Hotspot Super 6 Challenge – Video

MAKE IT COUNT WITH HOTSPOT!

http://soccerpirrs.com/education/software-and-programs/spirrs-product-watch-hotspot/

So in a number of sports a straight line sprint features in many assessments for talent identification, fitness and general baseline measurements. It is standard in the LTA and used in many football clubs. But here’s some conundrums for you :

1. Is it relevant to the sport / game play?

2. Does it have positive predictive value for athletic success in that sport?

3. Is there a better test that might address points 1 & 2?

Firstly we need to look at point 1. The straight line sprint is used as we have mentioned in both tennis and football in a talent identification setting. But I wonder how often in these games do athletes ever run a long distance in one go? Very seldom I would suggest. Both sports actually have much shorter sprints within the game and the movement is rarely isolated to one direction.

In terms of predicting success then clearly the test needs to replicate some kind of functional movement within the game. What straight line sprint shows is how quick an athlete is over a certain distance. No-one can dispute that and the ease and simplicity of the test. But what we are testing is acceleration but missing the very crucial element of deceleration – what use is it if in running so fast the athlete cannot then decelerate and change direction? He may be quick across the tennis baseline but if the point isn’t won on that shot then without good deceleration skills he will be hopelessly out of position for the next shot. In football that sprint back to regain position as a defender is pointless if as a result he cannot slow and change direction, the attacking forward merely has to cut inside and the defender is now beaten and too far out of position to regain the ball.

So how might we better assess movement skills that are game specific?

I decided when I started coaching my Under 10s in July 2010 I would look at 4 areas of fitness, agility and movement skills in the players and see which (if any!) could address the points above. The four tests were :

1. 80m straight line sprint

2. Illinois Agility Test

3. HotSpot 4 square agility test ©

4. Bleep test

The HotSpot 4 square agility test is a simple figure of eight with 8 changes of direction around a 2.5m square testing precision, acceleration and deceleration movement skills. The points are marked by HotSpot discs so there is drill precision and every test is identical with reliable timing by the system.

I benchmarked each player and collated the data with a view to regular interval tests to see any changes – hopefully for the better! The training sessions each week have a heavy emphasis on movement training, agility and fitness with this comprises around 50% of the time.

I have summarised the data below comparing the 80m sprint with HS 4 Square Agility Test. The athletes are scored according to their position in the group for each of the tests and the difference shown in the far column. An improvement in rank from 80m to HotSpot Agility is showed as a + with rank position change and a – for a drop in their rank :

So what does all this data mean?! Look at the end column and see the change in rank between the two tests. If we take that moving in an agile fashion and moving quickly are not only equally important but comparable then there would be very little discrepancy between the two activities ie if you were fast in a straight line then you will also be fast round an agility circuit. This would be reflected in a small change if any in the rank difference.

Well this is clearly not the case. Only 1 athlete of the top 4 in the 80m sprint is in the top 4 for the 4 square HotSpot agility test. And only 2 of the bottom 4 ranked in the sprint are in the bottom 4 in the agility test.

If as we have suggested then the ability to move with agility and to be able to change direction is actually more relevant to the sport, then this data suggests the 80m sprint test  has poor positive predictive value for the attributes necessary for the sport.

By using an automated (and affordable) system such as the HotSpot I know my times are accurate, the drills identical each time and my data is robust and is therefore useful and meaningful and can be safely interpreted.

In summary if we are designing tests then these need to be reflect the qualities we want to see in our athletes. In this experiment the HotSpot 4 square I feel proved more useful in predicting the better athlete at both extremes – quicker runners are not necessarily more agile nor are slower runners necessarily less agile.

So here’s the message – look at the attributes that you see best reflect the qualities and requirements of your sport and design a test based on that!

So what really struck me the most was the knowledge, dedication and passion of the coaches on the ground. Every single one who visited the stand (quite a few I can tell you) really wanted to see what the HotSpot had to offer and how it could help their sessions and ultimately their teams.

The level of conversation I had with each one was at a far higher level than I have experienced in this country – the discussion started with the obvious need for agility and movement training in sport, in this case soccer. By the time they had left the stand they had thanked me for my time in talking with them and demonstrating the system and all its features. And for me after 3 days of demonstrating it on my own, my thighs and calves certainly felt it!

I was lucky to be able to attend a few key note sessions, the most notable with Shad Forsythe – Head Fitness trainer for the German National Football team. He gave a great field session on simple plyometrics and its relevance to soccer (football!) I was fortunate to be able to chat with him afterwards about fitness and agility training in soccer. What this confirmed was what Mike and I strongly believe, namely that fundamental movement skills and agility training are the cornerstone of developing young athletes into great sportsmen and women. It also reassured me that my style of football coaching with my U10 Sabres which has a heavy emphasis on agility and movement skills is exactly right – Shad feels that an hour fifteen session with developing athletes should comprise at least 30mins conditioning and agility without a ball in sight – Sabres your coach is right!

