Ep. 242: A History of Sport Science and Skill Acquisition | Keith Davids, PhD
Mar 29, 2024
auto_awesome
Keith Davids, PhD, Professor of Motor Learning, provides an in-depth look at skill acquisition and sport science. Topics include open vs closed skill sports, classic vs modern views of practice, and the evolution of coaching and sports industry. Emphasizes the importance of environment and adaptability in skill development.
Understanding motor learning originated from military conflicts, emphasizing adaptability to changing environments.
Skilled behavior now includes adaptiveness to dynamic environments beyond accuracy and efficiency.
Functional variability in movements is essential for optimal task performance and adapting to environmental changes.
Deep dives
The Historical Link Between Military Conflict and Motor Learning
The history of skill acquisition and motor learning has roots in military conflicts, where the need for rehabilitation and training emerged from injuries sustained during wars. The stimulation to study skills arose from adapting to injuries and training combatants to use new technologies developed during conflicts. This connection highlights the importance of understanding motor learning and coordination in response to changing environments.
Defining Skills as Actions and Techniques
Skills are viewed as actions, movements, or techniques achieved in tasks like lifting weights or throwing objects accurately to achieve specific outcomes. The traditional emphasis on accuracy and efficiency in skilled behavior has evolved to include adaptiveness to dynamic environments and interactions. Understanding skilled behavior encompasses accuracy, efficiency, effectiveness, and adaptiveness in achieving intended outcomes.
Embracing Variability in Skillful Behavior
Varied movement patterns and adaptability in skillful behavior are essential as individuals adapt to environmental changes or task demands. Functional variability in movements signifies adaptive responses to changing environmental conditions while maintaining consistency in performance outcomes. This perspective contrasts with the notion of eliminating all variability, emphasizing the importance of functional variability for optimal task performance.
Individualizing Practice and Contextualizing Performance
In skill acquisition and motor learning, coaches must individualize training approaches to accommodate factors like age, gender, and individual variations. Contextualizing practice involves aligning training environments with competition demands to prepare athletes effectively. Understanding the impact of factors such as fatigue, mental state, and gender-specific considerations on performance aids in tailoring practice for optimal skill development.
The Evolving Landscape of Sports Science and Skill Acquisition
The field of skill acquisition and motor learning has advanced from early ties to military conflicts to a nuanced understanding of individualized and contextualized skill development. By considering the environmental influences and individual variations in skill acquisition, coaches can optimize training strategies for athletes across diverse sports, emphasizing adaptability, functional variability, and consistency in performance outcomes.
For the few of you who don't know Keith Davids, he is a PhD and Professor of Motor Learning at Sheffield Hallam University and one of the foremost experts on skill acquisition.
This episode may go down as one of the most thorough examinations of skill acquisition and sport science that you'll find! Along the way, we touched on other topics, including open vs closed skill sports, classic vs modern conceptualizations of "practice", and much more!
Enjoy.
Sign up for our coaching mentorship group -- our next call is 3/29 at 12 pm EDT! https://coachlogik-mentorship.mn.co
