Fancy Tools Don’t Replace Good Coaching
The deeper into an athlete’s career, the more valuable autoregulation becomes.
This can take many forms, but using tools to provide specific parameters or a particular stimulus is one example.
Here, Tyson and I talk about how tools like velocity training (VT), BFR, and NIRS can actually help — not because they’re inherently more valuable than traditional training tools, but because they are another tool that allows coaches to control stimulus / fatigue and target the exact adaptation they want.
A few big takeaways:
- Velocity cutoffs keep endurance athletes from grinding strength reps into the ground.
- BFR creates “artificial intensity” with lighter loads — huge for rehab & deloads.
- NIRS can be used to determine cutoffs for intense protocols like repeat desaturation work
- The best coaches are willing to experiment — while still understanding when simple works better. (e.g. Most wearable readiness scores are less useful than honest athlete feedback.)
The common thread through all of it:
Better coaching isn’t about adding more tools.
It’s about knowing when a tool actually solves a problem.