Another great conversation I had was with Scott Moody of the SoccerFit Academy. He is a strong believer in breaking down the components of any athletic game and dedicating training sessions to these specific areas. He spent some time with the HotSpot and could see that the system can really help with the acquisition of movement skills and at the elite end be able to measure activities that previously haven’t been measured.

So all in all a great show! For me the only question that remains is closer at heart…. Why is it that USA coaches really seem to get the whole movement training and agility aspects of sports coaching and yet in the UK if the training doesn’t involve a ball or a racquet then people seem very reluctant to listen? And this is not just at elite level but permeates right through every level of US sport.

Here endeth the lesson! Answers on a postcard or via this site!

TIME MODE – Hotspot club / XL / PRO

In Time mode we firstly set the amount of time that we will be working for.  For example we may have a drill that requires an athlete to work for 20 seconds.  During this time the Hotspot is open to triggers from the spots and will record a “hit” every time a spot is activated.  In time mode the score at the end is simply the number of spots hit during the pre set time frame.

Time mode has a number of real world applications.  If you can imagine a “Zig Zag” pattern consisting of 4 spots.  The athlete has to move in this pattern touching each of the spots with his/her foot forwards and then backwards.  This pattern is then repeated for the set time.  The use of Time mode will increase the intensity and effort level of the athlete whilst forcing good body control, precise footwork and a rhythmic, fluid movement ability.   The score at the end of the activity will reflect the athlete’s ability in these areas.  Time mode allows up to 95 seconds, in increments of 5 and can really pressure all energy systems.

COUNT MODE – All Hotspot Systems

Count mode is essentially the opposite to Time mode where the system is configured to accurately time a set number of triggers.  In Count mode we set the number of spots required to be hit in the activity.  In the above example we could use a count of 4 (just the forward pattern) or 8 to include the backward pattern also.  We could set it to 16 for two repetitions of the forward and backward patterns, get the idea?  The result is a Time value, accurate to 100th of a second.  Obviously in this mode it is more discriminatory and can provide indications of marginal improvement (key for elite athletes) and also between groups i.e. in talent detection.  For athletes to achieve the fastest time’s certain movement techniques, fatigue levels etc will impact the time.  There are a variety of uses for this mode.

Split Time Mode – XL and PRO only

Split time mode is an extension of Count mode where each received trigger splits the running time.  To explain further if the count is set to 2 then there will be two time’s in the display cycle post activity.  The first time will be from the start of timing to the 1st received trigger and the 2nd time will be the total time for the activity.

Split timing can be used to look at movement to the left and the right, fluidity of movement i.e. if the splits are equal in difference then there is a a rhythmic component to the athletes movement.   Another use of split timing is to run a repeat of an activity touch a spot after each set.  Let’s say we are doing set’s of 5 medicine ball squat jumps.  After each set the athlete touches a trigger point.  After say 3 sets of this the hotspot will have 3 times.  With a bit of simple mathematics we can determine how much the athlete has fatigued over the course of the drill.  This would be useful in telling us whether the athlete starts strongly and finishes poorly or is pretty consistent throughout.

SUMMARY

So there are 3 timing modes on the hotspot system’s that can be used in a variety of ways.  In all cases the athletes get immediate performance feedback and are externally motivated to give 110% to the activity.  Like anything where there is improvement to be made and one can see that it is possible an athlete will strive to beat times/scores and may even be inclined to practice outside of formal training.  Athletes will begin to own their training, effort and performance becoming more aware of themselves.   This is essential to reaching potential and fulfilling dreams!

Remember…MAKE IT COUNT!

Mike

http://www.gameseducation.co.uk/images/webgraphics/295.pdf

Make it Count – Team Hotspot

VIDEO OF PRO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fiew5hIjri4

It builds on the Hotspot concept of providing a system that is affordable yet versatile enough to fit into any training program for any sport.  The wireless “hotspots” offer  a simple way to create movement patterns and drills for your training program whilst offering an easy way to be flexible adhering to the needs of your athletes.

The PRO system comprises of 4 Hotspot’s (with improved sensitivity for increased reliability) and a “test” spot that is configured to be used with the vertical jump function in the base unit.  Also on the base unit are the standard “count” and “time” modes with split timing  as an extension of the “count” mode.   Now you really have every option for your training.

The PRO system now has the capabilities to be used in a variety of training settings.  Time and Count modes offer a training option where we can have our athletes work for a duration of time or be timed over a set number of spot hits.  We can use split timing to measure reaction abilities and differentiate between movements to the left and right.  Finally the jump mode does exactly as we expect using the time of flight as the basis of measurement.

