There is a new disease going around that is afflicting many people on our planet.  This thing spreads faster than the zombie virus from The Walking Dead.  It’s called idiocracy (yes, I stole this from the movie of the same name).

Basically, it takes normal humans like you and me and turns them into idiots.  Let me give you a couple examples.

Recently, I heard of a story about two teenage boys and one teenage girl doing some things that would only be seen in a real naughty movie.  The boys decided to videotape some things on the cell phone, then decided to send to a few people.  Well, now they aren’t only in trouble by the school, but by the police.

What does the mom say, “The police confiscated my son’s phone.  Should I go out and get him a new one or will they eventually return it?  He needs a phone.”  I’d say a severe case of idiocracy.

Or how about when a new mother has a baby and the grandma wants to hold the baby.  The mom goes nuts explaining how the baby needs to be held a certain way and don’t sway too much, etc.  My baby isn’t like other babies and needs to have special attention.  The Grandma just looks at her with a look of, “This ain’t my first rodeo, I did raise you and your siblings you know.”  Post-pregnancy idiocracy, but that does go away …sometimes.

My favorite case of idiocracy is related to sports.  I’m at an OSU game and the blowhard next to me continues to yell obscenities at the top of his lungs.  You know the guy that questions every play by the coach, “Why did he call that run, it is an obvious pass play??!!”  Sports induced idiocracy.

Although I do appreciate you teaching my 11 year-old every vulgar four letter word in the book, your talents as a coach are obviously being missed out on.

“Hey, Gene Smith (OSU’s athletic director), you could probably save a ton of money by firing Urban Meyer and hiring this bozo next to me.  He seems to know a heck of a lot more than your boy down there on the sidelines.”

How does one cure idiocracy?  Communication and education seem to work well.

I had a client tell me that right now he can’t continue training because they are starting track season.  The coach would prefer he not train with us during the season.

Apparently, our training will only hinder the performance that he will do during the track season.  And I for one wouldn’t want to screw up this coach’s great training plan.  Obviously, I have not been doing this for close to 20 years.  Obviously, I don’t keep up with the latest training methods.

And obviously, I would have no clue to think to alter our training program to keep him sharp, help with active recovery, and not tax him more than he needs to be taxed.  The thought never entered my mind.

When I was a strength coach at a local high school, I battled sport coaches all the time about in-season training.  It is the nature of the beast.  I would do my best to educate and communicate with them, we are on the same page.

You can’t just stop training because the season starts.  There are many reasons, but probably one of the biggest is if you do nothing to stress your system, you will lose all those wonderful gains you worked so hard to achieve a little bit each week.  After a month, it plummets fast.

I agree there are some so-called performance specialists out there that don’t get that.  But, there are also sport coaches out there that have no fricking clue what they are doing as well.  When my high school team was in the state football championship game, I didn’t approach our head coach and suggest a play.  Don’t pretend like you know my job as well and tell me what I should or shouldn’t do.

Let’s work together.  It will probably be most beneficial to the person it is most important to, the athlete.