My friends wouldn’t be surprised by me saying something like this but I’m always fighting against the crowd to find something better. I have always found that following the crowd is the easiest way to travel but usually the slowest way to get to your destination. I’ve always been in protest of traditions that exist just because they are traditions.

My buddy and I had a discussion about baseball, which I know nothing about. I was asking why they don’t use metal bats or instant replay. He explained both but after a couple of questions he came out and said that baseball is all about tradition. They do things a certain way and it’s been that way for a hundred years. This didn’t settle well with me, it’s like not upgrading the Model T because even if cars are better than it, nothing beats the first version. Then I was listening to a comedian talking about the first person to steal a base in baseball. Just everyone looking at him like he’s a moron and 100 years later it’s a normal part of the game. Everything changes and change is generally a good thing.

My personal life and coaching life don't separate too far so this anti-tradition lifestyle follows over. I started coaching the same way I was coach. I did the same drills, taught them the same way and did the same work outs but as I got more comfortable and gained more knowledge I ended up throwing a good deal of it out. People always ask why it seems the throws haven’t improved much since the 70s but don’t take a step back to look at what people are doing.

Has anything really new come out since then? Oldfield got us to pay attention to the rotational that decade and since then there’s no major change to any throw. There are guys and girls doing cartwheel shot throws but that looks like a nightmare to coach. A few videos popped up of people doing 2 turn discus throws but how much are they really gaining in doing that? I don't know but I love that they are both groups are trying something new.

I’m not advocating change for the sake of change but we need to start looking elsewhere for new things. Stop sticking with the same program year in and year out expecting the same results you had the first year you used it. Evolution is a natural part of life. If you don’t evolve you’ll be left behind wondering what happened. Take risk, try new things, and don’t stick with things just because everyone else is doing it. Don’t be afraid to be an innovator, they are the ones we remember anyways.