The Perception & Action Podcast 536 – The value of opposed and unopposed practice, Tom Parry
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Apr 29, 2025 In this discussion, Tom Parry, a program director at Butler University specializing in kinesiology, explores the critical differences between opposed and unopposed practice for skill development in sports. He emphasizes innovative coaching methods that integrate academic research with practical application. The conversation also highlights the importance of fostering athlete engagement and decision-making, encouraging a shift away from traditional techniques to more contextual and interactive training approaches that genuinely resonate with young athletes.
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Youth Coaching Experience
- Tom coaches youth soccer and applies ecological dynamics by running game-based practices rather than traditional drills.
- Coaching his own kids in an age group allows him to implement and demonstrate his research in practice.
Dynamic Unopposed Practice
- Unopposed practice can still include dynamic movement when other players are present but not actively opposing.
- Skill development benefits from including decision-making and perceptual elements, not just sterile repetition.
Use Movement in Unopposed Drills
- Use unopposed practices that include moving bodies to represent real-game information.
- This exposes players to decision-making demands without full opposition pressure.