Understanding Knowledge Gaps (And How to Find Good Help!)
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)
Athletic development is confusing and you are not equipped to be leading the charge - in today’s landscape, it is impossible for one person to know everything
If you want to play your sport at a higher level, you will need help, but be careful whose advice you seek
The selection process of experts must be based on education, talent, experience and peer affirmation
I much prefer a donkey pinata, but that’s a personal choice.
Your Journey Is a Donkey Sized Pinata
For most young athletes, athletic development is akin to throwing on a blindfold, getting spun around a half dozen times, then attempting to hit a pinata: It’s difficult, slightly nauseating, there are far too many people screaming instructions, and the closer you get to success, the louder and more divisive those voices become.
Add in a bloody target that won’t seem to stay still, and your chances of success (that sweet, succulent candy) don’t look so great.
This analogy gets played out in the real world far too often. The path to sporting success is long, rocky, hidden and there are multiple routes to choose from. Some end in success, buy many more end in burnout and disappointment.
As previously detailed here, the path requires an athletic education, good habits, and a great deal of time and patience.
Naturally, we turn to experts in an attempt to gain the skills we need. We hire nutritionists, strength coaches, skill coaches, sprint coaches, psychologists and agents to guide the process. Other times we keep it in house, turning to family and trust friends who have a background in these areas. We choose these specialized experts carefully and work under the assumption that they are immensely skilled at their craft and can help us achieve our goals.
You Know Nothing. We Know Nothing. Nobody Knows Anything!
As the standard for elite athletes continues to push higher, the need for experts becomes more apparent. The more convoluted the route to the top of your sport, the less likely for an individual to do it alone. When sport was more of an amateur vocation and the monetary stakes much less, one could reach the top solo. Fortunately or not, the professionalization of sports has raised the stakes for everyone involved, making it almost impossible for the aspiring athlete to know everything involved. The problems occur when that athlete ignores this fact and believes they have all the answers.
This concept is reflected in our history as a species. A hunter-gatherer in the Stone Age knew how to mend clothing, build fire, hunt small prey and escape predators. That was the entire world. They did not need to know any more than this and were taught these survival skills from birth. By the time they hit puberty, a young Stone Age boy or girl possessed all of the knowledge required to successfully live their life.
But as our society has evolved and grown increasingly more complex, humans have continued to hold the belief that we know everything there is to know about everything. But, we actually know far less than ever before. We rely on group thinking and cooperation and require the help of specialized experts for almost everything. When’s the last time you successfully changed a tire, installed a toilet or did your own taxes? Are you qualified to understand the difference between aerobic and anaerobic power and how to train them effectively at age appropriate levels and at time-appropriate intervals? What about the concepts of self-regulation (starting a new task) and continuing on that task (motivation)?
And assuming you are indeed supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, can you teach them…effectively?
“No enemy is worse than bad advice.”
Cognitive scientists Steven Sloman and Phillip Fernbach deem this, “The Knowledge Illusion”: We think we know a lot, we individually know very little, and we treat the knowledge of others as our own. In reality, your mom is a terrible sprint coach, your dad knows nothing about physiology, and your high school crew cannot help with your golf swing.
It doesn’t make sense to try and do it on our own. We need help. So we turn to the experts…
What Makes Someone an Expert?
The library of a highly skilled expert, or Ron Burgundy’s apartment? You decide.
In his book, “The Death of Expertise,” author Tom Nichols defines expertise as an intangible but recognizable combination of education, talent, experience and peer affirmation. Consider the following four traits of an expert and ask if your coaches fit into these categories.
Education: Formal training/education signals that the person has a foundation of knowledge. Is your strength & conditioning coach a CanFit pro ex-Junior C hockey player or an NSCA certified trainer with former experience at highly reputable facilities?
Talent: Allows an expert to understand, explain coherently and even produce new knowledge on a subject. It separates those who have gained education from those who have a good grasp on the subject from those with a deep understanding who can create and innovate new methods and techniques.
Experience: Longevity in a field is a reasonable marker of expertise. If someone has been at their craft for a significant period of time, there is a good chance they are continually improving their skills, learning from mistakes and possess a track record of success to back it up. While newbies may have unparalleled and enthusiasm for their job, it comes at the price of experience.
Peer Affirmation: Most professions in our society have some form of a watchdog overseeing them, ensuring they are performing their duties competently and not taking advantage of the public. There are requirements for organized sport coaches to obtain a few certifications, but little oversight to ensure proper athlete development is occurring.
Choose Wisely!
We ask you have a critical eye and to take your development seriously. You shouldn’t do this alone, and you should rely on help, but don’t be pulled in by ‘so-called experts’ either - there are lots of people in every profession who have no right to be doing their job. See example A over to the right!
Look for those with a proven track record. Look for those who work with top talent, but also for those that have helped push athletes from the fringes of the minor leagues to the big stage. Those are the people most likely to invest in your success. Someone with education, talent, experience, and peer affirmation.
Step back and examine the trainers and coaches you’ve had over your career and ask yourself why you chose them. Go through the four components of expertise and check if your coaches (past and present) really are experts and comment below!