Relationships over spreadsheets — BASC

Take home message

NOT ALL DECISIONS ARE MADE WITH EXCEL.

For S&C Coaches

Be willing to use subjective feel to guide the science. We are coaching people, not robots.

For Athletes

Training is a stress to plan and monitor. So is life. Have these discussions with your coach.

I’ve found the past year to be a frequent juggle between spreadsheets and relationships – head versus heart. More than usual. Like many S&C coaches, I make decisions based on the numbers – test scores, training data or match metrics. As a ‘modern’ S&C coach, I had a very objective upbringing as exercise and sport science student. I read research articles and learnt about ‘p values’ and significance. Facts and figures are easier. You cannot argue with numbers. GPS and cloud databases are gold mines for sport scientists.

However, not every decision can be measured with a formula. Sure, like any S&C nerd, I refer to Excel to keep training volume in check. My conditional formatting clearly telling me what players have done and the dynamic graphs recommending future training loads to avoid the dreaded ‘spike’. However, a few times this year, decisions have been made, that I initially thought, “Whoa. That graph is heading the wrong way; I don’t like this.” But it was the right decision because it accounted for factors which the all knowing cloud cannot see.

Strength and conditioning is easy. Coaching is hard. We can measure reps and sets. It is harder to measure mental stress, distraction and pressure, which are real and impact athletes (and coaches!). Especially with major selection on the horizon. I know there are monitoring systems that apply arbitrary numbers to these factors, so you can “measure” them. But not everyone answers these subjective questions objectively or has access to these forms of monitoring.

However, we all have access to conversation. Speak to your athletes and teammates. Sometimes you can make rational decisions based on emotions. We are dealing with people after all.

As a result, I think I’ve upped the level of fun and unpredictability in my training. Having options because what I had planned or thought, just doesn’t feel right and I think I need a spark, or a change. There are still the basics, but I think they are camouflaged in options and athlete collaboration. I think the current environment requires more, ‘distraction’, more spontaneity and improvisation. Plus having to create variety all the time broadens the ability to adapt as your options are larger.

My advice is next time you are looking for your answers in the spreadsheet, make sure you include context in the formula. And make time for a chat. A lot of value in talking.

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Thanks again. BA.