This week on the Way of Champions Podcast, we welcome Nick Winkelman, head of athletic performance & science for the Irish Rugby Football Union. He is also the author of The Language of Coaching, a book that focuses on the impact that communication has on an individual’s ability to learn and perform a movement. We discuss how Nick got into movement skill development, how we can assess if out athletes are learning, and we div deep into the idea of “queuing” athletes as coaches.   Nick's primary role with the Irish Rugby Football Union is to oversee the delivery and development of strength & conditioning and sports science across all national (Men and Women) and provincial teams (Leinster, Munster, Connacht, and Ulster). Before working for Irish Rugby, Nick was the director of education and training systems for EXOS (formerly Athletes' Performance), located in Phoenix, AZ. As the director of education, Nick oversaw the development and execution of all internal and external educational initiatives. As a performance coach, Nick oversaw the speed and assessment component of the EXOS NFL Combine Development Program and supported many athletes across the NFL, MLB, NBA, National Sports Organizations, and Military. Nick completed his PhD through Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions with a dissertation focus on motor skill learning and sprinting. Nick is a recognized speaker and consultant on human performance and coaching science and has numerous book chapters and peer reviewed papers focusing on the intersection between coaching language and athlete learning.   You can find him on Twitter @nickwinkelman or email him at info@thelanguageofcoaching.com Highlights from the Podcast: Nick shares how he got into movement skill development  Where did the book “The Language of Coaching” come from? How do we know if our athletes are actually learning? “Attention is the currency of Learning." Nick breaks down the idea of “queuing" Internal vs External queues Crafting better queues for athlete development Nick shares examples for queuing like “Rise like a Jet taking off”, “from head to heel, strong as steel” and "beat the bite" The three Ds: Distance, Direction, and Description   Resources Mentioned thelanguageofcoaching.com The Language of Coaching: The Art & Science of Teaching Movement by Nick Winkelman   Help Support the Podcast! Become a Podcast Champion! …and get FREE access to ALL of our online courses.    If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including:  Downloadable transcripts of the podcasts, so you don't have to crash your car trying to take notes! A monthly discussion with John, James, Jerry, and other special guests talking about the previous month's episodes and answering some of the FAQs we received that month A code to get free access to our online course called "Coaching Mastery," usually a $97 course, but yours for free for becoming a patron. Access to an online community of coaches like you who are dedicated listeners of the podcast, and will be able to answer your questions and share their coaching experiences.   Thank you for all your support these past two years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions

Nick Winkelman, Head of Athletic Performance and Science for the Irish Rugby Football Union and author of "The Language of Coaching," delves into the art of effective communication in coaching. He discusses the nuances of internal vs. external cueing, highlighting how different approaches can improve athletes' complex movements. Winkelman emphasizes the importance of clarity to bridge understanding and execution gaps, while also sharing strategies for enhancing emotional well-being and feedback mechanisms to foster growth in both athletes and coaches.

Dr. Nick Winkelman, Head of Athletic Performance for the Irish Rugby Football Union and author of 'The Language of Coaching,' dives into the power of language in coaching. He discusses how effective communication can elevate athlete performance and engagement. The conversation highlights the significance of different feedback types like Knowledge of Results and Knowledge of Performance. Winkelman also emphasizes the importance of empowering athletes through self-selected feedback and creating environments that foster independent learning.

In this episode, Stuart interviews Nick Winkelman, head of athletic performance at the IRFU. They discuss work-life balance, cueing in coaching, explicit vs implicit learning, autonomy supportive coaching, and the importance of reflective practice.

Nick Winkelman is the head of athletic performance & science for the Irish Rugby Football Union and a renowned expert in coaching science. He discusses the importance of blending psychological understanding with physical training to create meaningful learning experiences for athletes. The conversation highlights how effective communication and soft skills can enhance athlete engagement. Winkelman also emphasizes the power of storytelling in coaching and the beneficial role of external cues in improving performance.