3. Back to the Drawing Board
After the IPT’s, it’s time to reflect and regroup
Once the dust has settled, it is time to reflect on the past 12 months. Think about what worked and what didn’t and set the ball in motion to get ready for the next season cause 2018 is around the corner.
This time of the year, the coaches spend quite a bit of time re-looking at the programs and doing an in depth analysis of all the wins and losses, as well as the results and final finishes of the top juniors. This process is done with an open mind and only once the emotions of the losses have subsided. At this time of the year, parents often have a knee jerk reaction and start planning a whole new training program to hopefully get their child to compete or play in the SA Top 10 in the next season. Although this is a perfectly normal reaction, it needs to be avoided as it doesn’t provide the results.
When reflecting on the past season, the following factors need to be kept in mind:
- Firstly and most importantly – attendance at training sessions – did the players attend consistently and put in the required effort at each of the sessions whether they enjoyed the drills or not?
- Did they participate in tournaments outside of their home ground?
- Did they do extra training or matches over and above the basic programme?
Going back to the drawing board and regrouping is an important part of the World of Squash programme. The coaches are critical of their own performance and know that the same cannot be done year after year, so there will be changes and there will be new activities added to the mix. Parents and coaches should sit and work the best plan for each player and see where positive changes can be made and implemented. The band aid approach to squash has never produced long term results and chopping and changing training programs has also never produced long term results.
Players who consistently perform at the top of their game, do just that … consistently perform in all aspects of the game. Consistently attend training, consistently play matches in leagues and tournaments as well as grab opportunities to play against stronger and different players and they consistently work on their improvement.
The process will get most players to the top, and by having a consistent approach to the game will also make the journey more enjoyable.
The 2018 season is around the corner, commit to consistency and use all the opportunities available that the programme offers, and in next 12 months, the results will be talking for themselves! Continue in an ad hoc fashion, and the results will also be ad hoc.
Now s the time to reflect and regroup and to get the plan together for 2018… with consistency.