Now, with the addition of the “test” spot we open up a few new training options.  We can use the “test” spot in drills that require only a single spot.  For example imagine a drill where athletes are required to start from a central point, sprint to the left, sprint past the centre to the right and return to the start (T test).  The test spot can accurately measure the drill using “count” mode and a single count of 1.  Due to the increased sensitivity we can effectively use the “zero” mode to start the timer by having the athlete place a foot on the spot prior to starting the activity should we want to eradicate reaction times and measure pure athletic ability.

The “test” spot is greater in sensitivity and also has a lower settling time of 0.25s (compared to the 0.5s of a standard hotspot) meaning that we can now accommodate hop tests where athletes have to return to the spot  in a time less than 0.5s.  For example in a hop test where athletes have to hop on to a low box and back down onto the spot or in a step up drills.

Earlier I mentioned the “time” and “count” modes and I would like to go into a little more detail.  Time mode is where we set a period of time we want the athlete to work, for example 20s.  We set up drills where athletes repeat movements and each spot trigger constitutes the final score.  In count mode we set the number of spots we want the athlete to trigger and the system provides the time (accurate to 100th of second) to complete the exercise.

The impact of the Hotspot PRO system is huge in that it is extremely adaptable to the training requirements.  The system itself forces athletes to control their movement and bodies much more and provides measurements that can be used to monitor progress, current performance and used in learning.   There really isn’t a better training aid and for the price can you afford not to add the PRO to your inventory?  Make It Count with Hotspot PRO!

www.gameseducation.co.uk

order now –  order@gameseducation.co.uk

The obvious answer is that it is at the discretion of the coach when he/she feels it is appropriate and that the child is demonstrating the relevant skill set.  Of course this differs from coach to coach so is there an answer?

It is observed that some children transition better than others from one stage to the other and that some struggle at certain stages.  Also those who achieve a high rating are allowed to transition by the rules but again depending on how they got their rating (by playing advanced tennis or by “fluke”) will depict whether they are able to transition effectively.  I personally have done both things.  I moved players up when they display what I thought was good play, when they reach the rating and also organically.

Recently I have kept my mini red players back on red and attempted to teach advanced footwork/physical attributes and advanced tactics and patterns of play and in all honesty they are starting to look like competent tennis players just smaller!  In addition we  experimented with bringing Orange players back to red and observed similar errors being made but also they learnt a lot about the game of tennis.  In hindsight they were moved to early..potentially?

Other countries have only recently adopted the 3 stages of development and there is an argument that you learn what you are exposed to and that development is a long road and everything doesn’t have to be done so early.  Countering that is that players could be more skilled at earlier ages and that training methods alter as they get older i.e. becomes more physical/mental based.

Finally, talent ID systems are very difficult to run since players will develop at differing rates and will transition differently as they move through.  That means a very fluid system needs to be in place to allow players who take up the sport late/find a love for it later on or simply just grow into it over time to access.

Again, my thought process is a bit scatty and I welcome all comments!

Stay strong,

Mike

The background to this is the fundamental core of Games Education as a company – the one thing that led Mike and I to set it up. Not making huge sums of money (although maybe one day it would be nice to pay off all the loans!) but the strong belief and desire that every child playing sport and exercise should be able to use techniques and equipment similar to the professionals…

..why should only a very privileged few have access to such things…BECAUSE all the technology is too expensive and alas there aren’t many coaches out there like Mike who are passionate enough about coaching to try new things, to replicate the training of elite players and bring that coaching to the young players. I say this not as Mike’s business partner and friend but as the father on one of his protégés in tennis, my son Angus. It was hearing Mike say before a Sunday session that he had been looking at Nadal and Federer on You Tube the night before and was trying some of their drills with my son that stood out for me as a parent. That’s creative coaching and not confined by rigid guidelines of governing bodies. And the technology bit? Use scientific nowse, start from the very beginning and create a piece of technology that can be bought by the very entry point of sport and exercise. And so we created the HotSpot. And that’s accessible technology for sport and fitness. By definition.

Okay so where’s all this going….my concern is this. Why can’t we harbour the knowledge and passion that Mike and I have for sports coaching and combine it with tools and technology that are affordable and fun for children? You can I hear you say! Well we’d like to think so too, but we’ve faced an uphill battle with PCTs for obesity and schools for inclusion trying to convince them that by introducing healthy competition, by making sport and exercise fun and enjoyable, you will get more kids being active, having fun and ultimately all getting something out of it. My favourite expression that I have coined about this is it’s not about inter-competition but intra-competition. (Alas I guess this message my be lost on some audiences!) What I mean is we don’t want James to be better than John we want James to be better than James before! Why not get some times and scores and get some motivation. I work with children all day every day and they love competition! Everything is competition – but it’s about making that competition fun and using it to help each individual themselves. With me so far?!

