The Adaptable Athlete Podcast Skill Adaptation > Skill Acquisition
Oct 30, 2025
What if skills aren't something athletes acquire but instead adapt continuously? This intriguing concept flips traditional views, emphasizing the athlete-environment relationship. It delves into how injuries and aging force athletes to recalibrate their movements. Youth athletes also face challenges as they grow, requiring them to readjust their skills. Coaches are encouraged to create environments that mimic real game situations, paving the way for innovative training and improved performance.
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Skill As Continuous Adaptation
- Skill is not a stored possession but an ongoing attunement between athlete and environment.
- Javier Miller-Estrada reframes skill as a continuous adaptation process, not something you permanently acquire.
Use Live Problems For Rehab Readaptation
- Embed athletes in live movement problems so they can constantly readapt skills after injury.
- Allow athletes to explore new movement solutions rather than forcing pre-injury movement patterns.
Injury Changes Perceived Affordances
- Injury alters action capabilities and perceived affordances, changing which options feel attractive.
- Coaches must accept new solutions may replace old ones and not all pre-injury options will return.