ATHLETES USE 3000 YEAR OLD CONDITIONING PRINCIPLES TO INNOVATE… FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE

CEDAR FALLS IA, February 4, 2016 -- THE SPORT JOURNAL, a peer-reviewed journal of sports, published a paper authored by Jed Smith and Peter Smolianov titled, “The High Performance Management Model: From Olympic and Professional to University Sport in the United States”. It describes the development and value of having someone manage the balancing of all the elements of an Athlete's life necessary to produce consistent, healthy, long term, valuable, satisfying high-level performances.

Most Athletes and Organizations assume this philosophy and doctrine is only for large organizations and systems. But if you think outside of the box a bit, it is easy to see the elements that are universally applicable; whether for a single athlete or for a massive organization.

Here are 3 ways athletes in organizations like the Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Dolphins, Tottenham Hotspur, Notre Dame, and University of Oregon have benefited from High Performance Management Modeled systems:

1.   LIFE SKILLS & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: Refine mission communication, design-develop-deploy time management systems that fit the athlete, learn to empower others, and cultivate adaptability and objectivity. As the Athlete worked within the High-Performance system created by the organization, they were the key element effecting the design, development and deployment of their customized application of the system. It resulted in a real shift in the Athlete's Life Skills and Leadership abilities.

2.   TOOLS FOR BUILDING SUCCESS: Assess program efficacy, define Athlete's values, apply positive reinforcement, plan for growth, encourage communication, empower the Athlete, and collect feedback. During their work in the system, the Athlete uses a number of tools and methods for problem-solving, innovating and creating quality relationships. Helping them address challenges in Sport and in Life.

3.   CULTIVATES KEY CHARACTERISTICS: Instills confidence, promotes high emotional intelligence, develops communication skills, builds social connections, and stimulates adaptability. As Athletes experience the system, they develop key ingredients necessary to reduce anxiety and increase enthusiasm. Creating positive experiences that catalyze the development of these powerful attributes.

Design, Develop, Deploy… SUCCESS!

“The principles of conditioning for performance have not changed in the last 3000 years, they are not going to change in the next 50…”

~ COACH RHINO

SUMMARY

The High Performance Management Model is a time-tested and proven method to assure our Athletes have Happy, Healthy and Successful lives. For well over 3000 years, since the beginning of organized physical performances, like defending one’s home or preparing for battle or ancient Olympic games, we humans have developed systems to elevate our levels of performance.

From Assyrian Archers to the Gladiators of the "Ludi" to the Mongols and their horses, and even the Zulu Warriors with their shield and spear... from rites of passage to fully developed martial arts to people trying to run their first marathon - all their performances were honed and improved by a systematic approach to the development of the whole person. Elements of these systems have not changed over these 3 millennia: attend to the nutritional needs and limitations of the Athlete (physical performer); design activities that stimulate, activate and modify specific physiological components of the Athlete; and assure that the Athlete has all the resources necessary to recover, repair and regenerate in a scheduled, periodic programmed manner.

Check out this example of how the High Performance Management Model is being used:

High Quality Video Demonstrating the Athlete’s High Performance Model