Coaches believe that technique should not be touched. They firmly believe that technique is an individual thing that is innate to each individual. However, these ideas could not be further from the truth. One of the most effective ways to improve sports performance is to improve technique.
From past experiences and from scientific studies, it can safely be said that effective technique can contribute up to 50 percent of the athlete’s success. The other 50 percent is from his/her physical abilities that are specific to the technique. Keep in mind that all training should be directed to developing strength and other skills in order to perform better, or, execute the game skills better. Merely being stronger or faster does not make a better athlete by itself. It must relate to skills, or the athlete’s technique.
Technique is a learned skill. You learn how to run, throw, jump, and kick. You are not born with these abilities, and they are developed over the years. How well they are developed differs with each individual and is usually based on the coaching or instruction that the individual received in school or on an athletic team. All too often, however, the instruction is very meager. The athlete who improves greatly in technique is usually the one who learns through trial and error, not because of what he is taught.
Technique teaching is a virtually ignored art. This can readily be seen by perusing just about any book on technique in any sport. For example, in sports such as baseball, when the coach teaches hitting, he or she usually gives general recommendations. This may include keep your eyes on the ball, swing level, shift your weight, break your wrists, or brace your front leg. However, one doesn’t learn when all the key joint actions occur, the sequence in which they occur, or even an analysis of some of the top hitters in the leagues. You may find some general descriptions but nothing that is precise in detail in regard to the above mentioned factors. The same applies to other sports.
Even in golf, in which swing instruction relies heavily on good technique, there is very little, if any, information on the exact sequence of actions, timing of each action, and the role that each action plays. Instead, we see the profusion of different methods of teaching, all of which teach different techniques.
In golf, as in other sports, we find a multitude of opinions as to what occurs in various phases or joint actions of the swing. We do not find a complete, bonafide, true analysis of the skill technique. You may find this hard to believe, but if you doubt these words, simply go to the literature and find at least one detailed description of a golf swing or skill involved in your sport. It should not be a picture of what occurs but a detailed analysis of each joint action, the sequence of their occurrence, the role that each action plays, and so on. If you find any that have such information, please feel free to share it with us so that we can let others know about it also.
For more information on technique and the role that it plays, see Build a Better Athlete, Explosive Running, Explosive Basketball Training, and Explosive Golf, all of which have very detailed analyses and descriptions of the technique involved in these and other sports.
Elite Fitness Systems strives to be a recognized leader in the strength training industry by providing the highest quality strength training products and services while providing the highest level of customer service in the industry. For the best training equipment, information, and accessories, visit us at www.EliteFTS.com.