what our clients and athletes are learning is a skill set that needs to be carried out for a lifetime…this is not easy!
Yes, the general population is really that messed up. There are those that choose to be educated by us and reap the long term benefits. These are sincere and outstanding individuals. They are my favorite and ideal clients but they are few. Don’t be dismayed, our task is arduous but worth it!
Who are you talking about? The public in general or IYCA members? Yes, the public is results oriented, but then so are we. The difference is, we have chosen the better path. To sit back and think we are not results oriented is some “pie-in-the-sky” altruistic mentallity that is not going to keep many businesses alive too long. If as IYCA members, we show that athlete how to lose the 10# he or she needs to lose or gain 4″ on their vertical then we have done it correctly.
Yes, results are important, how you get them is also important.
I think people get confused between results and goals. Results are benchmarks, they give us feedback that helps us asses whether or not we are making progress towards a long standing goal. A goal is something that we live for like climbing Mt. Whittney, raising a loving family or creating a profitable business. Humans don’t live for results and that is why results “result” (pun intended) in only short-term success.
It’s our job to point out this distinction in our respective careers.
I just gave a presentation to a group of business professionals this morning basically summing up my crazy life and how fitness has helped me. My take on fitness is that it comes in handy for survival (obviously), but when it comes down to thriving, not merely being alive, you can draw from fitness to live your fullest life. Being results oriented is important as a step along the journey to fitness, but it is not the end-all-be-all. When put into perspective properly, results have their place.
I agree 100%.We are a results base society. I watched a special on CNN a year about obsity. One docter put it bestwhen he said we are experts in losing weight but can seem to keep it off. I feel as people don’t count the cost. They see the new fast and easy way and buy right into the result without really thinking how much really work it will take. It is the hardest the in the world to break habits. This why people need motivation and accountability. We as trainers need to be real and honest and count the cost of what it will tale for them. People need help, sugarcoating and side stepping around hard work and disicpline can’t keep happening! Speak truth in Love, that’s me anwser.
I agree totally that our industry is results based, and that it is a shame. Clients,athletes and parents look for that fix. Most of the time they are looking to see the benefits within the first month. I have had many parents come and ask me if I see any progress in thier child after our second session. I always answer by telling them that their child seems to be grasping what I am trying to teach and that it will take some time for us to get some “real results. Now, even as frustrating as the parents and clients can be the worse thing about results base is the fact that many trainers and coaches now train for that quick result. They have lost the desire to teach for longevity. It is all about the quick “numbers change” and the potential amount of money that can follow. Brian, I don’t always agree with everything that you say, but this point is absolutely dead on.
The way that I do my part to fight this trend starts before the first session. I always tell parents and athletes that my ultimate goal is to teach them what they need to be an athlete. If I just wanted to make them tired I could just run them down the street for their entire session. If they do not come out of my training with some understanding of what is right or wrong, then I have failed them, even if they have gotten faster. Great topic, keep them coming.
I don’t think that living in a result based society is a bad thing, it’s what got us where we are. However, I belive that in the sight of health and fitness, the way society thinks it should be able to happen like “that” is all worng. To be truly heathy it takes time and decipline, there is no easy way around it.
Responsible fitness pros do not promise easy, minimal time investment or short periods of time. We have a responsibility to educate the client and the parent when appropriate about the long term approach that is necessary to create sustainable fitness, performance and wellness. It is a battle to counteract the misinformation and pseudo-science that abounds in the media and from misguided trainers and coaches. It is vital to educate the athletes, parents and especially their coaches who have the most consistent contact with them.