So MAS players generally performed below expectations despite great preparations.How did it go so wrong? It's not just the players. Let's discuss how the coaches got it wrong: 1) Rexy's a terrific coach.Since he came on, MAS MDs have delivered some breakthrough victories.But he needs to do some reflection. 1.1) Training prep.does not usually correspond with competitive advantage.This is because training is mainly physical whereas competition is physical plus psychological.What Rexy can do to up the mental component is to have his MDs fight for tournament opportunities Sudirman Cup style.No free ride based on ranking.That way they have to be on their toes all the time. 1.2) Never assume the competition standard is standstill if his MDs are improving.He made that erroneous assumption when he wished for an all MAS MD SF.Always assume the rival MDs are working harder, smarter and may be better, regardless of their ranking or last outing performance.As the WC07 showed,1 month can make a lot of difference. 2) Video homework timing.We know CHN do this intensively and is a sharp and time efficient way for increasing tactics quotient.But I believe they do this post and pre- tournament.MAS? Apparently they were videotaping for LCW as in-tourny homework? This would be unwise as it would be likely to make LCW feel 'maybe I've not prepared enough' and cause panic hence crashing out to Sony.(Similar to exam prep. If you have practised enough exam papers and scored well, don't ever do another on the eve of exam because if the score turns out lower than before,you gonna feel ill prepared and face a mental block.) When LCW has prepared well enough , leave him alone so he goes into matches feeling calm, confident and most important of all, in control. 3) Chief coach anxiety (or indirect harassment?) YKH has done wonders by being instrumental in hiring LM and Rexy. He should stick to that.If he cannot contain his performance-driven anxiety to himself, probably best to stay home or at least stay clear of players who are allergic to him and needs to perform at the highest level. 4) They should have a survey form for players to fill out what they need as well as DO NOT NEED to perform their best.If these conditions are met, they have no excuse for not performing.It's important that players commit based on their preferred terms.If they don't perform, then they may get perforated. (The sports shrink, not the coach,should draft out the survey) 5) It's crucial that top performers decide on their coach. Hence it's good that MAS has two different MS coaches. Can't see how LCW will ever be able to perform if he were forced to come under WTM. The chemistry seems quite bad between them.But one can guess WTM to be secretly delighted when LCW underachieves.LCW should expect that kind of 'noise' and learn to be deaf to it,arrogantly dismissing the 'harassment'. Look at Sony.Since Hendrawan took over, Sony's music's taken off.Before that,he was either injured or inadequate. Truth is he had the most 'horrible' coach (he said so) When top performers choose their own coach, they are self-committed and have no excuse not to perform most of the time. 6) Minimise SPECIFIC predictions. If have to please the media, go GENERAL. If don't know how to manage the media, get some PR advice. 7) There's no need to tell them (MD and MS) how good they are anymore.They are no longer rookies so don't treat them like one, unless you want rookie outcome. They know they are among the top and can win titles because their opponents indicate so, either directly or indirectly.LD had hoped to meet LCW in WC07.It's his way of saying LCW is his match;that's enough proof of his chances and there's no need for WCH(on behalf of YKH?) to tell the press 'LCW can win it' as reassurance. In other words,if MAS coaches talk less, their players may win more. 8) pls feel free to add on......
I'm speechless.. You have a point there. The players lacks of preparation from my point of view. They should spend more time analise their match and game thru video rather than going out. Must spend more time with coach and see how they can improve. No nessesary physical training etc..
9) After every major victory gained (eg. All-England/Asian Games), BAM and coaches should be given the clout to protect their charges from "prying eyes". What was this about parading them (even using them at by-elections)? We never saw Nicol David being used as such, and therefore she is still able to hold on to her World Champion/World No 1 ranking for 2 straight years. 10) As mentioned by Ants in another thread, players and spectators should not be celebrating too prematurely (esp. in case of upset wins during earlier rounds). This causes players to lose focus for the next round. This happens a lot actually .....
