Learn the best practices for planning effective practices and involve athletes in co-designing practice. Explore the importance of adaptability, constraints, and using games for learning. Highlight the significance of co-design in practice activities and adapting based on athlete feedback.
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Quick takeaways
Practice sessions should be adaptable and flexible, adjusting according to athletes' struggles for improved skill development.
The ecological approach in designing practice activities, focusing on interactions and relationships, enhances athletes' holistic thinking and exploration of affordances.
Deep dives
Planning Practice and Adaptability
When planning practice sessions, the podcast emphasizes the importance of being adaptable and flexible rather than strictly following a rigid structure. Instead of having a pre-determined schedule of activities, coaches should observe what the athletes are struggling with during gameplay and adjust the practice accordingly. For example, if players are having difficulty serving in pickleball, the coach can design a practice activity that focuses on improving serving skills using constraints like analogies or different court sizes. This approach not only addresses specific weaknesses but also motivates self-organization and motor learning by giving the athletes a reason to change and find new movement solutions.
Using Interactions as Practice Design
The podcast suggests shifting the focus from technique-based drills to designing practice activities that revolve around interactions and relationships. Instead of saying, 'we're going to work on backhands,' coaches should emphasize concepts like 'keeping your opponent deep,' 'moving your opponent around,' or 'preventing your opponent from smashing the ball at you.' This ecological approach encourages athletes to think more holistically and motivates them to explore affordances and adapt their movements. By designing practices that promote interaction, coaches can create a more engaging and effective learning environment.
Co-Designing Practice with Athletes
The importance of co-designing practice with athletes is highlighted in the podcast. While explicit co-design, where athletes actively participate in determining practice activities, is one approach, implicit co-design can also be effective. Coaches can observe and listen to athletes' reflections and observations about their own performance, using that information to guide practice design. By paying attention to what athletes are struggling with and what they want to improve, coaches can create a collaborative learning environment that enhances skill acquisition. This approach goes beyond just rewarding athletes with games and considers games as tools for learning and skill development.
How should we plan our practices so that we are working on the right things at the right times? Is it better to let our coaching curriculum just emerge? How should we be getting the athletes involved in co-designing practice?