Safeguarding Athletes: Managing Competition Intensity and Volume

1. “……….. Players must have the physical competence to do the technical stuff and the technical competence to do the tactical stuff In that order.” (Giles, 2005) donnysinge.com

2. What Coaches Fear The Athlete will NOT BE exposed frequently ENOUGH to competition intensity and volume Safeguard Team Co Coaches – Team Performance Director – Sports Scientist – Medical – Athlete These departments need to be on the session planning page in some capacity. The answer to any or all question regarding the athletes situation, session intensity and volume, specific modification and session outcome can be answered by these individuals. donnysinge.com

3. What Physiotherapist Fear The athlete will have TOO FREQUENT exposure to EXCESSIVE TRAINING sessions of competition intensity and volume Safeguard Team Performance Coaches - Skills Coaches - Doctor – Athlete Any modification to the athletes session will be structured and facilitated by one of these staff members and KNOWN to ALL above departments donnysinge.com

4. What Doctors Fear • Team professionals NOT FOLLOWING prescribed SAFE PRACTICE for the athlete to perform and regenerate • Safeguard Team • Head Coach – Physiotherapist – Performance Director – Athlete All of the above departments will have clearly designed their input to sessions, validated all decisions made to change and support each other as professionals and will educate any challenge to this combined decision with PEER support donnysinge.com

5. What the Head of Performance Fears • That the Doctor – Coaches – Medical Staff – Performance Staff are NOT COMMUNICATING to ensure best DECISIONS and practice are applied to the athlete. • Safeguard Team Physiotherapist – Athlete – Skills Coaches – Performance Coaches Through DAILY preview and review debriefings with each other, the performance Coach can enable specific loads and volumes of activity to be completed. Evidence based and relevant modifications to athlete training will enable coaches to touch the systems and priority technical aspects for their athlete. Discussion, challenge and solution based briefing sessions ….. nameless and rankles to ensure contribution …….. always manners. donnysinge.com

6. The next 3 slides are an example of only a few weeks of intensity and preparation. Take particular note of the frequency and specific split of energy systems for each of the sessions. This is workload. This shows training volume, the frequency demonstrates intensity. The schedule indicates planning and foresight. donnysinge.com

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10. CASE STUDY: 1 • Background • (No clinical facts applied to this exercise) Player has lower back and neck discomfort • Factors • Wrestling session is planned and the risk of this discomfort becoming a long term injury or transitioning and manifesting into other negative afflictions is high. The player exhibits discomfort when force applied to back and neck area or excessive groundwork and up downs are performed • Challenges • Player needs this work. Coaches want player to participate. The player fears for his playing position and reputation amongst coaches and peers. This session needs to be modified and modifications adhered too. Player and coach compliance. Identify “who” is responsible for this process to succeed. • Risk: Discussion Topic: • Symptoms could lead to injury. Player out of general training for longer, looses face and feels peer pressure. Risk of a culture of ignoring medical advice is developed, confidence in medical and performance depts is compromised. The cervical vertebrae is at risk of damage or area subject to inflammation and aggravation. Players inclusion in all training is reduced, player cannot participate in match. Personal welfare issues exasperated. OTHERS? ………….. • Solution: Discussion Topic: The session should be tabled to the safeguard staff available and amendments agreed upon and made. Empirical evidence based strategies used to validate the changes. Transparent process with unanimous agreement to ensure compliance. If possible assist supervision. The physical elements of the session should be separated to allow players inclusion. Other critical technical aspects of a tackle can be trained. OTHERS? ………… donnysinge.com

11. CASE STUDY: 2 • Background: • (No clinical facts applied to this exercise)Player has groin issues and has running volumes and intensities capped to 2.5km • Factors: • The player is required as a fullback to cover large areas when in attack and move quickly in a lateral direction when defending, this position covers the highest metre distance during a game. This position must have simulated game pattern play to be neurologically and anaerobically primed for the field. • Challenges: • Volume, acceleration and deceleration are not friends to the weak groin! Identify “who” is responsible for this process to succeed. • Risk: Discussion Topic: • The groin will be aggravated and not recover to train efficiently or play. The accumulated volumes will lead to prolonged absence from training. The player will be affected mentally. The synergist muscles and a compromised running gait will manifest more problems as the body compensates for alignment. Others? …… • Solution: Discussion Topic: Clear session plan. Prioritise drills specific to player gameday task. Structure running metres at acceptable ratios to suit preparation. Clarify risk with coaches. Clarify positive attributes of modification with coaches. Clarify procedure and validity with positive outcomes to athlete. Supervise this element of training. Respectfully challenge discrepancies to the procedures and verbally support player and process. Others? ……… donnysinge.com

12. CASE STUDY: 3 • Background: • Coaching staff member consistently fails to engage medical or heed performance advice • Factors: • Session plans are not followed or produced, medical advice not followed, players are compromised and existing injuries are not repairing. Coach uses senior position and historical campaign experience as validity for their decision making. Coach intimidates by utilising peers as support • Challenges: • How do we communicate respectfully but effectively with this coach? How do we assert ourselves without imposing a “confrontational” environment. This coach needs education to readily absorb your information. This coach cannot see the relationship between his needs, the players and your process. This coach is old school …. tough it out! This coach is influential to player and fellow staff. This coach believes they are acting in the teams best interest and that YOU are not up to speed with the game or sport culture. There is a presence of “insecurity” trust issue. • Risk: Discussion: Too many to list, this scenario will possibly lead to personality conflict, competency challenge amongst staff, negative team culture impact,negativecoaching dynamic, compromised athletic and team progress. Inability to record accurate volume and intensity measurements for a combined workload. Player confidence in periodisation competency. Friction in full coaching staff debriefs. A very reduced capability for you to have this player back to optimal performance. A great risk and high probability of ongoing injury risk whenever this coach is in charge. Others? ………… • Solution: Discussion: Clarify to the coach that you understand and acknowledge that “their” sessions are tactically essential to team performance and the players inclusion is paramount to the execution of game related tasks. That you WANT to work with the coach to ensure he has this player exposed to the specific skill sessions required. Indicate clear modifications which enhance other aspects of technique as alternatives. Demonstrate through education, experience and example that your methods will succeed with minimal and acceptable disruption. Show the process of gradual succession clearly and inform the coach of progress whilst recognising and acknowledging this coaches good practice. Give the athlete strict and clear boundaries with smooth transition to alternative drills so they do not feel disruptive or non compliant to sessions. Others? …………. donnysinge.com