Maintaining Your Readiness During a Period of Uncertainty

A few months ago, it was a near certainty that sports would be cancelled. In response, we all made various changes and adjustments to prepare for a go/no-go decision on the season. 

Everyone was in the same boat.

The decisions and announcements for the Fall 2020 sports season has brought a little hope to some officials...at least for now. Given the uncertainty of how Covid-19 will spread, you probably have equal chances of being:

• called to officiate a game
• notified that the season is delayed
• told that the season is cancelled completely

I take all of those possibilities into account when I plan the weekly workouts for my sports official clients. However, my message stays the same: be ready to hit the field or court, whether it's next week or next year.

Last night when I spoke to one of my clients, he told me his biggest concerns are the start of the season and getting back to work. 

I reminded him that despite not knowing how things will play out, he can still control his nutrition and fitness training:

• Eating the right foods and nutritional supplements
• Keeping the joints and muscles in good working order through cardio and strength training
• Practicing game day movements on a weekly basis
• Staying current on the rules and mechanics 

This era of uncertainty is weighing heavily on many people and questions and doubts fill our minds. 

Stay focused. Strive to stay in GameReady shape.   

Get in touch with me to find out how to stay GameReady!

 

Getting Training & Coaching Game Ready at the 2020 NASO Sports Officiating Summit

I just registered online for the NASO 2020 Sports Officiating Summit to be held August 24-27. With Covid-19 shutting down so many officiating events, this free summit will offer virtual replacements for the clinics we have all grown accustomed to attending throughout the year.

I have spent the last few months focusing this blog on the physical side of officiating. At the summit, I will have an opportunity to get updated on rules, diversity efforts, hear firsthand experiences and view other topics of interest to sports officials. 

I attend conferences like this in order to better understand what officials are concerned about, on and off the playing field/court. In addition, I will use this time to reach out to current colleagues and also to meet some of the presenters online using social media and email messaging. 

Take advantage of these events to identify colleagues to add to your network, increase general knowledge, and hear some great stories to motivate you. I am looking forward to it! 

Register for the summit 

Stay Game Ready. FSE GameReady.

Mechanics of Athletics Part III

It’s second down in a heated game. You’re in position on the field and the play starts. The ball is handed off to a running back and he takes off, barreling in your direction. Suddenly, all of the players are running toward you---and moving fast. You have to make a decision about what to do next, and you have to make it quickly. Do you,

• Dart out the way?
• Jump over the player?
• Get run over?

Watch the video to see what these officials do. 

When I was in college, and long before I decided to become a Sports and Fitness Trainer, I read many books on exercise physiology. One book, Mechanics of Athletics by Geoffrey Dyson, stands out in memory for its simple explanations and illustrations. Today, I use a similar method of breaking down athletic movements for officials striving to improve their performance using techniques of movement mechanics. 

Darting Out of the Way

A quick movement to avoid an impact requires good reflexes, flexibility, and coordination. These skills benefit from excellent calf strength and an ability to lower your center of gravity while moving. Exercises such as calf raises and squats can help you improve in these areas.

Jump Over the Player

Springing over another human takes balance and strong jumping ability. Accomplish these skills by improving functional strength of calf muscles, quads, glutes and hamstrings. An example exercise is a calf raise, balancing on one leg. 

Official soars over player to avoid being hit.

Get Run Over

Clearly, this is not the preferred option but as we can see in the video above, unfortunately even the best officials get knocked down. No matter how athletic you are, the force of being hit by a large and fast player will be detrimental. How quickly you can react and protect yourself during a fall will make the difference in minimizing the impact. For example, if you're going to get hit, the best technique is to roll to break your fall. Check out this video on fall techniques.  

If you are hit during a game, always get medical attention immediately before you decide to continue. With the adrenaline of the game and the fall, you might not feel the full effect of your injuries until the next day. Rest, use ice packs where needed and take extra precautions when returning to your training.

Putting it All Together

Officials have to be ready to put all their training together to make split-second decisions. Some movements do not require a particular technique but rather, the natural instincts to react, the athletic ability to make a move, and the focus to blow the whistle and throw the flag without skipping a beat. 

Expect the unexpected. Be prepared for it. Get Game Ready.

Want to schedule your GameReady training? Contact me today!

Movement Mechanics Part II

It's game day and the players and officials are on the field. The ball is snapped, the quarterback turns and throws it deep. It's intercepted! Immediately, everyone is moving in the opposite direction. The side-sliding LOS and Referee morph into world class sprinters to follow the play as the teams rush toward the end zone.

An interception can happen at any time. How ready are you to react and change direction?

  

Reverse Movement Mechanics

A fumble or an interception require you to quickly convert from a side shuffle to a quick backward run, and then change to a forward sprint. Putting this movement together involves running and transitioning techniques.

I train sports Officials on various techniques, including reverse movement mechanics. Two relevant techniques that I demonstrate are Forward Running Mechanics, and Backward to Forward Transition Mechanics. 

Injury Prevention

As an Official, you want to know what to do to avoid an injury, and what to do to speed recovery if it happens. During techniques training, I also provide injury awareness and prevention information related to the specific movement mechanic. 

For example, hamstring pulls and calf strains are common injuries associated with reverse movements. I provide information such as, Recovering From a Strained Muscle.

During a game, you have to be ready to react to everything that happens on the field. You are only as strong as your weakest movement mechanic.

Work out. Stay fit. Be Game Ready.

  Want to schedule GameReady training? Contact me today!