Ron Lugbill Whitewater Slalom Racing Blog

evidence-based practice in whitewater slalom training

Evidence-Based Practice in Whitewater Slalom Training

 

What I am attempting to do with this blog is to bring in some research basis to training for whitewater slalom racing.  I frequently have cites to research to support my positions. 

However, some of the blog is based on experience and that is normally because there is a lack of research in the area.  I haven't found any research on the sliding pry stroke, for example.  I use it, but others may have different experiences.

An expert, experienced coach or athlete also has significant experience upon which to base their opinions.  They have seen hundreds or thousands of athletes trying different techniques and have taken note of which ones were successful and how they became successful.

I hope that you readers start taking note of what the basis is when you read an article or hear something about how to train.  Some things that may seem scientific may not actually have been proven to work.  However, often new techniques have no research basis simply because they have never been tested scientifically.  Science is often 10-20 years behind the practice.  In the meantime, it's hard to determine whether a new technique is superior or not.  In the meantime, you could be losing races to an innovator who is trying a new, untested approach.

However, there are some things that have been shown not to work.  These disproven methods may continue to be done for many different reasons.  Most people just don't know about the training research available.  Many people just do what they have always done.  Many just do whatever they were taught and they may not have been taught correctly.  Few look themselves to see what is the most effective way to spend their time training.

Evidence-based practice is a buzzword in many different professions.  For example, education, science, medicine, and business, professionals look to the research to apply what works in their area. 

I don't want to stifle innovation by advocating for evidence-based practice in whitewater slalom training, but I do want the information to be available to people so they can use the research to improve their training.  That is what I am trying to accomplish with this blog.  I hope it is helpful to you.

Here is a link to an article about using evidence-based practice in training athletes:

http://jimkielbaso.com/?p=131

What I am attempting to do with this blog is to bring in some research basis to training for whitewater slalom racing.  I frequently have cites to research to support my positions. 

However, some of the blog is based on experience and that is normally because there is a lack of research in the area.  I haven't found any research on the sliding pry stroke, for example.  I use it, but others may have different experiences.

An expert, experienced coach or athlete also has significant experience upon which to base their opinions.  They have seen hundreds or thousands of athletes trying different techniques and have taken note of which ones were successful and how they became successful.

I hope that you readers start taking note of what the basis is when you read an article or hear something about how to train.  Some things that may seem scientific may not actually have been proven to work.  However, often new techniques have no research basis simply because they have never been tested scientifically.  Science is often 10-20 years behind the practice.  In the meantime, it's hard to determine whether a new technique is superior or not.  In the meantime, you could be losing races to an innovator who is trying a new, untested approach.

However, there are some things that have been shown not to work.  These disproven methods may continue to be done for many different reasons.  Most people just don't know about the training research available.  Many people just do what they have always done.  Many just do whatever they were taught and they may not have been taught correctly.  Few look themselves to see what is the most effective way to spend their time training.

Evidence-based practice is a buzzword in many different professions.  For example, education, science, medicine, and business, professionals look to the research to apply what works in their area. 

I don't want to stifle innovation by advocating for evidence-based practice in whitewater slalom training, but I do want the information to be available to people so they can use the research to improve their training.  That is what I am trying to accomplish with this blog.  I hope it is helpful to you.

Here is a link to an article about using evidence-based practice in training athletes:

http://jimkielbaso.com/?p=131