The USOEC freestyle resident team has enjoyed considerable success in the 8 years since the program was established partly due to: year round training, highly motivated athletes, and planning. Below unveils the source of the recipe.
Periodization.This word describes the way the season is broken down into specific training periods and areas of emphasis during the year round training regime employed by the USOEC freestyle resident athlete program.
In essence, the season is split up into several training cycles that concentrate on particular parts of the season. Typically, the marcocycle (annual plan) is portioned into mesocycles (monthly plans) and then focused into microcycles or training weeks that are finally broken down into individual training sessions.
There are generally 3 types of mesocycle periods: transition, preparatory, competition. Within each mesocycle, varying degrees of volumes, intensities, and concentrations are utilized ultimately to prolong the careers and peak performances of the USOEC freestyle resident athletes.
All of the next several topics written employ the concept of periodization.
Skills Enhancement.This type of training hones individual and the USOEC freestyle resident team's ability to learn, master, and apply wrestling specific techniques to be executed in competition.
Two types of practices are designed to improve USOEC freestyle resident athletes' ability. The first type of training or practice focuses on teaching in detail the intricacies of fine motor movements. These practices are similar to "show and do" or coach instruction then athlete application via athlete mimicking, imitation, and simulation.
The second type of practice is more practical in nature allowing the USOEC freestyle resident athletes to show what they have learned in a live wrestling session. Both types of practices incorporate many amounts of repetitious type drilling and the amount of drilling depends on the focus of the practice.
Typically, there are 3 live wrestling sessions per week and 3 teaching sessions per week.
Strength & Conditioning.This type of training can be seen as the oil for the engine or the icing on the cake. Here, the focus of training is to increase the amount of wrestling specific power, force, and speed each USOEC freestyle resident athlete can produce via competing in practice and competition.
The USOEC freestyle resident athletes train in the weight room 3 times per week with additional strength training workouts incorporated using various workouts with kettlebells, weighted bags, and body weight exercises like buddy carries, push ups, pull-ups, and rope climbs.
Extraordinary Psychology.To achieve a higher level of thinking and doing, mentally, specific modes of mental training are used via videos and worksheets.
The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) produces quite a few sports psychology films that show the USOEC freestyle resident athletes how past Team USA Olympic Champions achieved their individual and collective success. The USOEC athletes are able to buy into goal setting, training journals, planning, overcoming barriers, and championship work ethic by learning how the USA Olympic Champions did it.
USOC sports psychology worksheets can be given to the USOEC freestyle resident athletes in order to condition the mind for excellence. This daily homework describes the 'how and why' the mind works in relation to sports psychology. Very important ideas like time management, goal setting, energy management, imagery, self talk, and team building are explained and taught step-by-step here. The USOEC freestyle resident athletes see the benefits of these wonders almost immediately.
Nutritional Means.In order to successfully make weight, and compete at a high level, consistently, USOEC freestyle resident athletes use the services of certified nutritionists or registered dieticians on a monthly basis. This service is complete with lectures, seminars, videos, and power point presentations. Northern Michigan University and the USOC both have certified nutritionists or registered dieticians who work with the USOEC freestyle resident athletes year round.
The USOEC freestyle resident athletes also use the services of the Marquette General Hospital Sports Medicine staff to employ nutritional logs and body composition testing to ascertain what foodstuffs will work best for each individual athlete and to increase lean body mass per athlete.
Video Analysis.Another way the USOEC freestyle resident athletes improve their ability to succeed, is by learning how to break down competition film of competitors and themselves. In this way, the USOEC freestyle resident athletes apply the ability to watch, see, and correct any flaws in their wrestling mechanics while at the same time learning the strengths and weaknesses of their competition.
Film review is done after every competition with each individual USOEC freestyle resident athlete and via watching the Olympic and World Champions for 'secrets' to success. Study of Olympic and World Champions is done generally all year to reinforce in the USOEC freestyle resident athletes' minds that they are learning and applying the same skills the best on the planet are applying.
Match Evaluations.The USOEC freestyle resident athletes also complete match evaluation worksheets after every competition to assess what worked and what needs improvement. These worksheets are used in conjunction with Individual Coaching Conversations that outline achievements of the last competition and needs for improvement.
There are generally 2 meetings with the USOEC freestyle resident athletes and the coaches (after competitions) to find out specifically what happened in their last competition to enhance their ability to compete at higher levels at the next competition.
Competitions. Competitions via dual meets and tournaments are used to test the USOEC freestyle resident athletes' mastery of skill application. The focus of competing is victory by means of executing wrestling skills, tactics, and strategies that are learned in practice.
Competitions are scheduled every Friday in the USOEC wrestling room, monthly via international & national events, or during national & international training camps.