11) interviews for reporters at press conferences. 12) In HK, external people aren't allowed into training sessions. Is this the same in M'sia?
yeah, nicol david has always been treated differently. maybe because she is training overseas. away from the chaos of politicians clamoring for publicity. she is very focused. maybe that is the difference between winning consistantly or not. the influence of the malaysian politics. and she was never celebrated over the top like the badminton players. maybe our badminton players should be training elsewhere. maybe in singapore or thailand. just to get away from it all.
NICOL DAVID got very strong determination to success.. she rarely flop after manage to stay top spot in her pet events. BTW, the popularity of Badminton & Tennis among malaysian can't be in the same level. It might be the reason why Badminton Players always get ATTENTION FROM the politicians, training somewhere else might not be the best solution. We need to figure it out how to get away Badminton from politics at MAS
In case Nicol is a bmt player, while she faces so many strong opponents everywhere, do you think she is able to do that good? Even LD and Taufik couldn't avoid to lose to many lower rank opponents, though one is world ranking No. 1 and the other one is Olympics champion.....
I like the way weight lifters excite themselves to perform. Just before their turn to lift, the coach will slap their faces to get them stirred up mentally. It gives them the lift. LCW needs to be slapped to wake him from the slumber --- he was caught 'napping' in the WC 2007 when he played Sony. I thought if he had a few slaps that might have woken him up. I often slap myself when I feel sleepy whilst driving - it helps me to focus. As they say, NO PAIN NO GAIN.
I have watched the video between LCW and CH/LD/TH/BCL in recent meets that LCW used to play the same old style.....definitely Misbun must create more versions of play to face different opponents when they meet in the near future.....many dark horses are hiding in deep dark corner......like what LYB said ' do your homework well'
I certainly hope that the Malaysian coaches have already covered the many issues you raised but I suspect the implementation of some of them may prove to be impractical or difficult as we are dealing with personalities, both coaches' and players'. 1. Mental Training: This has become a must for top class professionals and if it hasn't been introduced, it will be a great disadvantage as you correctly said. Not all coaches are gifted to conduct mental training and this is best left to the professional, like the psychologist. And it appears that there is no short cut to it. I believe mental training is a cumulative process and it takes time to really learn and acquire the positive aspects and habits. So this has to start from the early stages of a player's career. Making players fight for a place in the team for any international competition is one good way to let them know that only the current best and in-form players will represent the country. This is fair game and the players will learn to take it seriously. But world ranking unfortunately is still valid for seeding and entry purposes. This may conflict with the coaches' requirements and views who may have to send higher ranking players for competitions against their wish. 2. Players' may feel that they have prepared sufficiently, but coaches should video-tape their performance in both training and competition and also that of their rivals. An in-depth analysis is necessary to optimize all the work spent on video-taping. Coaches must discuss with their charges their strong and weak points and those of their rivals, especially when they have reached an advanced stage of the competition, say from QF onwards. Strategies and tactics to counter their rivals must be thoroughly reviewed and practised during training. Players must be instilled into them that video-tapes are a necessary tool to help them succeed and they should not take it as a reflection or sign of their weakness. Pre- and Post- match discussions should be held before a player forgets and continues to indulge in old habits. 3. While it is useless to nag at players or to pressure them into winnining since the player is quite well-prepared, as in mental training, motivation from coaches and others can help to fortify a player's self-motivation exercise. These must be positive in nature to help uplift the player's confidence and to eradicate negative thoughts from his mind. Basically, a coach must know his charge well and in return the player should also reciprocate to be able to confide in him and work as a team. Outsiders should not interfere. 