In this episode I reconnect with Dr. Andrew Wilson, Reader in Psychology at Leeds Beckett University and a leading voice in ecological psychology in sport. We delve into the fascinating world of affordances, skill development, and the complex challenge of transfer of learning in sport. Andrew brilliantly explains how our traditional understanding of skill acquisition often misses the mark, and why an ecological approach offers a more complete picture of how humans actually learn and develop skill.
Three Key Takeaways:
- The overlap between training and performance contexts that enables transfer of learning is primarily in the information about affordances. When designing practice, focus on ensuring the right information is present rather than prescribed movement patterns.
- Variability in movement and practice isn't noise to be eliminated but rather a crucial signal that helps develop adaptable, creative performers. The best athletes aren't those who repeat identical movements but those who can respond to dynamic, ever-changing affordances.
- The ecological approach to coaching might benefit from being framed as an "affordance-led approach" rather than "constraints-led," highlighting how affordances define what counts as functional movement and serve as the primary constraint on motor abundance.
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