[COACHING]


DOING THE EXTRA GROUNDWORK


By Ryan Lucas In competition, the strains of over-


use can prod athletes’ shoulders, backs or knees. Away from all the lifting, disruptions of rou-


tine with sleep and nutrition can linger with team members for days, and jet lag can be- come a nuisance. Coaching weightlifting at an internation-


al event isn’t easy. Even at the elite level, weightlifters need a pair of ever-vigilant eyes fixed upon them at all times—not only critiquing the lifts during competition, but helping with the necessary adaptations to fluctuations in food choices, rest and cultural differences, as well. For Andy Tysz and Tyrone Harvey, ex-


tra preparation is a requisite to coaching outside the United States. The pair—who coached the American contingent with USA Weightlifting Resident Team guru Zygmunt Smalcerz at the 2014 Pan American Cham- pionships May 26-June 2 in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, among other past international events—said the amount of additional work


is often commensurate


to success. “I like to meet with each of the team mem-


bers at some point prior to the competi- tion,” Harvey, a Level 2 Coach who founded CrossFit High Performance and runs the USA Weightlifting-Team Florida Orlando and


law enforcement for 15 years.” Harvey and Tysz used their


knowledge to lead the U.S. men and women to a haul of 16 med- als at the event. The men, un- der Harvey’s guidance, finished fourth in the team standings; the women, with Tysz at the helm, placed fifth overall. In all, the Americans also earned five qualifica- tion slots—three for the men, two for the women—in the 2015 Pan American Games. Beyond the immense supply of dedication


in their athletes, Tysz and Harvey can point in part to their research and execution in push- ing the Americans to success in the Domini- can Republic. “With instant access to so much in-


formation via the Internet, one can find out just about all the basics to smooth travel as needed,” Tysz, a Level 3 Coach. “Also, one can contact other coaches who’ve been to the area and ask about their experiences.” With rations of water and snacks from the


states at their disposal, Harvey and Tysz kept their athletes primed through maintenance of their health. Harvey, who’s studying Span- ish, alluded to fluency as an asset in several ways, as well. “Food in foreign countries can be question-


COACH HARVEY ENCOURAGING HIS ATHLETE KJAYLA MARTIN (75+KG) COPYRIGHT 2014 BRENTWOOD DIGITAL


Timber Creek High School programs, said. “Times of travel and conflicting competi-


tion times sometimes make it difficult to do, but this is my goal each competition. I also read about the conditions that are sent out in the area, like weather and safety concerns, which always spark my interest after being in


10 >> WEIGHTLIFTING.TEAMUSA.ORG


able and, in the past, athletes have gotten sick,” Harvey said. “Travel delays seem to be a staple in international competitions. Language barriers are also an obstacle, and they’ve actually motivated me to start learn- ing a second language. I think it’s a huge disadvantage in coaching during a competi- tion to not know or understand what other coaches are saying—especially in the warm- up room.” Aside from training in Spanish, Tysz said


he and Harvey also did plenty of cramming on their athletes’ strengths and tendencies before the event. The early establishment of goals is paramount. “I always try to contact the athletes I’ll be


working with and their coaches to get an appraisal of current conditioning and past experiences,” Tysz said. “If I don’t know the athlete from previous experiences and ob-


COACH TYSZ WITH ATHLETES STEVE JARVIS (105KG), ALLIE HENRY (69KG), PATRICIA PARK (48KG)


servations, I like to discuss specific items that will assist the athlete to perform at their best during competition, such as coaching cues during the lifts and warm-up pacing. “Overall, I tell them to do what you’re


ready for and always stay focused on the proper movement. The result comes from a proper movement executed with channeled aggression.” Having Smalcerz along for the journey also


enhanced their coaching efforts and helped to sustain a high concentration of motivation in their athletes, Harvey and Tysz said. “Zygmunt


is a consummate professional


and a great person,” Tysz said. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with him in the past on several occasions, and he never fails to im- press me with his knowledge and foresight in training and competition. I appreciate his wisdom the most; we could all learn a great deal about lifting and about life and how to treat each other if we’d follow an example set forth by the likes of Coach Smalcerz.” Both Tysz and Harvey seek to pursue


those standards with longevity in the sport, applying Smalcerz’ coaching tenets whenever possible. “My long-term goals include improving


the talent level of my younger athletes and keeping them involved in weightlifting for many years,” Harvey said. “I’d also like to retain lifters I’ve helped produce past the junior level and motivate them to continue into senior level competitions. I also have a long-term goal of one day being the head coach of a senior world team and an Olympic team coach.” “My long-term goal as a coach is to influ-


ence young people’s lives in a positive way, providing them with the confidence and understanding of how to live life in an exem- plary and extraordinary fashion,” Tysz said.


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