Pyramid Schemes

Metaphorically Speaking

So I love the idea of pyramids as metaphors - evocative imagery that helps visualize how different elements build on top of each other with each layer dependent on the one below it for support. 

Two of my favorite pyramid examples are Maslow‘s Hierarchy of Needs and Bondarchuk’s Exercise Classification Table.

My guy, Maslow

For anyone unfamiliar, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is basically a pyramid of everything a human being needs in order to live a fulfilled life.

At the very top of the pyramid, is a concept called self actualization, which is basically achieving enlightenment - you’ve found your purpose in life, you pursued your passions, you have full and reciprocal relationships. You have given as much to the world as it has given you.

On the bottom of the pyramid are fundamental physical human needs - food, water, shelter. Above that are safety needs - both physiological and psychological, then fulfilling relationships, contributions to society etc.

Predictably, each layer builds on the one underneath it and gets progressively narrower as it goes up. 

Unmet Needs

Let’s not even talk about self actualization, let’s just talk about professional pursuits. 

Since most of you are coaches, let’s imagine for that you go to work every day and you do a pretty good job and you’re trying to progress in your career. You’re doing your continuing education, doing some reflection, and you just can’t seem to make the progress you want to. 

Now imagine you finish the work day every day and you don’t have a place to live. Pretty startling, right?

Hold that picture in your head while we talk about Bondarchuk’s pyramid.

The Beauty of Bondarchuk

As you can see from the image above, we’ve got basically four layers of qualities or elements of athletic development and preparation. 

With the top of the pyramid being actually performing in the sport. 

The bottom of the pyramid is your general physical qualities. 

In the middle you’ve got your special preparatory exercises and then you’ve got your specific development exercises - this could be anything from curvilinear running to practicing positional technical skills. 

Maslow 🤝 Bondarchuk

Now that you’ve visualized these two concepts, let’s go back to our earlier example of Maslow‘s pyramid and you having a job but not having a home. 

Let’s layer that over Bondarchuk’s pyramid and look at it through the lens of training developmental athletes - middle school / high school kids. 

This is essentially what is happening right now in sports and not just because of early specialization - which, as an aside I don’t think is nearly as much of an issue as many people make it out to be - and here’s this all ties in.

What we’re actually facing is a critical level of under development where coaches, athletes and parents are driving this emphasis on qualities in the top half of Bondarchuk’s pyramid. 

And it’s even happening in training where things are skewing heavily towards higher level exercises and methods - very output based speed, power, etc. - neglecting the very foundation of all of those things, the general physical qualities.

This is the athletic development equivalent of living your life, going to work etc without having a place to live, water to drink or food to eat.

DO NO HARM

And no, I’m not an alarmist by any stretch - however, I’ve been around long enough to see just how far this pendulum has swung and I’m leaning on you all as smart, curious, competent and ethical professionals to start swinging the pendulum back the other way.

That’s the main reason I’m so adamant about how important these fundamental qualities are - we have a MORAL IMPERATIVE to prepare athletes to participate in sport SAFELY - not to produce Instagram highlight clips of training for our friends.

There’s no real take away from this newsletter, other than just hopefully providing a strong enough metaphor to snap some people out of this specialized and minimalist mindset and prevent further negligence.

Thanks for reading.

Tim Kettenring

Maverick Human Performance