One major difference between our preparation process and the traditional approach is “testing”. Typically, this is emphasized at specific periods throughout the training program. We take a different approach and have eliminated all “testing”. Instead, we implement one of our daily key performance indicators (KPIs). This includes a variety of jumping, bounding and sprinting patterns.
At the beginning of every session, we collect one piece of objective data. The purpose is to monitor KPIs, CNS fatigue levels and help guide the decision-making process for the remainder of the training session (program management). Here’s an inside look at the different KPIs and what we monitor for each pattern:
Objective Data Table by theuofstrength
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In the context of ecological dynamics for movement and athletic development, noise refers to variability in movement and environmental conditions that naturally occurs during motor performance. Rather than being seen as purely disruptive, noise is often considered functional because it can help athletes explore movement solutions, adapt to changing contexts, and enhance decision-making skills.
Noise introduces fluctuations in the perception-action system, enabling athletes to explore different movement patterns. This exploration is essential for finding stable and effective movement solutions suited to dynamic environments. Functional Noise: Supports adaptability and creativity by allowing athletes to discover effective movement solutions. Non-Functional Noise: Disrupts movement efficiency without contributing positively to performance. Noise helps athletes adjust to environmental constraints and reinforces adaptability through exposure to diverse scenarios. Slight, consistent changes in motor outputs (e.g., small variations in sprinting pattern). Broader deviations that allow athletes to search for novel, optimal movement patterns (e.g., trying different foot positions when cutting). Both types of variability (noise) play a role in motor learning and contribute to more adaptable and skilled movement. Exposure to noise (dynamic and unpredictable training environments) helps athletes develop robust movement solutions. This forces athletes to continuously couple their perception of environmental cues with adaptive actions. Introducing noise into training enhances decision-making by requiring athletes to navigate uncertainty. Task Variability: Manipulate environmental constraints (weather, space, opponents) to introduce functional noise. Exploratory Behaviors: Encourage athletes to explore different solutions to achieve task goals instead of prescribing rigid techniques (one-size-fits-all approach) Error Tolerance: Allow room for mistakes and exploration during practice to facilitate adaptive learning. Game-Like Scenarios: Incorporate dynamic, unpredictable elements in practice to the mimic sporting ecosystem. Noise is not merely disruptive but a critical component of motor learning and athletic development. Properly harnessing functional noise allows athletes to become more adaptable, creative, and resilient, fostering long-term skill adaptations and enhanced performance in dynamic environments. The integration of ecological dynamics and the perception-action coupling are essential in understanding how athletes interact with their environment to optimize their performance.
Ecological dynamics emphasize that athletes and the sporting environment form a dynamic system. The boundary dimensions, playing surface, weather conditions, behaviors of opponents and teammates are factors that influence the individual’s motor performance. This theory is the back bone to my program/ practice design, the training process (motor learning) should occur in context of a dynamic and ever-changing environment. It involves the development of the perceptual-motor capabilities, coordination and the ability to adapt to varying conditions. The perception-action coupling is an important concept in ecological dynamics and motor learning. This describes the connection between the perceptual processes (interpretation of sensory information) and the movement patterns (physical interaction with the environment). The perception and action are tightly connected, with our sensory systems providing feedback to guide the movements, and our patterns influencing the information we perceive. This coupling is essential for tasks that require coordination between the perception and action, for example, catching a ball, cutting to avoid a defender or jumping over an obstacle. It allows us to adapt our actions based on the information we receive from our senses and crucial for making split-second decisions and adjustments during play. By considering these concepts, coaches and athletes can design training programs that more accurately replicate the complex, dynamic nature of sport. This approach can improve the athlete’s ability to adapt to different situations, anticipate opponent’s actions, and make more effective decisions in the sporting environment. Instead of following tradition and doing the same standard protocol, we strive to find the missing pieces for the individual’s training puzzle. When looking at force development, we take into consideration the athlete’s potential and expression:
Both should be strategically trained in an athlete’s program. If the individual is lacking in force potential, then his or her ability to express will be limited. This is why the weight room can be highly beneficial for a developmental athlete. We organize this part of our force training into three different categories: 1. Production
Redundancy, training variability, and skill adaptation are interconnected concepts in motor learning and athletic development. Together, they highlight the athlete’s ability to adapt movements to achieve consistent outcomes under various conditions, leading to robust and flexible performance.
Redundancy refers to the idea that the human body can achieve the same movement goal using multiple movement patterns or joint combinations. This concept is also called the degrees of freedom problem, first described by Nikolai Bernstein. The body has many degrees of freedom (e.g., muscles, joints) that allow for multiple solutions to the same task. Redundancy is not inefficiency; rather, it provides flexibility, enabling athletes to adapt to various constraints or perturbations. This encourages movement exploration during training, allowing athletes to discover different ways to accomplish a task. It promotes resilience by giving athletes the ability to adjust their solutions under changing constraints (e.g., fatigue, pressure, or environmental). Training variability involves exposing athletes to a diverse range of training or practice conditions to enhance skill learning and adaptability. By introducing variability in training, athletes learn to adapt to novel or unpredictable situations, improving their ability to transfer skills to competitive environments. Variability supports the development of a robust movement system, preventing over-reliance on a single technique. Skill adaptation refers to an athlete’s ability to modify their movement patterns to meet changing task, environmental, or individual constraints. This results from training or practice in variable and representative design that challenge the athlete’s ability to maintain performance consistency. It’s closely tied to the concept of perception-action coupling, where athletes continuously adjust their movements based on sensory information. This enhances decision-making and perceptual attunement in dynamic environments. It builds resilience, allowing athletes to maintain performance under stress, fatigue, or unexpected challenges. Redundancy provides athletes with a toolbox of movement solutions, ensuring flexibility in how they achieve a task. Training variability creates the conditions necessary for athletes to explore these solutions and discover the most effective ones for different situations. By emphasizing diverse training or practice conditions, movement exploration, and adaptability, athletes gain the tools to perform consistently at a high level while minimizing the risk of injury or performance breakdown. |
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AuthorJamie Smith is a proud husband and father, passionate about all things relating to athletic development and a life long learner, who is open to unorthodox ideas as long they are beneficial to his athletes. Categories |