I thought it would be fun to do a little challenge for the blog. Rather than writing on a topic, I want to ask you a question and get your thoughts.
We often talk about being “functional” with our athletes to proprioceptively receive significant input into their bodies for better movement.
We also know the body is a learning machine! It takes information in, and if there is enough of the same kind of information, it will create a program so the brain can recall it quickly.
This sounds like a great thing, and at times it is. My question is this. Why might it not be good to have the brain learn and program a pattern simply because the athlete keeps doing it repeatedly?
Can you give an example of a pattern that might not be desirable but is one that athletes often repeat?
Questions like this one are what I ask myself almost daily when I look at and study movement. I don’t want my individual biases to make my decisions. I want sound biomechanics, physical laws, and proper performance to lead my choices.
I have developed a great practice of clicking on YouTube, finding a video of a game clip of different sports, and watching one player move. I evaluate what I see based on sound movement models for that pattern.
If I like what I see, I move on to the next. But if I don’t, I start digging deeper into what I would do to correct the low-functioning pattern.
Give it a try! It will help your coaching eye develop, and your corrective strategies selection strengthen.
The #1 reason the Speed Toolbox exists is to help coaches, including myself, challenge themselves to understand how the seven movement patterns exist in their model and the potential variation.
Check out what the inside the toolbox looks like… www.Speedtoolbox.com and enjoy ALL of the benefits.