Good-runs/attempts percentage

Until further notice: the following holds true: I warmed up by jogging about 300 yards before the start of the scored practice, but did not warm up using theball.

Today 7/5, the same thing was done as was done yesterday 7/5; I did the P6.1-5T-NS pattern, with the cones marking out a distance between kicks of 8.8 feet; the only goal was long runs. To facilitate focus on length of runs, the number of missed attempts and the successes/attempts percentage were not kept track of.

EARPLUGS in both ears. Two segments done; . Woke up today at approx 3:15 PM, after having had approx 4 hours sleep; from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM Had approx 12 oz coffee/coconut palm sugar/halfnhalf . Drank 22 oz distilled water immediately prior to & during the first practice segment; drank 16 oz distilled water during the second segment.

First segment, The (AF1) andAFM (ankle-force minimization) methods were implemented; however again, I discovered that due to the long distance between kicks this segment, the use of ankle-force during kicks sometimes produced good results.

I estimate that the fastest a human can run the P6.1-5T-NS pattern with approx 8.8' between kicks, is at a speed of (my lingo) VF+++++++, numerically 10.0. Today my average speed was at numerical 8.9.

Compared to yesterday 7/5, today, 7/7 (with length as the only goal again): the average quality rating of the successful runs was up 9%; the average speed rating of the successful runs was up 13%; the average length of the successful runs was 35 feet, same as yesterday.

The speed ratings are based on the idea that the fastest possible speed when cones mark 8.8' between steps, is numerically 10.0, and the fastest possible speed when the cones mark out 6.6' between steps is numerically 9.0. However as of now, I estimate max speed is actually faster when the distance between kicks is marked as 6.6' compared to the max speed when the distance between cones is marked as 8.8' (sprinters at the beginning of their sprints use short, choppy steps). So it goes. Despite the error, I plan on continuing with the 'defective' speed rating system I've been using up till now. It would be too much busy work to try to change all the speed ratings in the previous days of practice.

The speed rating of 10.0, like the other speed ratings, includes a range of speeds, not just one speed. Hence, the fact a run is given a speed rating of 10.0, does not mean it is the fastest run I've ever executed.

Yesterday and today I noted, that when these long 35' length P6.1-5T-NS runs are executed, the ball hitting the chest between kicks often seems to be a natural and desirable aspect of the run.

During the practice, at times I shared my half of the gym with: four charming white, well-behaved grade-school kids who played a spirited game of soccer in the space behind me, one of whom was a girl; the Scottish-Canadian boxing instructor & his female student; and three teenage male Central-American-Spanish types. One of these three teenagers, 'Mikee' ('Mikee', pronounced Mike as in microphone ending with ee s in key) from the Dominican Republic, seems to be part African in ancestry; the other two look like brown caucasians. Mikee is of about average height, and is hefty in weight.

At first the grade school kids started to set up their soccer game right in the middle of my cones layout. I pointed out to them various alternatives which would not conflict with my practice. I said to them, 'sorry to bother you'. One of them surprised me by responding, in a surprisingly mature, resigned, and tolerant tone of voice, 'that's OK'. They seemed to be the type of kids one would enjoy being a parent of.

'Mikee' has always been friendly with me. Once by accident I gave him the wrong URL for my sports log, then I apologized to him for this. Today he was acting strange. The cones were kicked out of the way more often than is the case when such is happening by accident. When I asked the boys to refrain from deliberately kicking the cones out of place, Mikee told what I felt was a bald-faced lie: he claimed that the cones had been kicked out of place by some kid who had run in through the door connecting the gym to the parking lot, and then run away. I wear earplugs which muffle volume of voices, but at one point I think I heard him say, in a sarcastic tone of voice, 'we like him'. As he was leaving the practice, Mikee kicked a hula-hoop at one of my marker cones, knocking the cone out of place.

Mikee's caucasian-brown looking friends, one of whom I'd spoken with and met a few times before, did nothing that I found to be offensive or abnormal.

I had been practicing where I was long before Mikee and his two friends showed up. There were other adult-height baskets available with zero or just one person using them, when they entered into the general area I was using.

I found Mikee's conduct to be offensive, in part because this week my sense of self-esteem has been high for various reasons (see links in first row of July 5 entry).

A source of self-esteem: when I fell asleep after the Fourth of July, I had a dream that I threw a basketball at the basket from about 70 feet away; the ball reached a lofty ceiling-high apex of around 30', and then the ball miraculously went into the basket.

During the second segment done today, the young black man who serves sometimes as a basketball tutor, was working with a grade school black-haired white boy, who wore a tie-dyed red white & blue shirt. I think I heard (remember I wear earplugs) the tutor say to the boy, 'you like him (meaning me)...people are being mean to him (meaning mean to me)...that's why you're like that (the white boy is not openly displaying any feelings for me). The boy did not contest anything the tutor was saying.

I suspect that the Mikee mini-episode, and the basketball tutor mini-episode, are related to the paragraph at the end of the first row of yesterday's postings, in which I said: "I get the feeling that around here there are people who secretly like me". Seems that this statement in the log somehow offended Mikee's sense of macho dignity.

I don't think that the basketball tutor or Mikee read the entry themselves. I think that the content of the entry bounced off the media, which read the entry, and then into the minds of Mikee and the basketball tutor. It never ceases to amaze me, how close the relationship between the American people and their television is--sort of like some relationship between a dolphin and his loving trainer in some corny TV show.