4. Coaches and players work within certain parameters and perhaps with limited resources. They should then try to maximize whatever they have on both the tangibles and intangibles and should not ask for the moon but the basic requirements must be available. A very close relationship between coach and player must be nurtured and maintained to extract the best possible outcome. Players can then confide in their coach what they feel and need and the coach could in turn be honest in their replies. Assessment: A good coach should admit that he does not know everything and he is also learning from his charges. To help him in his work, perhaps the coach can prepare assesment forms for the players to evaluate their teammates in training, indicating their pluses and minuses and their overall view. If this is considered too sensitive, as in an open discussion (maybe good on rivals) these forms should only be returned to the coach for analysis and comment at the next training session. 5. For players to decide on their own coach may not be practical and may create serious repercussions later. Furthermore this may encourage a player to behave like a "prima donna". Coaches come and go and players must learn to adapt to the situation. Even LCW experienced quite bitterly that LM cannot be with him forever as LM can also choose to coach elsewhere. What happens if Rexy has to return to Indonesia? Will all the doubles players suffer in poor performance as a result? The relationship between a coach and player has to develop over time and since we are dealing with human beings, it could be sensitive. Coming back to LCW's case. He was taken away from Misbun to be given to LM. When LM left abruptly, WTM as LM's assistant had to fill the void. But the chemistry did not work out, so LCW has to go back to Misbun. There is just not enough good coaches to go round! Ultimately, it is the player who is responsible for his own success. Of course a good coach can help him succeed faster. So he better learn to adjust and adapt to changing circumstances fast. 6. We all know that we need the support of everybody to make badminton successful. The government plays an important role, so are the media and the sponsors. Badminton is entertainment sport in this part of the world and it is very popular. It will be unrealistic to try to tell them to lay their hands off the 'star' players. It is good if they all show an interest. But such a partnership can be managed more effectively so as not to distract our champions too much at the expense of their professional preparation. So instead of the many different parties held to celebrate victories, maybe a co-ordinated central one, well-organized with invitations to all the necessary supporters and organizations will suffice. 7. Of course not forgetting our cheer teams. Please don't take them away to the police (seems like abedeng has tasted this). Afford them the necessary assistance and opportunity to turn into a morale and confidence-booster machine. Include them as part of the "MALAYSIA BOLEH' Team and make them feel really wanted. Invite them for refreshments and victory makan parties. Celebrate together as an organic team! Then I will fight for a place in the Cheer Team. Abedeng and X Ball - Beware!
Look out for LCW in the smaller tournaments --- I think he handles those better. I am beginning to believe he is not cut out for the big ones as he fails to handle pressure when spotlight is on him.
i think any tom,**** and harry can walk into the msian training session...maybe they will change tht....
To be fair to LCW, he did pretty good on most of the tournaments, didn't win as many titles as we wished but didn't play as poorly as in WC2006 and 2007 that often. LCW did quite well in WC2005 stopped at SF so we can't really say he's not a big tournament winner material. He also just won the Super Series Indonesia Open prior to WC2007!!! Mental toughness is hard to teach and mostly related to how and where you grow up and surrounded by who and what. May be Malaysia is just a too relax country to groom world champion?
Its not the issue about "relax" country.. Is the player's own mentality... Otherwise, NICOL DAVID wouldn't be a world champion in Squash for more than once
Although most of the BC members don't like LYB, He is perhaps the type of head coach/manager MAS needs to improve the overall performance of the national team. He is passionate, tough, confident, strict, encouraging, demanding, and most of all, delivering. Many non-chinese fans envy his success and portray him as arrogant, impolite etc. He is undeniably the most successful head coach in the world and his players respect him. Instead of bashing the players MAS should consider improve the coaching staff first.
MAS should consider bring on Zhao JianHua for MS coach & Tan KimHer as their MD co-coach together with RExy
Don't think ZJH is good in coaching as he used to coach S'pore team before. Even Sun JianHua is better who is currently the chief coach of junior team. Just look at the achievement of recent Asian Junior meets then you will know the importance of him for mas junior teams.
One look at HH, ZJH said forget it, uncoachable....hahaha!!! As for TKH, he is under contract with KOR team. Good idea though!!
