Reply To: Game Intelligence / Decision Training

John the Colombian delivered a clinic on coaching philosophy and how it shapes GIT yesterday at a Minor Soccer seminar. Rob Cookson, a long-time assistant coach in the NHL, and I attended. Rob was very impressed with how well-read John was and thought he presented a difficult topic very capably and in a thought-provoking manner. It was very well done. Rob took two pages of notes.

John is going to forward me his presentation once he 'polishes it up' and I will post it here.

Everything starts with philosophy…! Are you able to articulate yours? Do you have it written down? How often do you look at it? When times are tough, does your philosophy act as your 'cornerstone' and allow you to move forward in a direction aligned with your philosophy?

After the philosophy presentation, we observed an hour of TRX training instruction and demos on the SAIT soccer field; delivered by John's two sons. They are in great shape and showed how to adapt the TRX to sport specific movements (soccer and hockey). We started using TRX training for our soccer training groups this spring and are looking to incorporate it next fall with our hockey programs. It is a very functional (and tough!) workout that helps improve Fundamental Movement Skills and the ABC's. It really activates your core and stabilizers – even when you are doing upper and lower body exercises. It is very adaptable to different ages, sizes and abilities. It is 'safer' than weights with young kids as it is body weight only.

Rob was inspired to come see today's training session with Grade 7 kids this morning (we played the Time Machine with 21 skaters and 4 goalies for 35 minutes.) Former NHL'er Martin Gelinas also attended this morning as he too was curious with what we do and how, as people are talking about the great results we are having from our Game Intelligence Training methodology. (I coached Martin in 1998 at the World Championships; he also trained with me during the late 1990's / early 2000's as I used to train a group of minor hockey kids, a group of juniors and a group of pros M-F for 5-6 weeks every summer.) Martin is the current director of player development with the Nashville Predators. It sounds like there might be a possibility for some future collaboration…