Talent Code and the Tony Franklin System Chapter 2

Myelin

Myelin is the insulator that wraps around nerve cells and the more myelin is wrapped around a cell the faster and more efficient that movement pattern becomes. 

Talent Code (Coyle 34-35)

Q: Why is targeted, mistake-focused practice so effective?

A: Because the best way to build a good circuit is to fire it, attend to mitakes. then fire it again, over and over. Struggle is not an option: it's a biological requirement.

Q:Why are passion and persistence key ingredients of talent? 

A: Because wrapping myelin around a big circuit requires immense energy and time. If you don't love it, you'll never work hard enough to be great.  

Coyle states that myelin operates by a few fundamental principals.

1. The firing of circuits is paramount.  The mechanism responds to action with urgent repetition.  
2. Myelin is universal. Myelin doesn't care who you are-it cares what you do.  
3. Myelin wraps-it doesn't unwrap. Once a skill circuit is insulated, you cannot un-insulate it.  That's why habits are hard to break.  The only way to break them is to build new habits by myelinating new circuits. 

So What? 

I watched as a former Tony Franklin System school complete about 15 pat-n-go throws between the Junior Varsity Game and the Varsity Game against us last year.  The quarterback still knew how to throw it and the receiver still knew how to stack the defensive back and keep his body between the ball and the defender.  This school had run The System for about 5 years we did end-up winning both the JV and Varsity games but   they completing those pat-n-goes did make it very difficult to beat them. 

This is why it is so important to have consistency with this how you teach pat-n-go catch and throw. 

• Align on top of the numbers to 1 yard inside of the numbers 
• Must be on the numbers on this route.
• Quarterback has the bottom of the numbers to the sideline to throw the ball.

 And in a few years those coaches will be scratching their heads wondering why they cannot throw and complete the deep ball anymore once those kids who developed the myelin for the pat-n-go have graduated.