So all the non believers that getting competition into schools and young people’s lives is a good thing, take note of the next bit. And the reason for me writing now…

I spent a very humbling afternoon yesterday with the group I mentioned at the beginning. I was asked by my friend and colleague from our football team if I knew who could help with his after school session that afternoon as the organisation (who I’d better leave nameless!) who had been booked to run the session had cancelled literally hours before. So in for a penny in for a pound I said I’d run a session. Having rushed down the motorway back home, out of a playground, some cones, footballs, ladders and a little goal I created an agility course for the ten or so kids assembled. Needless to say HotSpot was integral to mark out the way points and give me some scores. Urban Agility and Football had been born! Okay don’t want to labour the point but an hour later and two runs of the course, the header challenge and a crazy playground cross bar challenge later we had kept 10 kids very entertained and given it was around -3degrees, warm and entertained. Quick certificate giving for all and off they went.

Okay no need to feel smug but it really taught me something – most kids whatever their background can be entertained, helped and encouraged by good people skills, knowledge and fun and can get a lot from sport and exercise. That by having a little competition everyone got more from it. And that the most able and the least able all competed on the same level and all achieved.

And that’s what I want all those involved in sport and physical education who might doubt the fact that competition is good and healthy and right if conducted in a sensible manner to take on board.

If there’s still some non believers then this is the email I received today and I have entered it word for word…..

Nothing more to say huh but happy times and let’s give the kids what they deserve.

Well firstly, the UK is not the rest of the world and let’s face we have to do stuff differently due to the culture of the country.  With that said perhaps mini tennis is the way forward.

Mini Tennis Videos

WARM UP

PAIR DRILLING

POINT PLAY AGAINST THE COACH

MATCHPLAY

In the past people (including me) have been critical of mini tennis as it hasn’t been adopted across the rest of the world (until recently) and that other countries have managed to produce world class tennis players the “good old fashioned way”.

Well firstly, the UK is not the rest of the world and let’s face we have to do stuff differently due to the culture of the country.  With that said perhaps mini tennis is the way forward.

The issues were that actually the message wasn’t delivered down to the coach force effectively enough and potentially a lot of the progressive nature of mini tennis from a coaching perspective was missed and lost.

In all fairness it has taken me a while to come the full circle to really embracing mini tennis particularly “red”.  Just to recap there is a type of ball (the really squishy ones are LTA recommended), size of racket and court.  These adaptations are to suit players from 3 years old to 8 years old and within the development there is beginner to advanced.  One way I look at it is put yourself on a red court and if your 7/8 year old’s can compete hard against you then they are reaching the top of mini red.  (I will be adding some videos of my players over the weekend).

For me the one variable that remains the same within mini tennis is the court.  The ball and racket can change (within reason) and players can fully develop their skill set.  For example, using a variety of “mini red” balls from sponge balls, of which there are a variety of grades to mini red hard balls can develop a host of skills that a mini red player needs. Similarly racket size can also be altered from the starter rackets that a just a bit bigger than a table spoon to a 25 inch weapon.  The key is to have a clear idea of what it is you are trying to achieve.

Teaching opportunities are endless in mini tennis red from simple “over and in” tactics to “bailey method” footwork patterns.  Everything in the game is available within mini tennis the difference is that it is all accessible by the mini red player also. Something to consider…do they have efficient, professional technique?  can they hit a variety of shots from different court positions?  do they understand attack, build/rally and defend and demonstrate this within points play?  Can they serve to different positions, exploiting weaknesses and developing a favourite serve?  If the answer is no to this then the player can still learn in mini red.  If yes then they have developed a great skill set physically, mentally, technically and tactically have great foundations to reach their potential as a tennis player all at the age of 8!.

With the development of 2 players in particular at my club (videos to follow) has really shown me the powers of mini tennis red.  My philosophy is simply to take the professional game in terms of the 4 factors and introduce them to my players at red.  This means, right grips, stances, footwork.  Developing a game style, being tactically aware and understanding there own strengths and weaknesses.  Becoming physically competent through appropriate Strength and conditioning (including plyometrics, specific movement training) and developing a solid work ethic for the future.  All of this can be done with a sponge ball, small racket on a red court.

I have recently come across comments such as “they hit it out a lot on the small red court they will do better at orange”

This is complete rubbish since it may be true in the short term but if the technique isn’t in place the player will just hit it out at orange too.  The bigger courts etc will highlight even more the flaws in a player and although they will have the opportunity to “learn the hard way” i.e deal to cope they will not realise as much successful outcomes as if they were developed fully at red and moved to orange with better foundations.

Once again, I invite comments, thoughts and feedback as they purpose is to enhance our coaching and create better players!  hope you enjoyed this and for more information on my personal approach email me at mike@gameseducation.co.uk.  cheers.