Applied Functional Athletic Development: A New Paradigm for Athletics

Applied Functional Athletic Development: A New Paradigm for Athletics


(PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SIGN-UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER!)

In a not too distant past, it would not be uncommon to find an athlete who could compete in multiple sports. Many athletes like Jim Thorpe, Jim Brown, Bo Jackson and Babe Zacharias come to mind in terms of those who were skilled enough to play multiple sports at higher levels. However, an athlete need not follow in their footsteps to be considered an all-around athlete.

Today, the athletic community is finding itself in a different situation. Athletes are specializing much earlier. What we are seeing are better performances but unfortunately, there are more injuries and fewer athletes are able to sustain high performance for an extended career (Gambetta, Athleticsim). Recently, we have seen the rise of performance enhancement drugs like anabolic steroids that have rocked sports like Major League Baseball. Are our athletes finding themselves with their backs against the wall and are willing to risk using known banned substances that have dangerous long-term side effects?

Athletes and spectators realize that many movements in sports are spontaneous. The body must adapt to the demands imposed upon it by the athlete, opponents and the environment. A training system that has athletes go through rigid movements does not allow for the functional fluidity and flexibility of the body.

Applied Functional Athletic Development guides athletes through a process whereby functional movements are introduced, practiced and applied in a global biomechanical sense. Through this process, the athlete increases their overall athleticism as well as their sport specific skills.



Introduction of Applied Functional Science

In order for functional athletic development to occur, a foundation built upon principles must be established. Moving toward function, Applied Functional Science (AFS) is our foundation. Applied Functional Science is the convergence of Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, and Behavioral Sciences that consists of the Principles-Strategies-Techniques process for functional assessment, training and conditioning, rehabilitation, and injury prevention that is practical for any and all individuals regardless of age or ability. Applied Functional Science is based on scientific truths that serve as the foundation of the process. These principles, integrated with neuromusculoskeletal Chain Reaction™ biomechanics, lead to powerful strategies that guide the decision-making process. Applied Functional Science strategies are employed to properly and successfully manage transformational environments, utilizing effective and efficient techniques for desired purposes.

As we utilize AFS, we can start to identify both strengths and weaknesses that are characteristic of holistic nature of movement and with the identification of both, the strategies to alleviate imbalances and improve strengths will lead to innovative techniques that are geared toward the individual.

A Closer look at Athleticism

At the base of athletics, is movement. Without it, athletics would be nothing than just an academic exercise. However, we experience the totality of athletics through movement. In holistic sense, we must also appreciate the mental and spiritual components to athletics. However, what is at the base of athletics is movement. As such, there are certain foundations to athletic movements. According to Drabnik (Children and Sports Training) the coordinative abilities are:

• Balance – Maintenance of the center of gravity over the base of support; it is both a static and a dynamic quality

• Kinesthetic Differentiation – Ability to feel tension in movement to achieve the desired movement

• Spatial Orientation – The control of the body in space

• Reaction to Signals- The ability to respond quickly to auditory, visual and kinesthetic cues

• Sense of Rhythm – The ability to match movement to time

• Synchronization of movements in time – Unrelated limb movements done in a synchronized manner

• Movement Adequacy – Ability to choose movements appropriate to the task

In the eye of specialization, many of these key abilities are being forgotten which tends to lead to more injuries. An athlete who lacks balance, will also lack the ability to control his body in space and will most likely choose movements that biomechanically inefficient. In other words, none of these abilities are independent of each other and like many other events in nature, they are interdependent of each other.

According to well known Strength and Conditioning Coach, Vern Gambetta, fundamental movement has three broad categories: locomotor skills, stability skills and manipulative skills. It’s clear that each of these skills build upon each other and if there is a deficit in one of these steps, there is a higher likelihood of the next step being less than optimal.

Locomotor skills are the skills that enable us to move from one point to another. This can include walking, running, sprinting, cutting, jogging, skipping, hopping. Gambetta also includes swimming as moving from place to place in water.

Stability skills transfer from the locomotor skill. In most forms of locomotion, we are moving from one foot to another and in between the sense of stability as well as mobility is required for efficient movement.

