Train Like a Champion

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Train Like a Champion
Gary Gilchrist Director of Golf International
Junior Golf Academy
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The Winning Formula

• 75 AJGA All-Americans
• 6 AJGA Players of the Year
• 2 AJGA Sportsmanship award winners
• 2 U.S. Amateur champions
• NCAA Champion
• PGA winner
• LPGA winner
• Futures tour winner
• Futures tour Rookie and Player of the Year
• 2 U.S. Junior Champions
• 1 Public Links Champion

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Train Like a Champion

• Vision
• To build the ultimate training facility and to
• attract the highest level of junior golfer.
• Goal
• To win every major junior and amateur title in
  golf
• Focus
• The development of the athlete through technical,
• physical and mental training.

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About IJGA

• The International Junior Golf Academy is a
  training academy for junior golfers. Our mission
  is to provide the best instruction, training,
  staff, and facilities in the market and in doing
  so, develop the highest level of junior golfers.

• We are committed to creating a culture and
  atmosphere that is a breeding ground for
  champions and is unmatched in the industry

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Agenda

• Part 1
• Model of Success for Juniors
• Part 2
• Model of Success for Coaches
• Part 3
• Building a Swing

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Part 1 Model of Success for Juniors

• A Systematic Training Program
• Peak Performance for Juniors
• Fitness for Golf
• Sport Psychology

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1. A Systematic Training Program

• Technical Training
• Pre-Competition
• Tournament Competition
• Evaluation and Individual
• Practice

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A Systematic Training Program

• A Systematic Training Program is the dividing up
  of training into segments with the ultimate goal
  being peak performance at specific times of the
  year.
• A Systematic Training Program is the means of
  applying the Why and How of training on a yearly
  basis and is implemented in several cycles and
  mini cycles.
• The right equipment also plays a vital role in
  creating the correct technique and feel for
  improving ones game.

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Systematic Cycles of Training

• Technical Training
• Pre-Competition
• Tournament Competition
• Evaluation and Individual Practice

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Systematic Cycles of Training1. Technical
Training

• The Fundamentals Grip Posture Alignment
• The Pivot
• Plane of the Swing/The 6-Steps
• Analysis (Faults) and Prescription (Fixes) Drills
• Short game
• On course no score
• The goal during a technical cycle is to educate
  the student on Generic Drills.

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Systematic Cycles of Training Mental Preparation
for Technical Training

• Goal setting
• Patience
• Communication Skills
• Attitude and Outlook
• Quality practice
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses
• Taking notes

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Systematic Cycles of Training

• Technical Training
• Pre-Competition
• Tournament Competition
• Evaluation and Individual Practice

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Systematic Cycles of Training2. Pre-Comp

• This cycle is 50 preparation and 50 feel.
• The objective is to develop a better
  understanding of how to prepare and plan for
  tournament play.
• Course management plays a vital role in
  pre-competition.
• Making adjustments will improve focus and
  concentration under pressure.
• Mental toughness must be tested during practice
  and playing.

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Systematic Cycles of Training 2. Pre-Comp Cont.

• Areas covered in Pre-Comp week
• High Intensity drills
• Quality Practice
• Stretching
• Feel around the greens
• Mental and physical routine
• Shaping shots/recovery shots
• Rules and etiquette
• Course management

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Systematic Cycles of Training Mental
Preparation for Pre-Comp

• Developing a mental game plan
• Fear of failure
• Confidence
• Positive self talk
• Relaxation and visualization techniques

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Systematic Cycles of Training

• Technical Training
• Pre-Competition
• Tournament Competition
• Evaluation and Individual Practice

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Systematic Cycles of Training3. Tournament
Competition

• This is what the players have been training
  for..Peak Performance!
• This cycle is all competition
• The goal is to develop mental toughness
• Instructors evaluate on-course performance
• Focus is NOT on technique
• Correct planning and preparation will be closely
  monitored

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Tournament Evaluation Form

• Tournament Evaluation
• Event
• Date
• Scores
• Conditions
• Preparation Week
• How was your preparation the week before the
  tournament? (Long game, Short game, mentally and
  physically)
• Did you feel that the program prepared you for
  the tournament?
• At The Event
• Did you feel confident in your game?
• What would you do differently?
• Did you play up to your potential?
• What did your learn?

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Tournament Evaluation Cont.

