The Jaggedness Principle: Game Speed
I read an interesting book recently entitled “The End of Average” by Todd Rose. The book outlines issues pertaining to using the average measure as a benchmark for performance, fit and evaluation in complex systems. One of the guiding principles that he outlined in the book was called the jaggedness principle. Jaggedness is the idea that "we cannot apply one-dimensional thinking to understand something that is complex and jagged." In this situation, he defines "jagged" as the characteristic of having many weakly-related dimensions.
In this context, what immediately came to mind was the concept of game speed in team sports such as ice hockey. What is it? How is it defined? What do we measure? What can’t we measure? I had a fantastic conversation recently with my friend Stu McMillian on the HPH Podcast about the many layers of speed (capacity, ability, and skill). This conversation brought to my mind many more questions than answers. Having read Todd’s book, I attempted to untangle a few of these thoughts.
Game speed is a latent concept so I attempted to provide a definition that I could use as a reference: The ability to process, anticipate, and respond to ever-changing conditions on the ice as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Output (Efferent) vs Input (Afferent)
A question I often ponder is at what point is strong enough? At what point is fast enough? You could say that as performance professionals we build efferent beasts (output), but some of the best hockey players aren’t the strongest, or the fastest, although they do take their training seriously. Perhaps the “best of the best” are afferent (input) beasts who use their strength and speed wisely, position themselves appropriately and are much more efficient in choosing the appropriate motor task to accommodate the changing environmental conditions. Strength and speed training is paramount in sharpening the sword and should be part and parcel of the process; however, the coordination and response to the environment to use this strength and speed may separate the average from the elite.
Jaggedness
Game speed is not one dimensional. There are many variables at play (see image below). As coaches, we are great at measuring outputs (linear speed, power, strength), but it’s the inputs and outcomes that are most difficult and important to consider/contextualize in team sport. Which player would you choose? Player #1 has high hockey IQ, processing speed and tactical awareness, but below average strength and top speed. Player #2 has fantastic top end speed, and acceleration, but poor processing speed and hockey sense. Who’s faster? Their hypothetical weighted scores are identical. Who would you want on your team? Who has better game speed? For me, I’d take player #1 any day. As Anatoly Tarasov once said "speed of hand, speed of foot, speed of mind. The most important of these is speed of mind.” It doesn’t matter how fast you get to the wrong place.
To fix or Not to fix
All things being equal (which rarely are), the solution to fixing these issues may be more easily attained in Player #1. The questions posed by the coach may be:
To Fix
Which of the ‘below average’ attributes have the greatest POTENTIAL to be developed? (In some players certain attributes have greater potential than others)
Current injury restricts that may restrict these abilities
Anthropometrics
Playing position
Age/level: Is the juice worth the squeeze?
Not to Fix
My friend Fergus Connolly states: “Just because something is below average does NOT mean it should be automatically developed or improved because they all operate in concert with one another as a complex dynamic system. One input changes everything .” Elite players are master compensators and have spent years building motor efficiency at their craft.
“Complex problems cannot be solved because any attempt to create a solution changes the nature of the problem.”
Getting to top speed on the ice is much more than just sprinting in a linear fashion. It’s about the tangible intangibles of hockey sense, processing speed, tactical awareness and compete level. Speed in this sense is slowing the game down, not speeding it up. These attributes are best harnessed on the ice, or in the video room. The sport car analogy paints a beautiful picture. The car (efferent/output) and driver (afferent/input) are two pieces of the game speed puzzle. Both are important, but we mustn’t confuse the Ferrari engine with the amateur driver. Train speed, train strength, train power, but respect the jaggedness of the concept and the drivers experience.
