In this episode, Alex Sarama interviews Alan Dunton, a lecturer at MTU Cork and expert in contemporary skill acquisition ideas. Alan discusses the importance of variability in basketball training and how coaches can introduce it into shooting drills. He also emphasizes the need to focus on functional movements in warm-ups and explains the concept of meta-stability in skill development. Alan highlights the gap between research and practical application in basketball coaching and suggests ways to bridge that gap.

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Key Takeaways:

05:05 - Writing your name ten times a simple way to introduce the variability of movement and other skill acquisition concepts.

09:50 - Swimming in the bathtub how powerful context is in shaping our biomechanics.

16:40 - Focus on functional movements in warm-ups to develop better movers and prepare players for game scenarios.

20:00 - Use meta-stability to promote creative solutions and adaptability in players' decision-making.

24:25 - Avoid deep attractor states in shooting by practicing with variability and adaptability.

28:00 - Bridge the gap between research and practice by disseminating research in a more digestible way and fostering dialogue between academics and coaches.

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