The weather outside was too warm for my tastes. Indoors in the gym before the start of the practice, it was cooler than it was outside, and comfortable. But during the practice I found the indoors gym climate to be too warm & humid.

??%

Quality: 5.1
Speed: 8.9
Length:35'
Goal: length;
Cones: extended+ (8.8')

Overall quality of successful runs: excellent++ (5.1); overall speed of successful runs: very fast++++++ (8.9) .

Length of successful runs ranged from 31-42 feet; average run covered 35' from the first kick to the 5th kick.

Today there was 1 run of 44' in length (2% of total successes); the quality rating for the run was 4.0, and the speed rating for the run was 9.0.

Today there were 7 runs of 40' in length (12% of total successes); the average quality ratings for these runs was 4.9, and the average speed rating was 8.9.

There were 10 runs (17% of successful runs), averaging 35' in length, rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast++++++ (6 pluses, numerical 9.0) for speed. Yesterday runs of quality 5.0 & speed 9.0 comprised 9% of all successful runs.

There were 5 runs (8% of successful runs), averaging 36' in length, rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast+++++++ (7 pluses, numerical 10.0, highest possible speed rating) for speed. Yesterday runs of quality 5.0 & speed 10.0 comprised 0% of all successful runs.

There were 10 runs (17% of successful runs), averaging 35' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast+++++++ (7 pluses, numerical 10.0) for speed. Yesterday runs of quality 6.0 & speed 9.0 comprised 9% of all successful runs.

There were 10 runs (8% of successful runs), averaging 36' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast+++++++ (7 pluses, numerical 10.0, highest possible speed rating) for speed. Yesterday runs of quality 6.0 & speed 10.0 comprised 0% of all successful runs.

A speed rating of numerical 10.0 is the highest possible speed rating currently available. Runs rated 10.0 for speed, are of a speed that is roughly speaking, about as fast as I estimate a human can run the P6.1-5T-NS pattern with 8.8' between kicks. The big story statistically this segment, was that I broke into the numerical 10.0 speed level for the first time when running the pattern with the cones marking out 8.8' between kicks. Today there were 15 runs, 25% of total successes, rated as at 10.0 for speed. All of these runs were given a quality rating of at least excellent++ (5.0), which is the second highest possible quality rating.

82%

Quality: 4.5
Speed: 4.9
Off-target-by: 0.9'
Goals: percentage, minimize off-target distance
Cones: Condensed (2.2')

Successes/attempts rate on first 10 attempts: 70%; Quality of successful runs during this period: excellent+ (4.1)(there was 1 bad first kick during the first 10 attempts); speed of first 10 successful runs: very fast++ (4.7) ; (for the successful runs) average distance between the point where the 5th kick was made and the point at which it was supposed to be made according to the cone markers was 1.7 feet.

Overall quality of successful runs: excellent+ to excellent++ (4.5); overall speed of succesful runs: very fast++ (4.9) . There were 6 missed attempts (not counting bad first kicks); there were 4 bad kicks on the first kick of the runs; (for the successful runs) the average distance between the point where the 5th kick was made and the point at which it was supposed to be made according to the cone markers was 0.9 feet.

The speed rating is not directly comparable to the speed ratings for cones being set out to mark out 4.4, 6.6, or 8.8 feet between kicks, because when the cones mark out a distance of only 2.2 feet between kicks, everything is so different. The speed rating is based on a general idea that a speed rating of 4.0 is a certain speed, and working up and down from there.

The speed rating for such P6.1-5T-NS at 2.2' between kicks runs, is very approximate and rough. However the quality rating, the percentage rating, and the average distance by which 5th kick point missed target are respectably accurate.

The 82% in the adjacent column, as usual, shows the successes/attempts percentage not counting the bad first kick attempts.

Today resembled the last time P6.1-5T-NS was done at 2.2' between kicks (June 29), in that at the start I stumbled but then became more competent. I suspect the reason for this is that on both days, the first segment involved long distances between kicks and the second segment just 2.2' distances between kicks.

EARPLUGS in both ears. Woke up today at approx 6:00 PM, after having had approx 5 hours sleep (slept approx 10 am - 3 pm, & 5 pm - 6 pm. Had approx 12 oz coffee/maple-syrup/halfnhalf from approx 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Had nothing to eat prior to start of practice; Drank 16 oz distilled water prior to during and after first segment.

Today the AF1 method was modified through the implementation of "Ankle-Force-Minimization" (AFM).

Again, all day I was at the start of each run, focused on the first two kicks of the runs being done well.

I declared in the 6/27 entry, that: "the fastest a human could run the P6.1-5T-Reverse-NS course at 4.4 feet between kicks, is at (my terminology) a speed rating of approx very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerically speaking 8.0). Very fast++++ (4 pluses) is a step below this human max; very fast+++ (3 pluses) is a step below very fast++++ (4 pluses), and so on".

For a long time, the maximum quality rating for runs has been excellent+++, numerically 6.0; runs rated as 6.0 are runs during which on every turn, the angle of the turn does not diverge noticeably or significantly from 90 degrees.

Today, during the first segment of the day, the average speed was very fast++++, numerically 6.9 (with speed as the only goal). The last time that I did the P6.1-5T-NS, with cones marking 4.4' between kicks, was May 29, when the goals were high number of successful runs per hour, high successes/attempts percentage, and speed. On May 29, during the second segment of the day, the average speed was numerically 5.0. Thus compared to May 29, which was 39 days ago, the averagespeed today was up by 38% (second segment performance has always been better than first segment performance).

