LEARNING TO OPTIMIZE MOVEMENT with Rob Gray (1 of 2)
Mar 23, 2023
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Movement optimization expert Rob Gray discusses topics such as improving athletes' gaze behavior, determining visual perception improvement without expensive equipment, replacing explicit instruction with more effective activities, and the use of overload in promoting change. The concept of attractors and creating new attractors/fluctuators is also explained.
Improving gaze behavior in sports can be achieved through gaze tracking feedback and dual-task or occlusion exercises.
Environmental factors such as variability, instability, constraints, and overload play a significant role in promoting skill adaptation and change in athletes.
Deep dives
GMS Plus as a Coaching Resource
GMS Plus is a valuable resource for coaches, providing courses, drills, stats, videos, tips, and more. Renowned coaches such as Heather Olmsted, Keegan Cook, John Spira, Mike Wall, and Courtney Thompson have utilized GMS Plus. The platform offers a convenient and comprehensive way to enhance coaching skills, whether it's aiming for a state championship or Olympic gold.
Professor Rob Gray's Productivity and Time Management
Professor Rob Gray, an Arizona State University professor and expert in skill acquisition, shares insights on productivity and time management. He emphasizes the importance of multipurposing content, finding overlap between podcast discussions and book content. Additionally, he highlights the value of focusing on experiences and creating moments of exploration in life. To manage time effectively, he prioritizes early mornings and incorporates fun activities, like attending baseball games, into his schedule.
Insights on Gaze Behavior and Internal vs. External Cues
In this episode, Professor Rob Gray delves into the importance of gaze behavior in sports, particularly focusing on the example of fielders in baseball. Skilled fielders concentrate their attention on the precise location where the ball will be pitched, while less skilled fielders distribute their gaze across multiple irrelevant areas. To improve gaze behavior, Professor Gray suggests using gaze tracking feedback and incorporating dual-task or occlusion exercises. The discussion also explores the nuances of internal and external cues. Professor Gray acknowledges that while external cues tend to be more effective for skill execution, internal cues have their place in enhancing an athlete's feeling and self-awareness during movement.
Creating Change Through Environmental Factors
The episode highlights the significance of environmental factors in promoting skill adaptation and change. Variability, instability, constraints, and overload are identified as key elements to challenge athletes and induce change in their movement solutions. Varied practice conditions, such as changing speeds or distances, and introducing external constraints, like altering body positions, encourage athletes to explore different movement patterns. Furthermore, incorporating instability through tools like aqua bags fosters stability and adaptability. Overload, referring to increasing the difficulty beyond typical game conditions, helps athletes surpass their limits, enhancing their ability to handle more demanding situations.
2:25 - How Rob is able to connect with such a wide variety of organizations and individuals.
3:47 - Has the ecological approach somehow made an impact on Rob’s day to day life?
4:42 - Diving into Rob’s new book, explaining the difference between a college and professional infielder with regards to gaze behavior (chapter 3).
5:39 - How can coaches help players improve their gaze?
7:56 - How can coaches determine that their players have actually improved their visual perception without using expensive equipment like eye trackers?
10:14 - Are there times when internal feedback can actually be effective?
12:36 - Replacing explicit instruction with activities that can teach athletes the same skill more effectively (chapter 6).
17:44 - How the four variables of variability, instability, constraints and overload can help promote change.
20:24 - Examples of overload across multiple sports including baseball, basketball, and beach volleyball.
23:58 - Explaining what attractors are and how they are implemented.
26:29 - Explaining the difference between monostability and multistability.
27:42 - How coaches can create new attractors/fluctuators.
