The game is constantly changing. How do you keep up? Once upon a time yours truly was teaching public school for a living. I had few opportunities to travel to big tournaments or pro stops. There was no internet for many of these years so I had to get a way to learn and keep learning. Here are six rules that still pertain to today.
1. I realized early on anyone who played for more than a year was an expert and not to listen to them but to be on the lookout for a gem they might drop. I had to keep an open mind.
2. I realized I had to get to one big tournament a year. Ideally it would be a national tournament but if money was tight, I’d go local with a five or six hour drive.
3. I realized if I taught with the best, I’d learn from the best. I did clinics with Jerry Hilecher, Davey Bledsoe, and other pros. I did camps with Mike Yellen and Dave Peck. Later I went to work at the Elite camp, a national level camp with exposure to the best sport scientists and training. This sharpened my pencil every year.
4. I used myself as a guinea pig and trained with a speed ladder, in the water, circuit training, and any and all forms of preparation so I could pass it on to my students as well as improve my game.
5. I realized I had to play the best so I looked for competition that sometimes I knew I could not win but would show me what I had to work on.
6. I loved to get to one pro stop per year and it made no difference if it was the women or the men. I loved and still love to watch the quarters and 16s. These matches are hotly contested so the top 8 do not have to qualify. That is where the action is. Once in the semis many players are comfortable with their positioning.
Once the internet hit, I did and still do watch a ton of video. It does show me little things players are working on and gives me ideas for my athletes.
Hope these tips help you who are not able to travel as much pick and choose your competition.