adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
UNITED Kingdom-based Zimbabwean track and field coach, Stanley “Fresh” Madiri, believes with proper coaching and utilisation of the available resources local athletes have the potential to reach greater heights.
Madiri, who specialises in neuromechanics, essentially working with the nervous system in speed development, was in the country where he conducted the Old Mutual speed clinic organised by Kyros Sports at Innovate Gym in Harare.
The clinic attracted coaches and athletes from athletics and rugby.
“We have a lot of potential here coaching wise, there is a lot of potential athletes. But probably what we could do better is start attending to details of the things we already know, a lot more detail so that we are getting a lot more out of what we are doing.
“I think it’s like anything else really. Any industry or any field, if you are looking for professionalism it takes a duration of professionalism.
“And research and everything else tells us if you are looking for expertise, you are really looking at something close to 10 000 hours to become an expert.
“So it’s how much time we are spending doing the right things. That in itself is investment into the pathway of excellent.
“For example if we train for just two hours, two days a week and within the two hours accurate and precise movement and detail is only applied maybe for 30 minutes, that is not very productive, is it?
“How much is 30 minutes or 60 minutes a week going to contribute to becoming experts when we need almost 5 000 to 10 000 hours by the time we go to a major championship. When are we going to attain that?
“So, it’s about increasing the discipline of what we are doing within the hours that we have got,” said Madiri.
Madiri said there is need to take advantage of the resources that are available and utilise them if the country is to move to the next level where they can produce elite athletes that can challenge for medals.
“It’s not like we don’t have the resources to make an impact immediately. It’s how we are doing it. What are we doing with what we already have? So it’s in the coaching input, that’s where we need to address ourselves, the coaching input is the one that needs to be happening.
“I like the notion that it’s not what we have, it’s what we are doing with what we have that makes us as a people, as a coach or as an athlete. Usually we think that to improve we need more, no, to improve we need to increase to unlearn what is not true.
“Maybe we need to increase our knowledge, we need to increase our observation tools, and we need to increase our application tools. Because what we observe is usually determined by the tools that we are using for the observation.
“So working with the nervous system is working with a high way of command to the body. We need interventional coaching, which is essential to breaking down finding out what the causes are, not dealing with the consequences why they failed,” said Madiri.
Some of the athletes Madiri is currently working with include Asha Philip, Jodie Williams and Desiree Henry, who are all members of the Great Britain women’s relay team.
He has also worked with Olympic and world champion Christine Ohuruogu.
Kyros Sports business development director with focus on athletes, Nyasha Muchochomi, said they were happy with the attendance and lessons drawn from the clinic.
“I think we almost had a full house in attendance. We had coaches from across Zimbabwe and athletes. Amon Nyaundi, a top Zimbabwean athletics coach was also there. Rugby we had coaches from clubs.
And we had some of our athletes who are going for the world championships.
“I think everyone gained and thanks to Old Mutual who came on board,” said Muchochomi.
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