Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Adapt And Grow: Princeton Tiger Performance Goes Virtual
May 04, 2020 | General, Princeton Tiger Performance
Ask any coach what the most meaningful part of their job is, and you'll likely receive an answer that references the personal connection that is at the heart of any coach-athlete relationship.
That connection is most important to the role of a performance coach, where the relationship shows its successes in tangible increments – a lowering of a 40 time, an increase of a personal best, the visible results of a nutritional shift.
So, how does Princeton Tiger Performance achieve those successes in a time of social distancing and a closed campus? By doing what they do best – innovate and adapt.
"Helping athletes develop is our passion," said Director of Performance Jason Gallucci. "At the heart of that passion is the one-on-one connection we build while striving towards a common goal. Regardless of whether the programming is strength & conditioning, sport psychology, nutrition or mental wellness, that programming perpetuates the connection and relationships we have built with athletes and develops new ones as well."
While Zoom and Facetime are allowing Princeton Tigers to stay connected, the coaches in Princeton Tiger Performance are getting creative to take their mentorship to the next level. In addition to 125 group sessions via Zoom with teams, the Princeton Tiger Performance staff has been ready when called on by student-athletes for over 300 individual performance sessions relating to all areas of sports performance. All of those individual sessions have been at the request of the student-athletes looking to maintain their strength, preparedness and nutrition away from campus.
"There is a lot of power in group programming or group virtual meeting spaces, however the real work is at the one on one level," said Gallucci. "All the group work allows us to send the individual the simple text that says how are you doing and what can I do to help you? Then, we can take a performance plan to the next level."
While team Zoom meetings have been held to implement offseason plans, the focus for Princeton Tiger Performance has been on individual sessions – an opportunity to meet the personal needs of the student-athlete in whichever area they are looking to strengthen. Similarly, use of Princeton's department-wide access to Teamworks has helped streamline communication and Princeton's Teambuildr software keeps everyone abreast of the most recent program updates.
"One of the interesting byproducts of this time spent apart is how it has sparked some creativity and ingenuity when it comes to training," said Gallucci. "Some of our athletes have access to a pretty complete gym, others have no more than their own body weight at their disposal, and everything in between. So, how do we design a program that works within your situation? That has been the exciting part, really. It has challenged all of us to be more creative in how we train."
"Our student-athletes are a resilient group," said Gallucci. "They are accountable and growth-minded, always willing to face a challenge head-on. While these past two months have featured tremendous losses, I have been impressed with the perspective our student-athletes have shown and their willingness to adapt and make the best of an unprecedented situation."
Just as a team is only as strong as its collective group, an individual succeeds when his or her entire person is in sync. Princeton Tiger Performance has implemented a new program to virtually connect with Tigers all around the world through "Tiger Tune Up" – a digital holistic wellness program designed to strengthen multiple key components to a person's well-being.
In addition to episodes dedicated to speed, power, mobility and recovery, PTP has designed lessons focused on nutrition, improving sleep habits and sport psychology.
Tiger Tune Ups are not limited to social media, staff members have been holding one-on-one with Tigers who have sought out further consultation.
"This is not a scenario anyone had planned for," Gallucci said. "But our student-athletes have focused on finding ways they can invest in themselves during this period and be prepared for future success – not only in competition but in school and when they graduate. They welcome any opportunity to improve, and while this isn't an opportunity they chose it is one they've met head on."
That connection is most important to the role of a performance coach, where the relationship shows its successes in tangible increments – a lowering of a 40 time, an increase of a personal best, the visible results of a nutritional shift.
So, how does Princeton Tiger Performance achieve those successes in a time of social distancing and a closed campus? By doing what they do best – innovate and adapt.
"Helping athletes develop is our passion," said Director of Performance Jason Gallucci. "At the heart of that passion is the one-on-one connection we build while striving towards a common goal. Regardless of whether the programming is strength & conditioning, sport psychology, nutrition or mental wellness, that programming perpetuates the connection and relationships we have built with athletes and develops new ones as well."
While Zoom and Facetime are allowing Princeton Tigers to stay connected, the coaches in Princeton Tiger Performance are getting creative to take their mentorship to the next level. In addition to 125 group sessions via Zoom with teams, the Princeton Tiger Performance staff has been ready when called on by student-athletes for over 300 individual performance sessions relating to all areas of sports performance. All of those individual sessions have been at the request of the student-athletes looking to maintain their strength, preparedness and nutrition away from campus.
"There is a lot of power in group programming or group virtual meeting spaces, however the real work is at the one on one level," said Gallucci. "All the group work allows us to send the individual the simple text that says how are you doing and what can I do to help you? Then, we can take a performance plan to the next level."
While team Zoom meetings have been held to implement offseason plans, the focus for Princeton Tiger Performance has been on individual sessions – an opportunity to meet the personal needs of the student-athlete in whichever area they are looking to strengthen. Similarly, use of Princeton's department-wide access to Teamworks has helped streamline communication and Princeton's Teambuildr software keeps everyone abreast of the most recent program updates.
"One of the interesting byproducts of this time spent apart is how it has sparked some creativity and ingenuity when it comes to training," said Gallucci. "Some of our athletes have access to a pretty complete gym, others have no more than their own body weight at their disposal, and everything in between. So, how do we design a program that works within your situation? That has been the exciting part, really. It has challenged all of us to be more creative in how we train."
"Our student-athletes are a resilient group," said Gallucci. "They are accountable and growth-minded, always willing to face a challenge head-on. While these past two months have featured tremendous losses, I have been impressed with the perspective our student-athletes have shown and their willingness to adapt and make the best of an unprecedented situation."
Just as a team is only as strong as its collective group, an individual succeeds when his or her entire person is in sync. Princeton Tiger Performance has implemented a new program to virtually connect with Tigers all around the world through "Tiger Tune Up" – a digital holistic wellness program designed to strengthen multiple key components to a person's well-being.
In addition to episodes dedicated to speed, power, mobility and recovery, PTP has designed lessons focused on nutrition, improving sleep habits and sport psychology.
Tiger Tune Ups are not limited to social media, staff members have been holding one-on-one with Tigers who have sought out further consultation.
"This is not a scenario anyone had planned for," Gallucci said. "But our student-athletes have focused on finding ways they can invest in themselves during this period and be prepared for future success – not only in competition but in school and when they graduate. They welcome any opportunity to improve, and while this isn't an opportunity they chose it is one they've met head on."
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