Readiness and preparedness are like apples to oranges.
Similar but so different.
Just as we wouldn’t mistake an apple for an orange.
We should not mistake readiness for preparedness.
Prepare
Let’s talk about preparedness first. This deals with the 4 Coactives and how built up they are in a player. Preparedness deals with the longer term. Think in weeks instead of days. (learn more about coactives here)
A player has a level of preparation in each coactive he has earned through his learning and development throughout the season.
Let’s use an example of all for coactives. Imagine the player is more prepared today than he was 6 weeks ago in each area of player development. Each one of his 4 Coactives has improved.
· Physical
o He can gain the corner on a defensemen and take the puck to the net with his improved leg strength, body awareness and ankle flexion that have been developed in training with the strength and conditioning staff
· Psychological
o After practicing the physical reps, he learned to practice mental reps and visualize situations and angles in the game where he could deploy this new skill
· Technical
o After gaining the corner he now has the technical skill to pull the puck hard to the far post and backhand the puck into the top-shelf
· Tactical
o He learned about angles a recognized when he got to the opponents back shoulder it was time to cut in and take away the defenders hands which gives him an advantage to get to the net
This is a more “prepared” player.
I’m Ready
So, what about readiness?
Readiness is about right here and now.
This same athlete that has grown so much in terms of his preparedness might have trouble being ready for the game.
How have they been sleeping? Are they fit but not fresh?
Are they experiencing stress outside of sport this week?
How is that player feeling after going into the end boards on his last rep at practice? He might not be hurt, but is there some anxiety about making that play again?
It is important to make distinctions about what an athlete might need.
In my training learning RPR, I’ve both heard stories from other practitioners and had experience with athletes and fluctuating readiness.
They have started testing color and other relationships to player readiness and various nervous system responses. It’s crazy stuff.
A mentor of mine trains a soccer goalie that got lit up bad by a team that had yellow and red jerseys. Put 6 goals behind him in a match.
The color starts to cause a response in the body that will affect the nervous system. When looking at those colors prior to “resetting” him, his strength and power outputs were lower. And he had less flexibility. Just in response to seeing the colors of a team that destroyed his team on the scoreboard.
You’ll know if players are “prepared” but it takes more work to help them with “readiness”
If that aside about RPR interested you, check out their website here.