May 29, the average quality of the runs during the second segment was numerically speaking 3.0; today despite the intense focus on speed, the average quality of the runs during the first segment of the day, was 5.5, up 83% compared to May 29 which was 39 days ago.

P6.1-5T-Reverse-NS, is the mirror image reverse of the P6.1-5T-NS drill that was done today; both P6.1-5T-Reverse-NS and P6.1-5T-Reverse-NS involve outwards as opposed to inwards kicks on the turns. The last time that I did the P6.1-5T-Reverse-NS, with cones marking 4.4' between kicks, was June 24 (only segment done that day), when the goal like today, was speed and speed alone. On June 24, during the second segment of the day, the average speed was numerically 6.1. Thus compared to June 24, which was 13 days ago, the average speed today was up by 13%.

June 24, the average quality of the runs was numerically speaking 5.2; today despite the average quality of the runs was 5.5, up 6% compared to June 24 six days ago.

Today, it had been a long time since I had done runs with cones marking off 4.4' between runs; the same distances that had seemed long on June 17 twenty days ago (the first day on which cones marked distances longer than 4.4' between kicks was June 17), seemed much shorter than they did on June 17. It reminded me of how when you become adult, and visit some building or room that you had seen when you were a child, the building or room in question looks so much smaller than it did when you were a child.

During the first half of the segment, the 4.4' distance between kicks was difficult to get used to. It seemed as if my legs had become too strong for such short distances.

I now am convinced that when cones mark off a distance of 6.6' between runs, the speeds are faster than when the cones mark off a distance of 4.4' or 8.8' between runs.

I feel satisfied and proud, that the average quality ratings and the average speed ratings at 4.4' between kicks, are now finally, after so many days of frustration, approaching the maximum possible level of human achievement. My rate of improvement has been greatly accelerated due to: changing from cones marking 4.4' distances between kicks to cones marking 6.6' and 8.8' between kicks; changing from focus on successes/attempts percentage every day to focus on speed alone or length alone; increasing focus and length by not keeping track of number of missed attempts.

This success has been achieved doing a drill that for a long time I did not even attempt, because I thought it would be impossible. I had learned how to advance forwards in a straight line touching the ball on every step; but I had concluded that 90 degree turns on every step would be impossible. I remember about half a year ago, when I first attempted 90 degree turns on every step, the best I could do was getting up to the 4th touch of the run once in 45 minutes of trying.

The weather outdoors was too warm for me; indoors before the start of practice the temp/humidity was comfortable; after about ten minutes of exercise the temp & the humidity in the gym felt too hot and too humid.

Seemingly oblivious persons sharing my half of the gym with me sometimes: two tall black young men who I've seen a few times, who are serious about basketball and use cones for their dribbling and shooting drills.

When asleep before the start of the practice, I had a dream about the Waltham Y. I was supervising some grade school to high school age kids on a Waltham YMCA field trip to somewhere; my childhood friend Michael Gross MD and I were planning on giving some kind of presentation in the evening that involved a jar of protein powder as one of the exhibits; I put some of the protein powder in a plastic bag to reserve it for myself; some kid stole some of the protein powder; we recovered the protein powder from the kid who stole it; we were in a building near an intersection that looked like the intersection immediately east of the Harvard University science center area; some adults outside of our group started fighting fiercely with their fists in the intersection area outdoors; at least one of the fights we watched resulted in a fatality; in one case the loser of the fight was thrown over an overpass and died; in the evening me and Michael started our presentation. There were some details in the dream that I do not now remember. I suspect that the dream was triggered due to having shared the gym with the boxing instructor who was so ferociously pummeling the punching bag.

??%

Quality: 5.5
Speed: 6.9

Goals: speed
Cones: normal (4.4')
Length:21'

Overall-- quality of successful runs: excellent++ to excellent+++ (numerical 5.5); speed of successful runs: very fast++++ (numerical 6.9).

During this segment, the length of the successful runs ranged from 18-29'; the average run covered 21' from the first kick to the 5th kick.

Today, there were 5 runs (14% of successful runs), averaging 23' in length, rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast++++ (4 pluses, numerical 7.0) for speed.

There were 5 runs (14% of successful runs), averaging 23' in length, rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerical 8.0, highest possible speed rating at 4.4' between kicks marked by cones) for speed.

There were 9 runs (24% of successful runs), averaging 21' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast++++ (4 pluses, numerical 7.0) for speed.

There were 5 runs (14% of successful runs), averaging 23' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerical 8.0, highest possible speed rating) for speed.

EARPLUGS in both ears. Woke up today at approx 6:00 PM, after having had approx 5 hours sleep. Had approx 12 oz coffee/maple-syrup/halfnhalf from approx 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Had nothing to eat prior to start of practice; Drank 8 oz distilled water prior to during and after first segment.

Today an attempt was made to combine the AF1 method with the implementation of "Ankle-Force-Minimization" (AFM); however the speed of the runs was so fast that usually I did not have enough time to consciously apply the AFM method.

Again, all day I was at the start of each run, focused on the first two kicks of the runs being done well.

Compared to July 7 yesterday (only goal was speed), the averagespeed was up today (goals percentage and speed) by 6%, to 7.3. A numerical speed (my lingo) of 8.0 is approximately the fastest a human can do the drill done today with 4.4' between kicks

Yesterday July 7, and also today July 8, the average quality of the runs was 5.5 and the average length of the runs was 21'.