Manipulative skills are controlling both the hands and feet. Athletic movements require use of both hands and feet. Unfortunately, there is an emphasis on handwork; thus footwork suffers. Footwork is not referring to plyometrics but the use of the feet as drivers of functional movement. Examples of manipulative skills are, but not limited to throwing, hitting, catching, and kicking. The more fine tuned an athlete can become with the use of his hands and feet ambidextrously, the more he or she will find their athletic abilities increasing.

Interestingly, all of these skills, in the hands of an high performing athlete who moves freely, powerfully and without injury free are all invisible to the eye. They are all under the surface. What we see are the game winning basketball shots, laser accurate football passes, flawless backhandsprings on the balance beam, etc, BUT the work is underneath. As spectators we are seeing the tip of the iceberg. However, athletic development begins at a young age hopefully under the guidance of a master coach who has an eye for these invisible variables.



Applied Functional Science in Athletic Development



Where does this leave functional athletic development? Well, it leaves a wide area of possibilities to the coach, trainer, therapist who has invested their time and energy into appreciating the Principles of Function.

Briefly, we see that in Applied Functional Science, the Physical Sciences must be acknowledged. In every sport on this planet, an athlete must train in a gravity rich environment. Because gravity is one of the 4 Forces of Nature, we must take it into account as we train and condition our athletes. Being aware of the mass and momentum of our athletes as well as the mass and momentum of opponents and implements is also key to integrating a functional program. Finally, but not last, ground reaction forces in most sports, has to be taken into consideration and leads into how the tissues of the body react to the ground. An athlete who can take advantage of what is “given for free” is much more inclined to be successful in the athletic endeavors.

In the Biological Sciences, we find many trainers and therapists focusing in on training. As humans, we are a collection of soft tissues, bones, organs, blood, and nerves which are all equally important developmentally. To ignore the nerves is to ignore 50% of the neuromuscular system. If we do not discuss proprioception, we cannot adequately discuss joint motion and muscular eccentric and concentric contractions. Much like the coordinate abilities, these systems are interdependent of each other. If one is weak, the total system will be weakened and developmentally we are in a state of arrest. We may see small gains but the “breakthrough” that is possible may never come.

In the Behavioral Sciences, we can understand what truly drives an athlete, coach and spectator. Two principles of Function are that we are individual and are driven. Some athletes are driven by passion of sport. Some coaches are driven emotionally to see their athletes perform well. Some spectators are driven to attend events to find the euphoria they may have once felt as athletes. As we study the behavioral sciences, we can BEGIN to understand all viewpoints of athletics and from there, we are able to gain an in-depth appreciation for athletic development. We are also able to better understand the side of athletics that has to do with pressure and stress. Unfortunately, athletes are under stress at younger ages to perform above where they developmentally. This frequently leads to decisions that are less than advantageous and can cause short and longer term physiological, as well as psychological damage. Understanding the drivers of human behavior enables coaches, trainers, therapists, parents and most importantly the athletes to increase their overall athleticism and performances.

As stated before, AFS is the CONVERGENCE of all of these sciences. It allows those who are either being developed or developing athletes to be better prepared and confident in their approach. Through AFS, production and maintenance of athletes becomes a pleasure and passion for those involved. We see that the skills player transforms into a “well-rounded” athlete. While they may not reach the high status of a Jim Brown, Jim Thorpe or Babe Zacharias, they will have reached their athletic potential and in the end, approaching their own potential is more rewarding than any glory that was attained as a skilled player.

Principles of Function

Setting the foundation for Functional Athletic Development, we must identify what are some of the Principles of Function (Gray and Tiberio, 2007)

1) Function and Athletic Performance is 3D (Multi-Planar: Sagital - Frontal - Transverse).

2) Function deals with Gravity, Ground Reaction Force, Mass, and Momentum.

3) Function is Driven by Authentic Drivers.

4) Function is very, very Dynamic.

5) Function is Variable.

6) Function is very, very Complex.

7) Function is Individualized.

8) Function is Enhanced via Tweakology.

9) Function consists of Global Movements (not isolation).

10) Function is FUN - creative, encouraging, and empowering...



As we move forward, these principles will be explained in more detail. However, it is not difficult to derive their importance in functional movement. The first three were already discussed briefly in the section on AFS and Athletic Development.

As always, please feel free to contact me with questions and comments at will@3doptimalperformance.com.

Happy Monday!

Will