2014 YEAR-END MUSINGS

"...some defeats are instalments to victory..."

Jacob Riss

I was analysing Ryan’s game over the many tournaments he had participated poorly this year. Most of the local tournaments adopted standard 30 points system in the early rounds. I noted Ryan’s game tended to dip after 20 points even though he took the early lead.  In numerous occasions, his opponent would catch up and some managed to snatch his game away.

My suspicion would be his biological clock being tuned to 11 points and 21 points system as standard issue in his training sessions. I didn’t realise it as much until his routine trainings started to adopt 11 points sparring system (in tandem with the BWF trial of 11 points x 5 set system) that this short fall in him became quite evident. We will have to change their sparring routine to 30 or 35 points where possible henceforth.

In the case of little Aaron, here’s an analogy of what he is made off. He is like a diesel engine. He needs to be given time to allow the engine oil to heat up to optimum temperature and flow throughout the engine system in order the get the best out of him. This may have passed by as a cursory travesty, but I realised almost every time he catnapped before a competitive match, he would performed poorly. A case to point was a late evening match drawn against the hard hitting Yap Juin Ann in the recent MSSWPKL tournament. I took him back for a shower and a nap and rushed him back just in time to register for his game. He should be fresh and well rested right? Wrong! He started cold as if his body was still asleep and lost miserably. No doubt the tactical mastery from his father’s input also contributed to Aaron’s drubbing, but he was clearly not at his best. After the match, he walked off disgruntled as he was not even tired.  We will have to remember the diesel engine analogy.

I was mulling over this troubling predicament about the consequence of night trainings. After their sessions, the hungry boys will inevitably pester me for supper. That is already close to 10.30pm or so and we don’t get back home until after 11pm, pack-out their stuff, shower and straight hitting the sack. This unhealthy routine has made Ryan gain Body-Mass-Index “BMI” noticeably. I even had to negotiate with him to reduce his portion but it is quite a daunting task to limit a growing up boy this way. As far as possible, I will get them to share a meal between them – if at all it’s possible.    

Here is another delicate situation. What do you tell your kids when they are to meet their own close friend in the next match? More so if it’s their regular doubles partner? Coaches normally practise impartiality out of respecting the sensitivity of both parents. Who doesn’t want their child to win? This is especially so if the stakes are high i.e. in a qualifying match or winning a prize in the semi-final onwards. Yes, our message is they are to play not any lesser than their other opponents and we want both the fight it out tooth and nail and may the better player win.

TOURNAMENT MUSINGS

In the past, we used to jump into any tournaments that came our way just to give the boys the so called “competition experience”. It came to a point where we had enough of being just another bunch of early exits.  Over time, we started to pick and choose tournaments that were on a more “level playing field”. This works for the boys because they gradually began to progress into semi-finals and finals. This built confidence in their game.

Of late, what were trending in the market were “group format” tournaments as opposed to the conventional “knock-out” tournaments. The “group format” was not so brutal as budding hopefuls can get to play all their round robin matches even if they lose them all.  Whereas in “knock-out” tournaments, they would not stand a chance.

Except for some rare decent tournaments, majority of the private junior tournaments do not conduct draws using seeding system. Consequently, depending on the integrity or ignorance of the organisers, top players were doom to fight it out in the early rounds. I have seen to the utter dismay of parents, a cluster of state players were all grouped together in the top quarter of the draw. The organisers may be using these tournaments to promote their brands but this is as close as they can get to state players extermination.

For regular tournament goers, just one look at the draw, you will more or less know how far the boys can go. The badminton fraternity is small and for the discerned, it does not take much effort to predict with fair accuracy, who would eventually end up in the final. I used to conceal the draw from the boys especially against an overwhelming opponent although I knew that was not the correct approach. They should know who they were up against so as we can guide them to approach the game positively. Be that as it may, it could be quite daunting having to play against opponents whom they have lost time and time again.

Sometimes, despite preparing the boys adequately for tournaments, there is also no guarantee they will perform to your expectations. They are after all still boys with irrational emotions. So you cannot expect them to stay on top of their game in every tournament like the invincible Datuk Lee Chong Wei.

As a parent, watching your child battling it out especially in contests that goes into deuce is not for the faint hearted. My emotions would oscillate from satisfaction to disappointment, excitement to despair, ecstasy to agony, all in one weekend. Having said that, badminton tournaments were something I always look forward to in the weekends as well as spending quality time with my boys and family. The tournament arena also presents a conducive opportunity to meet the acquaintances of other parents, coaches, enthusiasts who were equally passionate about the sport we all love, badminton.  

New Year Musings

I once had a conversation with a parent about training our own children. He wanted to know how old my boys were. I replied 10 & 11. “Ah, the best age to train.” He responded.  

Reflecting on this, I recalled why coaches mentioned to me on numerous occasions that my boys were able to respond to workouts without the hassle of going through the basics. Perhaps just one or two bad habits to correct but generally it was a breeze. True, given that my boys are in the intermediary, but by and large, boys at this age are very responsive, inquisitive and an abundance of energy.

I can say training pre-puberty kids (under 12) is a satisfying experience because the results are visible.   Next year, Ryan will begin to undergo a physical metamorphosis. I am looking forward to his growth spurt so as he attains his speed and power naturally. Or will he, like his father, a slow starter in life? But jokes aside, I have seen boys at this age grew a few inches taller just over a few months. Now with an Adam’s apple, they greet me with a croaked voice.

When I observed the Elite 1 boys training in the Persatuan, there was a marked difference between boys of 12 and boys of 13 in terms of strength level. That for you is the power of the testosterone at work which I’m sure apart from their ability to perform leaping smashes, they will have a lot more to grapple with, such as body hair, raging hormones, facial acne and wet dreams. Don’t start me with the girls now.

Interestingly, now through sports science, research has shown that strength can be attained independent of age. This article in the net suggests that with correct dosage, children can increase their strength in training solely from neuromuscular (nerve-muscle conductivity) improvements.  Here’s an abstract of the article…

“Many coaches and parents believe that strength training is bad for children and even potentially dangerous. For instance, a myth exists that heavy weight-lifting too young will stunt growth. There is little research to suggest that weight training for young children is unsafe - in fact, most of it confirms that weight training is one of the safest exercises they can do. Weltman et al (1986) specifically studied the effects of heavy strength training on young boys. Strength training in young children will thicken the bones by promoting increased bone mineral density, and do nothing to hinder growth in length. Weight training with heavy loads is very safe if technique is correct and posture and stability are maintained. Poorly performed weight exercises are just as dangerous for adults as for children.”

How’s that for sports science? Maybe I will introduce this gradually but I can do with the racquet handle with a mild concrete weight at the head for now.

I have just started introducing plyometric exercises (box jumps, lateral jumps, power skipping etc.) which will be injected into their training diet.  So now a typical training session will start with stretching, dynamic warm-ups, plyometrics, shadow, specific shuttle feeds, corrective strokes and finish with strategy sparring.

We are still patiently waiting for their time to come but as long as their will remains strong, my wife and I will continue to support them. Perhaps my wife may have been more expressive, I may not have put it in words to them, but despite all the shortfalls, we love them all the same.

Happy New Year!