I felt sort of as if I'd fallen to earth during and after today's practice, because although the quality and speed of the runs was high, the successes/attempts percentage was low. One reason for this: I have rarely had successes/attempts percentage as a goal recently.

Successes/attempts percentage ratings for the most recent practices for which such percentage was recorded (not counting practices involving 2.2' distance between kicks marked out by cones).

June 30, eight days ago, the goals were achieve long runs; achieve high successes/attempts percentage; achieve high speed, the cones marked out 8.8' between kicks, and the percentage was 88%; on June 29 the goal was speed, the cones marked out 6.6' between kicks, and the percentage was 83%; on June 28 the goal was length, the cones marked out 8.8' between kicks, and the percentage was 75%; on June 27 the goal was speed, the cones marked out 6.6' between kicks, and the percentage was 66%; on June 25 the goal was speed, the cones marked out 8.8' between kicks, and the percentage was 87%; on June 24 two weeks ago, running the P6.1-5T-Reverse-NS pattern, the goal was speed, the cones marked out 4.4' between kicks (like today), the percentage was 90%, the average quality of the successful runs was 5.2, and the average speed of the successful runs was 6.1.

After June 25, I concluded that the P6.1-5T-Reverse-NS was pretty much mastered for now and that I should go on to doing the P6.1-5T-NS which I've been doing since then.

Compared to the performance on June 24 when the P6.1-5T-Reverse-NS was run with cones marking 4.4' between kicks and the only goal was speed, today two weeks later on July 8 running the P6.1-5T-NS with the only goal again speed, quality was up 6%, speed was up 20%, and the successes/attempts percentage was down from 90% to 76% (the P6.1-5T-Reverse-NS is less difficult than the P6.1-5T-NS done today, because the P6.1-5T-Reverse-NS emphasizes the left foot, the P6.1-5T-NS emphasizes the right foot, and I am left-footed.

The dissapointment I felt today had to do with being unable to combine a high percentage with speed. If I had been able to accomplish the combination, I would have felt eager to move on to the patterns involving inwards kicks.

Compared to June 24 two weeks ago, the angles of the successful runs today were closer to 90 degrees (quality rating), and the speed was faster, but the successes/attempts percentage was lower.

There are various suspects regarding the low percentage today: lack of practice focusing on percentage; faster habitual speed; excess focus on speed during the very first attempts. Today although there was no warmup using the ball, the first attempt resulted in a bad kick on the first kick, but the second attempt was scored as at 6.0 for quality (perfect angles on turns), 8.0 for speed (approximately the fastest speed a person can achieve on this), and 18' for length. This led to overconfidence which produced a few errors early on.

The bad first kicks and failed runs at the beginning alarmed me because I want to be able to perform my tricks competently even when I have not touched the ball in a long time.

My routine every practice for a long time now, has involved: jogging about 300 yards, and then starting the scored practice with no pre-practice warmup with the ball. Reasons for this: shortage of personal time available; shortage of open gym time; a desire to simulate the conditions I would face in a game if the ball came my way, and I had to do my tricks with it, despite not having done any tricks with the ball or even touched the ball for a long time.

In an actual game there would be I suppose: an hour or more of warmup involving both running and working with the ball; then running around on the field or sitting on the bench; and then finally touching the ball.

Intellectual tasks that might improve my ability to simulate game conditions: learning what kind of warmup the pros engage in before the game; learn what the pro players do for how long in between end of warmup and the first time they touch the ball in a game.

I don't want to be in a position wherein my skill level is such that although I am a superstar doing aerial tricks after I've done the trick ten times in a row, I am clumsy when the ball first comes my way in an actual game.

Nor do I want to be in a position wherein I feel as if I would be incompetent when I first touched the ball in a game, whereas actually my skill level is such that if I warmed up before the game like the pros do, and then touched the ball after running around for ten minutes, I could function like a superstar.

Beginning to recover from my sense of alarm re my current problems combining speed and successes/attempts percentage during the first runs of the scored practice, my feeling is that what kind of abilities I will have in a game when first touching the ball, are fairly accurately simulated when I execute the first ten runs of a second segment (as I recall, such first runs of the second segment, when I was doing second segments, produced the best performance of the entire practice).

The first segment simulates the pregame warmup; the break between the first and second segment simulates the interval between the pregame warmup and the first time I touch the ball in a game.

Due to the interaction of my personal schedule and the gym schedule, fatigue produced by heat, and other factors, lately I have had few practice days involving a second segment working with cones marking off a distance of at least 4.4' between kicks. The last time a practice involved a segment involving at least 4.4' between kicks, followed by a second segment involving at least 4.4' between kicks, was a month ago, June 8. This lack of second segments has probably caused an inordinate sense of alarm with regards to clumsiness during the first scored touches on the ball.

Most probably, the routine I have recently been following (just one segment per practice), has created in me an excess of pessimism re ability to perform well when not having touched the ball for a long time; when I first start touching the ball during the scored practice, the result I believe, is less competence than would actually be the case if I warmed up like a pro prior to a game, and then ran around or sat before touching the ball.

It's interesting how so-to-speak in the heat of battle, with the temperature hot and the air humid, when feeling fatigued and distracted by the tasks at hand, we tend to succumb to excessively pessimistic states of mind.

