Marc Hill, University of Kentucky

Developing Competitors has become a huge part of collegiate strength and conditioning.

It is widely accepted, that all teams and athletes are lifting hard and running hard; thus they are getting bigger, stronger, and faster. Sure, there are different ways to get it all done, but in general, every elite level athlete and program is doing that part. So, the next things that we are all trying to get better at are nutrition and supplementation; and developing disciplined competitors.

The athletes that we are dealing with have all of the skills, but they often times have succeeded because of their natural abilities. But, once they reach elite level play - they will succeed or fail based off their ability to compete and overcome adversity.

WILDCAT GAMES

A few of things that I have found to be highly successful in developing the competitive edge are doing drills and exercises that develop a winner at the end - and then implementing the "Wildcat Games".

The Wildcat Games are an offseason competition within the football team. In January, prior to starting the offseason workouts, the head coach and I select ten captains. Those ten captains then meet in a closed room and have a draft of "teams" They select their own team that will compete together versus the other 9 teams for the entire winter workout session and the summer workout session.

To draft properly, they have to understand what gains them points and what costs them points. In sports you often win or loss based off of how many mistakes you have in a game - so a huge piece of this is that when a player misses class, misses a tutor, wears the wrong gear, etc. he loses points for his team. Very similar to a penalty on the field of play. So, in the draft, the captains always start by taking the guys that will do it correctly first. Then they will pick those that will allow them to gain points.

Points are gained in the daily and weekly events. Within each workout on a daily basis they will compete with other teams and themselves to gain points. For example, on a bench press workout, we may finish the workout with a rep out test and if you improve your score you will earn your team points. It is amazing to see those players that will compete, and those that make excuses about injuries, etc. Some kids don't want to ever lose, and some fight and compete as seniors that wouldn't push that hard as freshmen. So, those type things happen on a daily basis.

Then, twice per week we have a Wildcat Games Event. All 10 kids of each team will compete versus the other teams in an event. It may be an obstacle course relay, it may be a van push relay; or it may be a wall sit competition. But all the events make them go very hard and earn the points. Then, at some point during the week, we will do agility stations and they do those with their team. If a player is slacking and not doing the drill correct, he will get a demerit. At the end the team with the fewest demerits earns bonus points.

The events are worth winning. On a daily basis, if your team wins you may not have to condition, or you may get a special training table meal. At the end of the offseason workout - the winning team gets a gift pack from the equipment room that is well worth winning!!!

So, the "Games" are a huge part of our off season and we feel it really develops kids that compete; and it also shows us the kids that won't compete because of lack of interest; or simple lack of drive!!!

SUBMIT YOUR COMPETITIVE DRILLS AND ACTIVITIES

Do you have some favorite drills and activities that you use to develop competitors?

We are especially looking for drills that can be used with all sports - as well as drills that are specific to football, volleyball, baseball, and softball.

Send me your ideas at jeff@jeffjanssen.com by June 7 using "Competitive Drill" as the subject line. If we use the idea in our forthcoming Developing Relentless Competitors Drillbook, I will give you credit for it and send you a free copy of the book when it is available in the fall. Thanks for your contributions!