• How can you improve in the next tournament?
• Did you keep to your game plan throughout the
  tournament?
• What area was your strength at the event?
• What areas need the most improvement?
• Post Play
• Did your score well? If not, why not and what
  would you do differently in your preparation and
  execution?
• How did your practice rounds go? What would you
  change?
• What changes to your practice at IJGA will you
  implement on a daily basis?
• What changes will you make to the rounds that we
  play each week in the IJGA program?
• What will help you improve your score?
• What about your preparation to the next event?
  What do you have to do to have the best chance of
  improving?
• Overall thoughts, summary and commitment to
  change

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Systematic Cycles of Training

• Technical Training
• Pre-Competition
• Tournament Competition
• Evaluation and Individual Practice

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Systematic Cycles of Training 4. Evaluation
and Individual Practice

• The final phase in the cycle, this week allows
  the player to slow down and rejuvenate for
  another cycle.
• A week of rest and evaluation is important for
  long term development.
• This is a week of individual evaluation and
  practice without the stress of competition.
• The goal is to evaluate their results and re
  evaluate their training program for the new
  cycle.

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Players Profile

• STUDENT Michelle Wie
• COACH Gary Gilchrist
• DATE 18th 21st March 25th - 28th March 2003
• Tournament Safeway Nabisco
• Strengths and limitations
• Michelle has the ability to adapt quickly to
  tournament conditions. Still needs time to build
  her strength and endurance for an entire week of
  golf.
• Instructional Profile
• Swing Fundamentals
• Grip Right hand grip sometimes gets
  on top. Key, stronger right hand grip.
• Posture Top heavy, leans too far over.
  Posture drill weight will be more
• underneath her.
• Alignment Clubface points right .Goal, square
  the face.
• Pivot Too much head movement off the
  ball. Work on pivot drills, feeling the weight
  
• moving laterally
  into left toe then behind. This will slow down
  your hips.

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Players Profile Cont.

• Plane
• Move away Butt end moves out .Too much right
  arm rotation. Fix by moving with the body
• and the club head stays
  outside her hands.
• Backswing Elbows stay too close together. Too
  much head movement in her body motion.
• Fix when setting the club,
  feel wider elbows and the club more over her
  right
• shoulder.
• Downswing Left side clears too early. Right hip
  and knee moves out early, club then lags
• behind. Fix Improve
  backswing and this will help the club naturally
  shallow. Feel
• your weight moving into
  your left toe and hold the right hip back.
• Impact Right side lifts up and out due
  to her left side clearing too early.
• Follow Through Swings too in to out. Fix
  Backswing more in front downswing club will
• shallow with her
  body movement still but moving more laterally.
  Hands
• move left and up.
  More of a body release.

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Players Profile Cont.

• Drills
• Swing in a bunker. Swingyde for setting her
  wrists. Feet together and right foot back.
• Club drills for her move away and top of
  the backswing position. Full swing, swing halfway
  stop and check and the turn to the top. Then
  continue through feeling the right weight
  transfer.
• Long Game
• Irons
• Short Helps improve full swing
• Middle Feel 3/4 swings.
• Long Tempo was good.
• Woods
• Driver 1-piece takeaway
• Fairway Woods Great

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Players Profile Cont.

• Short Game
• Putting Posture eye line slightly inside the
  ball. Club shaft angle at 90-degree close
• right eye to check. Keep head
  still through out the stroke. Goal listen rather
  
• than look. Drill putt to tees.
  Stronger grip and grip slightly down.
• Chipping Keep head still , backswing straighter
  back .
• Pitching Good work on tempo. Backswing
  sometimes to inside and follow through gets
• too long.
• Lob Shots Good key is grip pressure.
• Bunker Shots Backswing bodyline downswing target
  line.
• Fairway Bunkers Face open weight left choose
  one more club and swing at 80 no
• release.

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Players Profile Cont.

• Golf Course Evaluation
• Warm up preparation Great
• Routine Great
• Course Management Great
• Focus Great
• Visualization Good
• Self Talk Good
• Body Language Good
• Rules And Etiquette - Good
• Equipment - Good
• Evaluation
• Long Game Driver much better.
• Short Game Excellent
• Mental Toughness Good stayed patient the
  entire week.
• Fitness Looked a little tired at the end of the
  week

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Players Profile Cont.