The weather outdoors was cool and rainy; indoors even before the start of practice the temp/humidity felt too hot and humid for me; but I was able to function anyway without much discomfort or fatigue.

Persons sharing my half of the gym: most notably, some East Asian young men and boys. They were all careful not to displace any of the cones; none of them complained about them. Two East Asian boys sat down close to me to watch me carefully for about 25 minutes. There was no curtain separating my side of the gym from the other side. On the other side, some teenage black males were playing basketball.

76%

Quality: 5.5
Speed: 7.3

Goals: speed, successes/attempts percentage
Cones: normal (4.4')
Length:21'

Overall-- quality of successful runs: excellent++ to excellent+++ (numerical 5.5); speed of successful runs: very fast++++ (numerical 7.3).

During this segment, the length of the successful runs ranged from 15-29'; the average run covered 21' from the first kick to the 5th kick.

Today, there were 3 runs (7% of successful runs), averaging 21' in length, rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast++++ (4 pluses, numerical 7.0) for speed.

There were 3 runs (7% of successful runs), averaging 19' in length, rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerical 8.0, highest possible speed rating at 4.4' between kicks marked by cones) for speed.

There were 11 runs (27% of successful runs), averaging 21' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast++++ (4 pluses, numerical 7.0) for speed.

There were 11 runs (27% of successful runs), averaging 19' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerical 8.0, highest possible speed rating) for speed.

The Replique used today was softer, heavier, and more wobbly than the Jabulani Glider. The junctions of the panels are more sharply angled on the surface of the Replique ball; there are less panels on the Jabulani Glider. The Glider at 11.6 psi has a smoother surface than the Replique at 9.0 psi .

When I tried to place the ball in a still position on the wood plank basketball floor in the gym prior to the start of the runs today, the Replique wandered around aimlessly much more than the Jabulani Glider used to.

Today I stuck with a goal(s) or objective(s) for about 20 minutes and then changed the goal(s) or objective(s) of the segment.

Earlier I had decided that: changing the objective(s) of the segment often would accelerate improvement; changing the objective(s) often would help me to quickly ascertain what objective(s) produce the highest performance in terms of a combination of speed and successes/attempts percentage; structuring a practice so that first the objective is percentage, then the objective is percentage and speed, and third the objective is speed alone, would produce the best performance; now that I've loosened myself up by doing segments with speed as the only goal and percentage not counted, now I can move on to segments with speed as the only goal and percentage counted.

Earlier I had formulated the principle that sometimes mastering the more difficult skill first produces in the end the fastest improvement; such could be the case for example when < span id=b>more difficult skill B is worked on for a week and then less difficult skill A is worked on for a week; however another exception to that principle, is that in a given day, starting with the easier objective(s) for a segment continues to make sense.

Four segments of P6.1-5T-NS were done; the distance between kicks marked out by the marker cones was again 4.4' which used to be the usual distance.

EARPLUGS in both ears. Woke up yesterday at approx 6:00 PM, after having had approx 7 hours sleep. Had approx 12 oz coffee/cane-sugar/halfnhalf from approx 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM. Hence had been awake for 14 hours when practice started today. Had nothing to eat prior to start of practice; Drank 8 oz distilled water prior to during and after first segment.

Today an attempt was made to combine the AF1 method with the implementation of "Ankle-Force-Minimization" (AFM); however the speed of the runs was so fast that usually I did not have enough time to consciously apply the AFM method.

Again, all day I was at the start of each run, focused on the first two kicks of the runs being done well.

I was pleased with the quickness with which I overcame the initial clumsiness produced by the change of ball today.

After just 47 minutes of impaired performance (due mostly to the change of ball), the third segment, with the goal being speed alone, produced respectable results: average quality of successful runs, 5.5 (6.0 is perfect quality); average speed of successful runs, 7.2 (8.0 is fastest a human can do this drill at 4.4' distance between kicks marked by cones); successes/attempts percentage, 86%.

The weather outdoors was too warm; indoors before the start of practice the temp/humidity felt comfortable; during the practice it felt a little too warm/humid.

75%

Quality: 5.7
Speed: 5.2
Length:20'
Goals: successes/attempts percentage
Cones: normal (4.4')
Ball CHANGED to Adidas Teamgeist Replique @ 9.0 psi

Overall-- quality of successful runs: excellent+++ (numerical 5.7); speed of successful runs: very fast+++ to very fast++ (numerical 5.2).

Overall, there were 12 successes, 4 failures, & 2 bad first kicks.

During this segment, the length of the successful runs ranged from 18-35'; the average run covered 20' from the first kick to the 5th kick.

73%

Quality: 4.8
Speed: 6.5
Length:21'
Goals: successes/attempts percentage, & speed
Cones: normal (4.4')
Ball CHANGED to Adidas Teamgeist Replique @ 9.0 psi

Overall-- quality of successful runs: excellent++ (numerical 4.8); speed of successful runs: very fast+++ to very fast++++(numerical 6.5).

Overall, there were 11 successes, 4 failures, & 0 bad first kicks.

During this segment, the length of the successful runs ranged from 18-22'; the average run covered 21' from the first kick to the 5th kick.

86%

Quality: 5.5
Speed: 7.2
Length:22'
Goal: speed
Cones: normal (4.4')
Ball CHANGED to Adidas Teamgeist Replique @ 9.0 psi

Overall-- quality of successful runs: excellent++ to excellent+++ (numerical 5.5); speed of successful runs: very fast++++(numerical 7.2).

