Olympic Canoe Slalom Coach, Craig Morris, discusses power development, constraint-led coaching, and challenges faced by athletes. Topics include the evolution of canoeing pathways, attributes for success in water sports, adaptability in coaching, diverse approaches in football skills, personalized feedback in training, training techniques for kids, cultural influence on sports success.
The evolution of canoeing pathways emphasizes talent identification over strong club networks, facilitating specialized athlete development.
Success in canoe slalom depends on maintaining a high power-to-weight ratio, adaptability, and strategic decision-making in dynamic races.
Coaching in high-performance sport advocates for embracing athletes' uniqueness, fostering creativity through diverse practice settings, and personalized skill development.
Deep dives
Craig Morris's Journey in Coaching Canoe Slalom
Craig Morris shares his journey from being a defiant youngster in canoeing to coaching in high-performance sport, spanning from beginners to working at the Olympic Games. He highlights the significant changes in the pathway for individuals interested in canoeing over the years, emphasizing the shift from a strong club network to talent identification programs and specialized pathways.
Key Characteristics for Success in Canoe Slalom
Success in canoe slalom is not confined to a specific physical type as athletes exhibit a wide range of heights and weights. The key characteristics highlighted focus on maintaining a high power-to-weight ratio for speed on water, emphasizing adaptability, decision-making, and perceptual skills to navigate the dynamic and short-duration races effectively. The sport's evolution towards power-based styles requires athletes to be agile and strategic in their approach.
Supporting Athletes in Developing Unique Styles
Craig Morris advocates for embracing uniqueness in athletes' styles rather than enforcing a homogeneous approach. By focusing on the outcome of tasks and stability in performance, he encourages athletes to self-organize and find solutions that work best for them. Athletes are urged to explore different strategies and adapt to challenges through scaled task environments and diverse practice settings, fostering creativity and individuality for improved performance.
Coaching Dynamics and Session Flexibility
The podcast delves into the dynamics of coaching, emphasizing a personalized approach with session planning and player reflection. Instead of rigidly pre-determining every aspect, the coach meticulously plans to create a flexible environment aligned with the athletes' intentions and motivations. By providing various routes for skill exploration, such as finishing in football through different techniques, the coaching method focuses on adaptability and player-led interactions, fostering nuanced skill development.
Athlete-Centric Performance Planning and Review Process
The discussion shifts towards athlete-centric performance planning and review processes, highlighting a shift towards more individualized and evolving approaches. The podcast explores a blend of open recommendations and self-led exploration, aiming to attune athletes to the environment and enhance adaptability. By minimizing reliance on external sources like video analysis and emphasizing emotional and cold debriefs led by athletes, the coaching methodology prioritizes athlete empowerment and self-discovery in skill development and competitive preparation.
Craig Morris is the Olympic Canoe Slalom Coach for British Canoeing. Craig coached Mallory Franklin, Adam Burgess and Kimberley Woods to Tokyo 2020 selection and is well known for his constraint led athlete cantered approach. He is also an ambassador for UK coaching.
