Good day, up at 5:30, 30 minute run, up to school, AP test prep for the kids from 7-8, taught, coached from 3-5... pretty good... then, I missed my ride to go ski b/c i was coaching, so i went to league night, i was soooo slow... but i busted out some goals thrown, and had one highlight high layout catch... so kind of fun... that said, we went , 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 5-3, then they pulled ahead to 7-5, 7-7, 8-7 us, (half), 9-7, 9-9, 9-10 (and for some reason they start to implode, lots of calls, arguing with each other), 11-9, 11 all, cap on due to dark, game to 13, i get scored on, 11-12, i think i threw the 12-12 goal, win 13-12. I played all 25 points, unfortunately, basically jogging most of it, occasional timely hard 'd'... i'd like to think it led to the 3 two point runs we made... threw like 6 goals, caught 1? Not too bad...
coaching...
throw, run 1/2 mile, marking drill, run 1/2 mile, swing drill, run 1/2 mile...
new version of the line drill. instead of the usual goto drill, cutter runs 20 yards, plants and cuts, then catches the come back... i'm trying to teach that they need to run down field, towards the endzone, past the play.
then, a fun drill, pair marking, the mark is a basic force forehand or backhand... not a 'hard flat mark.' defense must front, thrower signals with hand deep or under, run it. short scrimmage, better focus on running the 'o', finally getting kids to try to overthrow cutters in drills... coached a couple kids on throwing. Big, BIG fan of video for teaching.
One girl, who's throws tend to be a little outside in because of arm/had position, so i'm showing her, outside in, inside out, and her question is, why didnt' you show me this the first time... a year ago, and the question is, well, i show everyone how to do the basics, but you are good enough to understand what's going on. that said, teaching people that a little hyzer helps so much is easy for some harder for others.
But w/ digital video, reviewd immediately after throwing, progress is so quick...
5 comments:
Could you say a little more about exactly how you're using video to coach throwing? I'm picturing you walking around with a handheld camcorder, taping some throws, rewinding it, and then? . . .
Help a brutha out, man. Coaching throwing is so tough. I mean, even well-developed players tend to all throw with their own little quirks; however, I've coached AGAINST teams who all handle with a similar style, and all very well. I'm looking for ANY advantage that can get us closer to that point.
1) get some video you like of yourself, if you like your throws, or the dan cogan video paper is good. i usually just video myself, b/c my form is adequate.
2) teach the form. i.e., backhand pull/huck, focus on moving disc straight back/straight forward, dont curl keep your head down, don't lean forrward or back, etc... once you've given them these 10 simple things to work on :) video...
I have a bunch of little things i'll focus on trying to get a kid to find the 'sweet spot', whether it's not curling the arm, grip harder, foot position, torso, etc... but basically, i show them, then teach them, then video them, then show them the video, and the video of someone doing it right, make adjustments, video again, show correct form, and their form, point out improvements already made, suggest further improvements (more hyzer, stop curling) and continue on until form is right.
some kids, with video, basically get it IMMEDIATELY. Some take more time. once they feel what a good one should be, it's easier for them to recreate the experience.
This is the videopaper by Dan Cogan-Drew. Dan also teamed up with Bryan Doo to create the recently-released ultimate training DVD available through the UPA web site.
But part of the problem is that there is no well-defined, peer-reviewed school of thought on throwing mechanics (or at least nothing that is written). There is no "throw doctor" who can look at your release and say that your hand is too low or you're not twisting your hips enough. Instead, all we're left with are some tips from Idris or whoever.
So, sure, teach the form, but who knows whether your form is really correct? Do we really want to have a bunch of kids making the big lefty step-around backhand airbounce?
jim, fyi, i have a variety of crap throws, not just the lefty step around...
thanks for the link, i downloaded dan's videopaper for the reason you mentioned, kids need to see different approaches that have things in common (angle of release, and balance, regardless of the stance): i focus mainly on the abillity to throw with proper pitch and roll or mung and hyzer angles or whatever, and try to help them find ways to control it. my goal is to get them to understand that there are many ways to throw, and that we can't all have the sweet lefty high backhand, or crank the thumper crabwise...
but that you can throw it upright, low, step out, etc, but that if they can learn to control the flight of the disc, then throw 3 or 4 thousand discs, they'll eventually learn to deal w/ wind etc...
i.e., the video helps them see that though they think the outside edge is down, it's not... so my goal is to get them to connect a 'feeling' with an actual postion. some people do this better than others, but the video helps. then i just encourage them to play around with it, but know that edge-angle, pitch, etc... affect the flight of the disc, and how.
beyond that, i don't claim to the kids that my form is perfect, but if they can understand the roles that the wrist, hips, arm, footwork, etc... affect their throws... then they can begin to develop their own form, and understand how they can reach a different outcome (less more bounce, distance, etc) by modifying their form...
smith, my flick sucks.
what's wrong with it?
if i can get to where they can answer that, i can then suggest maybe, a couple ways to adjust the motion...
the biggest thing i've found is that several years of coaching have really made me think about my throws. i was never a natural thrower, but i find i can increasingly make adjustments and corrections now...
for instance, i hate throwing in cold weather. my hands are cold, i lose proprioceptive awareness, my shoulders tense up, and i get a visit from doctor hook... i used to just freak out about this, now i know how to fix it
play when it's warm (no, i just have to focus on the hyzer, keep my shoulder down, etc.)...
One admitteldy odd way to help become a conscious thrower is to try to teach your off-hand how to throw.
It has poorer listening skills than any student you can imagine and possibly even worse coordination. It will be frustrated at every turn because the brain and player connected to are used to doing whatever they want with the disc.
If you can figure out what to tell yourself to improve your off-hand throws, you'll have a strong grasp of what to tell beginners who intellectually understand what to do but cannot physically replicate for some reason.
Well, at least I found it useful. As a bonus, videotaping yourself trying this is unendingly hilarious and useful.
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