Overall, there were 12 successes, 2 failures, & 3 bad first kicks.

During this segment, the length of the successful runs ranged from 18-26'; the average run covered 22' from the first kick to the 5th kick.

73%

Quality: 5.1
Speed: 5.9
Length:19'
Goal: successes/attempts percentage
Cones: normal (4.4')
Ball CHANGED to Adidas Teamgeist Replique @ 9.0 psi

Overall-- quality of successful runs: excellent++ (numerical 5.1); speed of successful runs: very fast+++(numerical 5.9).

Overall, there were 8 successes, 3 failures, & 2 bad first kicks.

During this segment, the length of the successful runs ranged from 13-22'; the average run covered 19' from the first kick to the 5th kick.

The YMCA summer campers took over the gym (lots of little kids) at 9:41 AM

The Adidas Teamgeist Replique at 11.6 psi was hard to handle, it seemed more difficult than the Adidas Teamgeist Replique at 9.0 psi. At 11.6 psi, the Adidas Teamgeist Replique, was smooth and hard and slippery and big and heavy; seemed that its hardness produced runs about 10% longer than what was usually the case with the Jabulani Glider at 11.6 psi.

When I tried to place the Teamgeist Replique ball inflated to 11.6 psi in a still position on the wood plank basketball floor in the gym prior to the start of the runs today, the Teamgeist Replique wandered around aimlessly even more than it did when inflated to 9.0 psi.

Three segments of P6.1-5T-NS were done; the distance between kicks marked out by the marker cones was again 4.4' which used to be the usual distance.

EARPLUGS in both ears. Woke up today at approx 2:00 AM, after having had approx 8 hours sleep. Prior to this sleep I had gone 24 hours without sleep. Had approx 12 oz coffee/cane-sugar/halfnhalf (and nothing to eat) from approx 3:00 AM to 5:30 AM. Drank 40 oz distilled water prior to during and after the practice segments.

Today an attempt was made to combine the AF1 method with the implementation of "Ankle-Force-Minimization" (AFM); however again, the speed of the runs was so fast that usually I did not have enough time to consciously apply the AFM method.

Again, all day I was at the start of each run, usually focused on the first two kicks of the runs being done well.

I was again pleased with the quickness with which I overcame the initial clumsiness produced by having to work with the Teamgeist Replique inflated to 11.6 psi for the first time.

After 120 minutes of impaired performance (due mostly to the change of ball and the change of psi), the third segment, with the goal being speed alone, like yesterday, produced respectable results: average quality of successful runs, 5.1 (6.0 is perfect quality); average speed of successful runs, 7.5 (8.0 is fastest a human can do this drill at 4.4' distance between kicks marked by cones); successes/attempts percentage, 86%.

The first 10 successes/failures of the second segment began 26 minutes after the end of the first segment, with no warmup between, yet the results were excellent; the failure was on the 10th attempt. The first 10 attempts of the third segment occurred 23 minutes after the end of the second segment, with no warmup between,yet the results were again excellent; the failure was on the 6th & 7th attempts. These first attempts of segments after the first segment, I had previously concluded (7/8), accurately simulate what my performance would be like after warming up and then sitting or running before first touching the ball. These results are good news because they tell me that I will be able to do these tricks competently, when I first touch the ball in game, after not having touched the ball for 25 minutes.

I felt a little nervous, what with Manchester United being in town to play the New England Revolution, and having sent out an email to the Manchester Coach, cc'd to several other persons. Yet I was able to harness the nervousness for energy without being performance-impaired due to the psychological tension.

I was feeling a little queazy, since I felt like if given a chance to get used to it, eventually I'd be able to dribble through the Manchester United defenders, and do this as well as the best players, yet they were getting paid half a million dollars per week, with me not even on a team. But I was able to harness the queasy feeling for energy so it did not impair my performance.

All through the practice, the instrumentals of the first part of the 'Rule Brittania' song were playing through my head (the part before they start repeating 'Rule Brittania, Brittania rules the seas', the macho part with the baritone solo). This was, I think, because Manchester United is in town. Fabulously rich young white British athletes are glamorous, I guess. I can hear my mother's voice in alot of the British band-music for some reason.

It was hard to get the ball to stay still on the wood basketball floor at the beginning of a run, because it was wobbling like crazy, worse than 7/11.

At first due to the strangeness of the ball and the consequent difficulties, I forgot to at the beginning of a run focus on the first two attempts; then I recovered and remembered such focus and performance improved. I realized that an effective approach is: after the first two kicks of the run, focus during the third kick on the third kick and during the fourth on the fourth kick, with the same type of attention utilized prior to the start of the run.

At the start I forgot to crouch somewhat from the first kick on, which helps get the body into the kicks (AF1 method). Why? Partly because I used to use the Teamgeist Replique ball up to about half a year ago, and when I was using it, I was not in the habit of crouching, because I was doing long fast straight runs.

The practice ended due to the entrance of about a hundred little grade school summer campers. I get this feeling that the kids get some kind of serious religious feeling when they are around me. If you knew my life history, you'd see how in a sense I'm like a father to them.

The weather outdoors before the practice was comfortable; indoors before the start of practice the temp/humidity felt a little too warm; during the practice it felt a little too warm/humid, but during the second half of the practice the weather felt fairly comfortable.