• Mental Profile
• Mental Strengths limitations
• (Focus, motivation, desire, perseverance,
  determination, frustration)
• Expectations
• Self Image
• Short Term Goals
• Long Term Goals
• Physical Fitness Profile
• Performance Strengths and Weaknesses
• Nutrition Diet
• Strength Upper Lower Body
• Flexibility
• Endurance
• Understanding the importance of golf specific
  exercises

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2. Peak Performance for Juniors

• A dream without a plan is false hope.
• Have a clear plan for development
• Constantly challenge areas of weakness and
  maintain areas of strength
• Self awareness of those things that make you
  perform well
• Peak performance takes time and patience

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Peak Performance for Juniors
Peak Performance
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3. Fitness for Golf

• Strength Training
• Flexibility
• Stability
• Core Strength
• Pre-Tournament warm up
• Hydration
• Nutrition
• Injury Prevention
• Rest and Recovery

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4. Sports Psychology Think like a Champion

• The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching
  your goals but the tragedy lies in having no
  goals to reach.
• Set clear and specific goals
• Have a plan and purpose for your practice
• Cultivate an environment of learning and
  improvement

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Sport Psychology

• Know your strengths and limitations
• Build character
• Build confidence and self esteem
• Positive self talk
• Self motivation

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Part 2 Model of Success for Coaches

• The Gary Gilchrist Certification Program is an
  intensive 12-month program for all IJGA trainees.
  The program qualifies coaches to teach the
  Gilchrist Method and maintain a consistently high
  level of quality instruction throughout the
  organization.
• Ongoing education is provided through teach-ins
  and by assisting senior coaches.
• Performance Management provides clear
  developmental goals for coaches and allows for
  ongoing feedback and communication.
• Continually learning new drills and using new
  training aids to stay on the cutting edge of the
  industry.

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A Coach versus an Instructor

• An instructor primarily works with a swing, but a
  coach works with a person.
• A coach is a mentor, role model, motivator,
  friend.
• A coach creates a daily, weekly and monthly plan
  for their student.
• A coach evaluates the plan regularly and
  identifies areas that need improvement
  (technical, mental, physical) based on
  performance.

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Great Coaches

• Lead by example
• Communicate positively and are uplifting and
  inspirational
• Are supportive and give clear direction
• Take responsibility for the development and
  training of their students
• Always see the strengths and potential of their
  students
• Set goals
• Motivate and inspire their students
• Listen attentively

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Model of Success for Coaches

• The people process is the critical link to
• fulfilling the potential of your golf
  organization
• or academy.
• Have clearly defined goals within the
  organization vision gives the team direction.
• Hire for leadership the difference between 2
  equally talented coaches is leadership.
• Constant feedback and communication - interaction
  fuels action.

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Model of Success for Coaches

• A culture of accountability is critical a See
  it, Own it, Solve it, Do it culture.
• A big picture mindset the ability to see the
  whole organization and all of its needs.
• The power of positive attitude rotten attitudes
  ruin a team.

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Part 3Building a Swing
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Building a Swing

• The quickest way to build a swing is through
  drills and teaching aids
• Use video analysis and mental imagery
• A clear understanding of the fundamentals is
  critical as they are the foundation of the swing

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Building a Swing

• Develop the swing with these key ingredients
• A good grip
• An athletic posture
• A synchronized backswing and downswing
• A solid impact position and a balanced follow
  through
• These elements lead to a dynamic golf swing and
  will
• result in consistent ball striking.

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The Gary Gilchrist Training Method
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Fundamentals -The Grip
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Posture
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Posture
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Alignment
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Drills

• Grip Drill
• If the student has a good grip they should be
  able to hinge the club with
• out bending their elbows.
• When taking a good grip on the club the students
  arms should match up and both elbows will point
  to their hips.
• The right hand also needs to sit diagonally on
  the club. You need to see a long V pointing at
  you right ear.
• Posture Drill
• First make sure your feet are shoulder width
  apart, the club is vertical and in front of your
  body. Stand straight up and bend your knees look
  down so your shoe lasses are covered. Then drop
  your arms down so that the club is a foot off the
  ground. Then feel the weight move towards the
  balls of your feet feeling that you are bending
  from the hip joints not your waist.
• Stand straight up grab your hips and push them
  back while bending your knees. Feel a flat lower
  back.
• Alignment Drill
• One way to practice getting good alignment is to
  lay 2 clubs down on the ground. One on the line
  of the target just on the outside of the ball.
  The second club mentioned should be placed
  directly off your left ear giving you the correct
  ball position.

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Club Awareness Drill
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• Two-Club
• Drill

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Motion Drills

• On the range
• Feet together
• Feet wide
• Slow motion swings
• Right foot back
• Left foot back
• Pre - set in front

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Motion Drills

• On the range
• Right arm only
• Left arm only
• Split handed
• Squatty three woods
• Swing step and through
• Impact
• Eyes closed
• Left leg to right leg
• Index finger down the shaft

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The International Junior Golf Academy

• Come and
• visit us at the
• IJGA in Hilton
• Head, South
• Carolina!