Your POISE as a coach in pressure situations

I often go through my library randomly and spend an hour or two in a book I have previously read. 100% of the time I find something valuable to implement or mention to other coaches. In Developing an Offensive Game Plan, written by Brian Billick, he mentions how a change in your demeanor during pressure situations could be misinterpreted by your players as you “losing your cool.” Instead, warn your players that the game situation may change you a little but that doesn’t mean the situation has gone desperate. If your athletes know ahead of time that you anticipate a little more “crazy” in your voice at certain points of the game, they are less likely to lose faith in your play calling abilities.

Functional Movements

Functional movements on the other hand focus on training movements that do connect. They may not be fancy and use equipment that beeps and has flashing lights but the movements get results. They enhance linkage and connect body parts to produce coordinated movements that transfer to the competition arena.

http://www.functionalpathtrainingblog.com/2011/12/the-training-session-some-thoughts.html

Will a 31-year-old former athlete addicted to ice cream and apple fritters ever see his abs again?

This morning I got fed up. Started the morning with 4 eggs, an orange and some blueberries and felt great. Then papa brought in an apple fritter and a pink french old-fashioned and I lost my mind (in Fresno for the weekend). For 30 seconds I was happy I as mowing down a delicious Sunday morning treat but that feeling left shortly after the last bite. Then I got to thinking, why do I eat things I know have ZERO nutritional value? I am all about treating your taste buds, but most people, including myself, indulge a little more than appropriate.

So, I decided this morning enough is enough. This body is the ONLY ONE I WILL EVER HAVE, so why not make it like a sharp sword? Only one time in my life was I ever referred to as the fat kid so most people would not consider me obese, but I have some excess storage on me I could afford to get rid of. Honestly, why cruise life as a soft body when I can wake up feeling strong and confident? I am going for the six-pack, and I don’t mean Red Stripe. Not for the look (though I am sure Amanda won’t mind) but more for the knees and hips when I am running (and the bulge sitting over the front of my laptop at this very moment). Also, to be 10 pounds lighter will do wonders for joint pain.

My plan: going on a strict Paleo diet for the next 3 months. My biggest hurdle will be not eating apple fritters and ice cream, aka Manna from Heaven. For Fitness, I don’t need to change much, just keep swimming, cycling, sprinting, and lifting though I have created a schedule now instead of the more random approach.

Like I always tell my clients, the upkeep is the easy part. The hard part is getting to the point where upkeep is the main goal. Do you have a goal for the next few months? 

Triathlon Training is here…finally!

Its been a year and a half since my last triathlon. That is just too long! I live in a place that breeds almost as many triathletes as San Diego (I don’t know if that is true, but there are a lot here) and I have yet to do one. So, after going to the Millerton Lake Triathlon yesterday to watch my friends and clients tear up the course, I sat down and created my tri season. This season I have 3 triathlons, starting with a Half Ironman, then a sprint, then finishing with a long course with one of my awesome clients, Dave. BONUS: Amanda is going to complete her first triathlon! Hopefully she will update her blog like she did last year with her marathon. Yeah baby!

Dave McClain, Millerton Sprint

My 2011 Tri Schedule:
July 17th-Vineman 70.3 Half Triathlon
July 24th- San Luis Obispo Sprint Triathlon
Oct 1st- Scott Tinley Long Course Triathlon

Next year: Full Ironman, followed by a tattoo of the Ironman symbol

A quick update on living here in SLO:
Living in San Luis Obispo has so far been a pretty great experience. I am no longer training folks in person, instead I have a few clients on train via the web and conference calls. I was slowly building my business using MINDBODY Business Management software until I got the opportunity to tour their main office. I loved the company so much that a few weeks later I became an employee selling their software to other fitness professionals, including tattoo parlors, yoga studios, and hair/nail salons. It’s a great company and I am truly excited to go to work everyday. Plus, I usually get in around 9am and I’m off by 5 so planning a triathlon training schedule around that is cake.

Just want to say thank you to all the people who have been so supportive in our move to the coast. Leaving all my friends, family, and clients was a very difficult thing but it really gave me a sense of who the real important people in my life were. It’s funny what a move like this does. All the drama you thought was important just kind of melts away, including the relationships you thought were important but really weren’t. I always tell young adults to leave the place they grew up, even if it’s for only a few years. It’s such a growing experience to leave the place you grew up so you can grow some wings and really discover who you are. Then, if you do end up going back to the place you were raised, you can add great value to that community.

Moving to San Luis Obispo

So, my Bride, who is running in her first marathon next week (click here to see her journey in blog form) was promoted in her job as a marketer at REC Solar. REC Solar is located in San Luis Obispo, Ca. Part of the agreement of her accepting the position is to live in SLO and work out of their headquarters. (I’ll be honest, it did not take much convincing for me to agree to move to the coast!)

I have been a personal trainer and group instructor in Fresno now for over 4 years. Being a personal trainer has been an amazing experience. My journey took has taken me everywhere from bootcamps in local parks to strength trainer at a major university to doing what I love most: one on one personal training. Yesterday it was brought to my attention that I was voted #2 fitness instructor in all of Fresno, according to Fresno Magazine. I have some incredible clients whom I brag about all the time. They continue to surpass the goals we set together.

Sadly, I have to say goodbye to some amazing clients at the end of November at One on One Fitness and Pilates. Gil Roberts has created an amazing place for an independent trainer to work and any trainer there should feel very lucky to be there. I highly recommend him and another trainer there, Deja LaMoure. Speaking of trainers, some of my clients will start training with Tanner Munro, a trainer at GB3 on Fowler and Herndon, and my brother-in-law.

Lastly, and dearest to my heart, was saying goodbye to coaching at Saroyan Elementary.

Sumer Avila-Jackson is an INCREDIBLE principal whom I deeply respect. In the last 10 years, I have coached almost every team they have, and even acted as the athletic director. When the district went to tackle football, I was there to take 3 teams to the last game of the year, winning twice. I even got to teach with my friend Char Graham, my best man, Chris Epperley and one of my favorite former students, Manny Gomez. It was a great 3 years.

So that is it! We are moving as soon as we find a place in SLO. Good times, huh? I hope when any of my friends are passing through you call. Amanda and I will have dinner waiting for you