In 'Rule Britannia', the macho solo baritone sings (in some of the versions) the following paragraphs, each paragraph followed by the chorus singing, "Rule, Britannia! rule the waves: Britons never will be slaves":

When Britain first, at Heaven's command Arose from out the azure main; This was the charter of the land, And guardian angels sang this strain:

The nations, not so blest as thee, Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall; While thou shalt flourish great and free, The dread and envy of them all.

Still more majestic shalt thou rise, More dreadful, from each foreign stroke; As the loud blast that tears the skies, Serves but to root thy native oak.

Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame: All their attempts to bend thee down, Will but arouse thy generous flame; But work their woe, and thy renown.

To thee belongs the rural reign; Thy cities shall with commerce shine: All thine shall be the subject main, And every shore it circles thine.

"Rule, Britannia" by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740, is a British navy song whose lyrics (James Thomson) and music (Thomas Arne) were both written in 1740, 270 years ago.

US history is strongly routed in the activities of British seafarers including: military sailors, pirates, naval mercenaries, naval bounty-hunters, civilian sailors, commercial sailors, private sector civilian sellers of overwater transportation, and etc.

77%

Quality: 4.8
Speed: 5.4
Length:22'
Goals: successes/attempts percentage
Cones: normal (4.4')
Ball: Adidas Teamgeist Replique @ 11.6 psi

1st 10 successes/attempts (no prior warmup with ball) -- quality of successful runs: excellent+ (numerical 4.0); speed of successful runs: very fast+ (numerical 4.7); percentage: 70%; good runs: 7; bad runs: 3; bad 1st kicks: 3.

Overall-- quality of successful runs: excellent+++ (numerical 4.8); speed of successful runs: very fast++ (numerical 5.4).

Overall, there were 34 successes, 10 failures, & 4 bad first kicks.

During this segment, the length of the successful runs ranged from 13-26'; the average run covered 22' from the first kick to the 5th kick.

This segment, there were 3 runs (9% of successful runs), averaging 21' in length, rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast++++ (4 pluses, numerical 7.0) for speed.

There were 0 runs (0% of successful runs) rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerical 8.0, highest possible speed rating at 4.4' between kicks marked by cones) for speed.

There were 3 runs (9% of successful runs), averaging 21' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast++++ (4 pluses, numerical 7.0) for speed.

There were 0 runs (0% of successful runs), rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerical 8.0, highest possible speed rating) for speed.

84%

Quality: 5.2
Speed: 6.8
Length:23'
Goals: successes/attempts percentage, & speed
Cones: normal (4.4')
Ball: Adidas Teamgeist Replique @ 11.6 psi

1st 10 successes/attempts (no prior warmup with ball) -- quality of successful runs: excellent+++ (numerical 5.6); speed of successful runs: very fast++++ (numerical 6.6); percentage: 90%; good runs: 9; bad runs: 1; bad 1st kicks: 0.

Overall-- quality of successful runs: excellent++ (numerical 5.2); speed of successful runs: very fast++++ (numerical 6.6).

Overall, there were 37 successes, 7 failures, & 3 bad first kicks.

During this segment, the length of the successful runs ranged from 15-35'; the average run covered 23' from the first kick to the 5th kick.

This segment, there were 10 runs (27% of successful runs), averaging 24' in length, rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast++++ (4 pluses, numerical 7.0) for speed.

There were 2 runs (5% of successful runs), averaging 22' in length, rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerical 8.0, highest possible speed rating at 4.4' between kicks marked by cones) for speed.

There were 10 runs (27% of successful runs), averaging 22' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast++++ (4 pluses, numerical 7.0) for speed.

There were 2 runs (5% of successful runs), averaging 22' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerical 8.0, highest possible speed rating) for speed.

87%

Quality: 5.1
Speed: 7.5
Length:22'
Goal: speed
Cones: normal (4.4')
Ball: Adidas Teamgeist Replique @ 11.6 psi

Overall-- quality of successful runs: excellent++ (numerical 5.1); speed of successful runs: very fast++++ to very fast+++++ (numerical 7.5).

Overall, there were 13 successes, 2 failures, & 0 bad first kicks.

During this segment, the length of the successful runs ranged from 15-26'; the average run covered 22' from the first kick to the 5th kick.

This segment, there were 2 runs (15% of successful runs), averaging 22' in length, rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast++++ (4 pluses, numerical 7.0) for speed.

There were 0 runs (0% of successful runs), rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerical 8.0, highest possible speed rating at 4.4' between kicks marked by cones) for speed.

There was 1 run (8% of successful runs), averaging 22' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast++++ (4 pluses, numerical 7.0) for speed.

There were 5 runs (38% of successful runs), averaging 21' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerical 8.0, highest possible speed rating) for speed.

The Adidas Jabulani World Cup 2010 NFHS Top Training Soccer Ball at 11.6 psi, is significantly different compared to the Teamgeist Replique used the previous two practice days; this I could tell, after just four touches on the ball.

The Jabulani NFHS at 11.6 psi: has a soft sponge-like layer beneath the surface; is softer than the Teamgeist Replique at 11.6 psi; has a stickier surface than the Teamgeist Replique at 11.6 psi; sticks to the foot much more than the Teamgeist-Replique/11.6 psi; spins less than the Teamgeist-Replique/11.6 psi; has to be kicked harder to travel a given distance than the Teamgeist-Replique/11.6 psi (I refer to the short kicks I make while performing drills such as I've been doing); feels like a pillow compared to the Teamgeist-Replique/11.6 psi.

