The science of sports involves a very complex task: people. They come in all shapes and sizes, rendering a one-size-fits-all solution useless. And unlike machines, people are emotional, volatile, and unpredictable. (We cannot program people by punching codes into them.) We must constantly assess what suits one individual, and what doesn’t. Furthermore, something might work for a while, but then it stops working (because living beings adapt)—a new approach must then be introduced.

You will not find too many generalized solutions here, and you will not see me overly preaching one methodology. I have no ‘’single best exercise’’—I only subscribe to a mixed-methods approach, and I don’t coach two athletes the same. The concept of individualization is a key component in my coaching.

For me, it’s not only a matter of coaching; but educating.  I don’t believe in throwing a bunch of tasks for my athletes to perform without explaining the deeper meaning behind them. This will result in a mechanical approach and the athlete will feel as if he or she is simply doing a chore—I don’t want my athletes blindly following a routine in a robotic manner.

And above all, I want to raise enthusiasm. If there is one single factor that raises productivity better than all else in my experience, it is enthusiasm. When we set meaningful goals (short- and long-term), we create a game-like quality in our training, and it makes the whole process fun. If there is no enthusiasm, it becomes a chore; so this is a vital goal for me.