Pooling Resources for a Common Goal

I love the definition of consortium:  an alliance, partnership, or coalition of people pooling resources for a common goal.

That’s it!  That’s what our consortium is all about.

Our common goal is human performance.  More specifically, our common goal is improving speed and explosive athleticism as it pertains to track and football.  Might soccer, lacrosse, baseball, basketball, and volleyball benefit from the same speed and explosion discussion?  Hell yes!

Anyone can come to our consortium.  Coaches, athletes, parents, medical professionals, educators, etc.  All are welcome.

Where, When, How Much?

June 17-18

Check-in: Noon, Friday, June 17th

Conclusion: 5:00, Saturday, June 18th

Place: Montini High School, Lombard, IL (about 20 miles from both O’Hare and Midway)

Hotels: I plan to stay at the Hyatt Place Lombard, but there are dozens of hotels in the area.  Save $40-$50 staying at the Stay Inn Lombard (a former Hampton).

Freelap article introducing speakers:  Consortium III

Schedule: Schedule of Presentations

Cost: $150

Link to sign up: Track-Football Activation Consortium III

Questions: email Tony Holler at tony.holler@yahoo.com or call/text 630-849-8294

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Measuring Our Life’s Work

Chris Korfist will again bring his new-age magic to Consortium III.  After two short years, Montini high school won a state football championship and presently ranks #3 in both the 4×1 and 4×2 in Class 2A Illinois.  Mitch West will challenge Ja’Mari Ward and Adam Nelson for the 2A sprint titles.

Chis Korfist has coached at four different schools in the past 14 years.  Korfist’s average best 4×1 time during those 14 years, 42.49.

I became a speed-based track coach after the 1998 season.  In my 16 speed-based years at three schools in two states, my average best 4×1 time is 42.75.  I’m not ready to concede to Coach Korfist, six of those 16 seasons were spent at small-school Harrisburg (600 students) where we managed a 43.14 average but won four 4×1 state championships (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003).  In the 10-year history of Plainfield North, our average best 4×1 time is 42.48.

Speed coaches are as competitive as the sprinters they coach.  Yes, sprinters (and sprint coaches) have their faults, but man are they competitive!

What Does it Take?

I’ve been pondering this question for a couple weeks now:  “What is the key to being the fastest team in the state?”  No one has the blueprint, but some of us have spent a lifetime trying to figure it out.

This past winter I could argue I coached the “fastest team in the state”.  We were undefeated in the 4×2 and ranked #1 for the indoor season in Illinois.  I am presently coaching the #3 ranked 4×1 in Illinois.

1.  Do we have the most talented sprinters in the state?  I don’t think so.  Plainfield North’s 4×1 & 4×2 placed 5th & 3rd in the state in 2015 but none of those guys were on this year’s team.  Plainfield’s gene pool is not superior to other towns.  East St. Louis might have better talent than we do.
2. Do we train smarter than other teams?  Maybe.  I would like to think so.
3. Does “Be-Activated” have anything to do with our success?  Maybe.  Probably.
4. Do we work harder than other teams?  Absolutely not!  No way.  This is totally counter-intuitive, but every sprint group in the state might work harder than Plainfield North.  Sprint practice at other schools may look like Navy Seal training compared to our workouts.
5. Do we have the best sprint mechanics?   Maybe.  Efficient sprinting is just as important as pure speed.
6. Do we have the best weight lifting program?  No.  In my opinion, the weight room has nothing to do with our success.  Strength is good but no one can distinguish between my weight-lifters from my non-lifters.  Everyone gets strong when they sprint.

 

 

 

So how do you create champion sprint teams?  The answer my friend is blowing in the wind.

Training methods are not clear, concise, and unequivocal.  If training was black and white, we’d simply follow the training manual.

How do you build big, strong, explosive, and fast football teams?  Same answer.  You won’t find clear, concise, unequivocal answers.

I’m reminded of my all-time favorite Korfist quote.  The dialogue went something like this:

Football coach:  “Can you help me design an off-season program?”
Korfist: “What do you want from your program?”
Football coach:  “I want my guys to get bigger, faster, and stronger.”
Korfist:  “In what order?”

You see, getting from A to B is not always a straight line.  The crooked road involves gathering information from diverse sources.  Figuring it all out is a journey, not a destination.  Every expert I know joined up with others and shared ideas.  As Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further than others, it is due to standing on the shoulders of giants.”  For those of you who don’t appreciate physics, experts discover truth by building on the discoveries of others.  TFC-3 allows you to build on the discoveries of others.

 

The Pooling of  Diverse Resources

At TFC-3, you will hear the best strength and conditioning coach in the world, Jimmy Radcliffe.

You will hear presentations from high school coaches, personal trainers, and medical professionals.

As far as I know, TFC-3 is 100% unique.  Is there anything like it anywhere?

Not many football coaches have attended a presentation from a synchronized swimmer.  Catherine Garceau, an Olympic bronze medalist in synchronized swimming will speak at TFC-3.

Catherine Garceau is trained in Tapping, Qigong, and Be-Activated.  I had to google Tapping and Qigong.

On the same day you hear a synchronized swimmer talking about Qigong, you can attend a session from Matt Gifford who trains college football players for their “Pro Day”.

We have two Pilates instructors, Kipling Solid and Stephanie Considine,  teaching “Be-Activated”.

After listening to Pilates instructors speak about activation, you can learn training techniques from the best hurdle coach in Illinois.  Alec Holler presently coaches Travis Anderson, #1 IL in the 110 HH (13.95) and #2 IL in the 300 INT (38.15).  Anderson is only a junior.

Nate Porcher, certified in A.R.T. (Active Release Technique) and trained in “Be-Activated”, will share his knowledge.

Dr. Kerry Egan will speak two sessions.

I love the idea that TFC-3 is composed of straight-talking professionals who actually do the work, not those “theoretical people”.  I’ve often thought coaching was more art than science.

I really have no interest in the rock stars of coaching.  The Urban Meyers and Nick Sabans of the world are politicians, CEOs, and managers of hundreds of moving parts.  I’m interested in the people who enhance human performance.

 

Who Should Attend TFC-3?

1. Distance Coach – Branch out, learn the mindset of sprint coaches.  Learn to connect with football programs.  Learn about alactic training.
2. Head Football Coach – Learn how to be a speed-based team.  Get your assistants on-board.  Take a two-day break from the weight room.
3. Strength & Conditioning Coach – Expand your craft, build on the discoveries of others.
   
4. Know-It-All Young Coach – These guys are everywhere, don’t let them continue to fake it.  Then again, TFC-3 may make their heads explode.
5. The Weekend Warrior Coach – Yes, you played high school football but you don’t know sh*t.  Just because you took Spanish in high school doesn’t mean you can speak the language.
6. Chiropractor, Physical Therapist, etc. – It’s not just about injuries, it’s about PERFORMANCE.
7. Female Coach – Every clinic I attend seems to be 90% men or those who coach on the guy’s side.  Why are women’s coaches poorly represented?
8. Personal Trainer – There’s more to training than hard workouts.  Any fool can make another fool tired.
9. Athlete – Athletes should own their training and understand the concept of training smarter, not harder.
10. Sprint Coach – The best coaches I know are always asking questions, always seeking a better way.  It’s a journey.

 

Parting Thought

“The growth of knowledge depends entirely on disagreement.” – Karl Popper

If you have grown comfortable in your own philosophy, maybe it’s time to get challenged.

Come to TFC-3 and get challenged.