However-- though the Jabulani NFHS seemed right away to be easier to handle than the Teamgeist Replique/11.6 psi, that does not mean that it is easier to get used to.

When I placed the Jabulani NFHS on the floor prior to the start of the runs, it did not wobble around at all, aimlessly wandering here and there.

This is all significant because the Jabulani was the ball for the 2010 World Cup, and the Teamgeist was the ball for the 2006 World Cup.

Two segments of P6.1-5T-NS were done; the distance between kicks marked out by the marker cones was again 4.4' which used to be the usual distance.

EARPLUGS in both ears. Woke up today at approx 1:30 AM, after having had approx 7 hours sleep. Had approx 12 oz coffee/cane-sugar/halfnhalf (and two pieces of multigrain toast w butter) from approx 3:00 AM to 5:30 AM. Drank just 7 oz distilled water prior to during and after the practice segments which went on for 2.5 hours.

The water consumption was low because I left my water bottles at home by accident. Since I had to drink from a water fountain, I consumed much less water than I otherwise would have. I suspect it was in part due to the small amount of water consumed that I felt too tired to pursue a third segment.

Today an attempt was made to combine the AF1 method with the implementation of "Ankle-Force-Minimization" (AFM); however again, the speed of the runs was so fast that usually I did not have enough time to consciously apply the AFM method.

Again, all day I was at the start of each run, usually focused on the first two kicks of the runs being done well.

I was satisfied with the quickness with which I overcame the initial clumsiness produced by having to work with the Jabulani NFHS inflated to 11.6 psi, after not having used a Jabulani for a week.

I estimate that today I overcame the initial clumsiness caused by the change of ball, after about 85 minutes (85 minutes on the court without subtraction for pauses for scoring etc).

It was hard to get psyched up for the practice, because two days ago Manchester United of great riches and fame was here in Boston, but now today they are gone.

I felt as if my legs were stiff, sluggish, and heavy; I suspect because of a combination of not practicing yesterday, and only a 4.5 hour interval between waking up and starting practice. Maybe also because of drinking so little water.

Again, all through the practice, the instrumentals of the first part of the 'Rule Brittania' song were playing through my head (the solo macho part featuring the baritone solo, who sounds like some half-pirate fat navy man whose voice has become harsh due to too much rum and tobacco). Seems such instrumentals in one's head, help rather than hurt practice performance.

In the locker room, a tall heavy white, white-haired older man's locker was next to mine. As I checked my lock, he said, "the adults are blaspheming" (he pronounced the word blaspheeming). I think this was because something I wrote in the first row of the 7/13 entry bounced off something or somebody and into his ears somehow. What he meant was I suspect, that the little kids have an admirable serious respect for me, but the adults wickedly treat me like some third class thing.

The weather outdoors before the practice was comfortable; indoors before the start of practice the temp/humidity felt a comfortable; during the practice I felt comfortable.

74%

Quality: 5.4
Speed: 6.2
Length:21'
Goals: successes/attempts percentage
Cones: normal (4.4')
Ball: Adidas Jabulani World Cup 2010 NFHS Top Training Soccer Ball @ 11.6 psi

1st 10 successes/attempts (no prior warmup with ball) -- quality of successful runs: excellent++ (numerical 5.0); speed of successful runs: very fast+++ (numerical 6.4); percentage: 50%; good runs: 5; bad runs: 5; bad 1st kicks: 0.

Overall-- quality of successful runs: excellent++ (numerical 5.4); speed of successful runs: very fast+++ (numerical 6.2).

Overall, there were 29 successes, 10 failures, & 4 bad first kicks.

During this segment, the length of the successful runs ranged from 18-31'; the average run covered 21' from the first kick to the 5th kick.

77%

Quality: 5.7
Speed: 7.3
Length:22'
Goals: successes/attempts percentage, & speed
Cones: normal (4.4')
Ball: Adidas Jabulani NFHS @ 11.6 psi

1st 10 successes/attempts (no prior warmup with ball) -- quality of successful runs: excellent+++ (numerical 5.9); speed of successful runs: very fast+++ (numerical 6.2); percentage: 70%; good runs: 7; bad runs: 3; bad 1st kicks: 1.

Overall-- quality of successful runs: excellent+++ (numerical 5.7); speed of successful runs: very fast++++ (numerical 7.3).

Overall, there were 30 successes, 9 failures, & 3 bad first kicks.

During this segment, the length of the successful runs ranged from 18-29'; the average run covered 22' from the first kick to the 5th kick.

For the first time today, speed ratings of 6.5 and 7.5 were used. For the purposes of the following stats, 6.5 is rounded up to 7, and 7.5 is rounded up to 8 (the average speed rating was calculated without such rounding).

This segment, there were 2 runs (7% of successful runs), averaging 21' in length, rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast++++ (4 pluses, numerical 7.0) for speed.

There were 3 runs (10% of successful runs), averaging 23' in length, rated as at x++ (excellent++, numerical 5.0) for quality & very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerical 8.0, highest possible speed rating at 4.4' between kicks marked by cones) for speed.

There were 6 runs (20% of successful runs), averaging 22' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast++++ (4 pluses, numerical 7.0) for speed.

There were 12 runs (40% of successful runs), averaging 23' in length, rated as at x+++ (excellent+++, numerical 6.0, highest possible quality rating) for quality & very fast+++++ (5 pluses, numerical 8.0, highest possible speed rating) for speed.