S B Coaches College - Team Training is Like Dog Training




		Team Training is Like Dog Training *Robb Rogers, M.Ed, CSCS*

I have had the privilege of training athletes in team settings for over 25 years in the high school, collegiate and professional settings. Much of that time has been devoted to football teams but I have had the opportunity to train teams that have included NCAA champion tennis and volleyball teams, conference champion teams in baseball, track and field and basketball, as well as playoff teams in hockey. I have also trained teams that compete in crew, soccer, wrestling, diving, equestrian and sailing. The science of training is important when it is properly applied to the individual, the positional demands and the sport itself. The traditions of the sport must also be taken into consideration as well as the preferences of the particular coach. However, if toughness, leadership and maturity are expected to be fostered during the training process, then the application of training science should include similar techniques used in training animals.

For example, if you are training a dog to heel, you would put a choke chain or sturdy collar on the dogs’ neck and attach it to a quality leash. As you begin to walk, you would approach a corner and give the dog a verbal and visual command to “heel”. The dog, unaccustomed to such structure would continue along, eager to cross the road. At that point the leash and collar would be put into use and the dog would be physically restrained from continuing. The verbal and visual commands are repeated as the dog quizzically looks up at you. He is now stopped and at this point you tell him what a good dog he is and reward him with your voice, maybe a quick pet and possibly even a treat. The light allows you to cross and you continue on to the next intersection and you repeat the process. By the third or fourth light, the smart dogs will begin to “heel” for the reward of verbal reinforcement, petting and possibly a treat. The slower dogs will require more training. They may still not understand the agenda of going for a walk or verbal and visual commands being employed, but they are eager to please and enjoy being part of the team that is going for a walk. The willful dogs that prefer to use their own agenda for travel rather than the coaches, er, masters will offer up the opportunity for application of some negative reinforcement in the form of a more physical use of the collar and leash. They may prefer to run after cars, other animals or the nearest inviting tree. The last thing they want to do is go for a walk with the master as they prefer to do their own thing and let the master chase after them. How does this relate to training athletes you ask?

I have seen some dogs, uh, athletes allowed to show up late, not attend class, skip study hall and tutors and it is now the assistant coaches job to chase down the real story as to why the miss occurred, who was at fault for the communication problem and if the “rule” should actually be in effect which would be cause for some form of punishment. I have had coaches ask why so and so missed a workout and if I went over to the dorm and got him to come and train. I have had athletes show up late for workouts with their coach and the rest of the team is already training and the coach say it’s ok, because the athlete was with them. I am sure that would be unacceptable if the circumstances were reversed and it was a practice session the athlete was late for because they were finishing up in the weight room. Athletes that will not conform to this system become the responsibility of the coaches. If the rule system is not reliable, valid and consistent, then each situation is cause for debate and appeal with consideration to who did what, where it happened and who knows or is likely to find out about it. If the system has reliability, validity and is consistent, then none of those factors are relevant, only the fact of the situation and it is the responsibility of the athlete to be accountable for his responsibilities and actions at all times. The best rule system I have ever been personally involved with had a grand total of five rules. Those rules were:

Represent – yourself, your family, your school, your team and your town with honor and dignity at all times.
Make Good Choices – on and off the field.
Be on Time – for everything.
Work Hard – do your best at home, school, work, practice and competition.
Communicate – If you or a teammate has a problem, communicate.

Pretty simple, but it covers a lot of ground. The punishment for transgressions must be clear, swift and fair. The coach is not put in the position of deciding what happens for each individual person in each situation. The system is set and the rules and concepts are understood and more importantly accepted by all. Just like the dogs, certain players will make themselves volunteers so the team can observe if the coach is a man of their word. When a coaching change occurred, I would counsel teams to make a conscious choice to be part of the problem or part of the solution. The new coach is usually hired due to problems and they are going to provide solutions. If you are not on board and accepting of the agenda, then you are going to be perceived as part of the problem. At that point, a quality coach will make an example of you and may even decide you no longer need to be a member of this team.

We’ve all seen athletes that are not able to compete at a high level due to lack of talent. This lack of talent may be expressed as lack of speed, quickness, strength, power, technique, experience, or game awareness. There are also athletes that seemingly have all the tools but the one that frustrates coaches the most. Call it what you will, lack of heart, passion, willpower or mental toughness, this missing attribute is just as deadly as lack of any of the measurable. An old coach told me there are three types of athletes that compete in team sports. They reminded him of horses going for a drink at the pond. Horses are not the brightest animals on the planet. When they arrive at the pond to drink, some need to have a little water splashed on their face before they get with the program. Others are a little more obstinate and must have their head pushed under the surface a couple of times in order to become accustomed to the agenda. The final group of horses tend to need their face shoved under the surface and want to have the coach go around behind and suck start their rear end. He preferred to disassociate with that type of athlete as they always find a distraction, an excuse, or a reason that interferes with high level preparation and performance.

Remember, training your team is simple, if you treat them like dogs.

I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something good in men that really yearns for discipline. Vince Lombardi