I have experienced this topic for several years in my business. I don’t know how many times that I have heard, “Coach Poe, I read this and is it true, what do you think”? I suggest to my athletes a three step process to determine accuracy of all information.

The below are the following three steps that we use in day to day training with athletes concerning the above area of “good versus bad information”.

1.    Consider the source, the actual entity such as a “Sports Illustrated” type of publication, website, or any other source of information. Our rule of thumb is that the source/publication has to have been in business and writing in and about our “space” for at least five years. We do not need to be considering sources that opened in year one and closed in year two.

2.    Research the writer or the actual author of the publication. If the writer or author has not published 1 “peer reviewed” journal article within the given year and or 6 pieces of information with an entity that meets the criteria in #1, then don’t place great belief in the material or the talent of the writer or the author. Jere Longman of the New York Times would be a great example of a great writer and author.

3.    Be objective when reading, NOT subjective. If the material’s logic does not “add up”, the logic is probably NOT logical. Use common sense as well.

The above steps have been very successful for me and my clients over the years, especially the pro athletes. The higher the level of the athlete, we have come to a conclusion that they tend to want to “hone in” on their skills as they progress and reading is an avenue to aid in this goal.

Thank you.

Matt Poe