In previous blog posts I have made attempts to provide coaches with the theory and concepts that underpin Ecological Dynamics.  In this post I shift to the practical.  What this looks like in practice.

​​

The video samples below (also found on my YouTube Channel) are designed to help clarify some of the principles and concepts of ecological dynamics and non-linear learning.  The designs and delivery were kept simple for this purpose and as you watch them hopefully you will pick up ways where constraints could be added or removed, variability adjusted, task simplification applied, etc.  

​​​

For some coaches these videos may look a lot like some of the things you already do with your players and teams.  But one has to look deeper to see that the activities in these videos go beyond a simple games based approach.  They are more then just battle/compete drills or SAGs.

The strength of this framework comes from the combination of both the design and the delivery.  The coach designs an environment (i.e. practice drills/activities) that provides variability and game contextual information.  Then within the environment the coach manipulates that information (i.e. constraints) to provide players with various opportunities (i.e. affordances) to solve problems in multiple ways. 

Here are key points to consider:

​​​​

• Design:

  • Activities contain game relevant information.  The same types of information players will encounter in the game.

  • Activities contain great variability.  Repetitions do not repeat exactly and information is always changing.

  • Activities are based on repetition without repetition (the repeated search for solutions to a problem), not based on repetition (the attempt to repeat the same action).

  • The players focus of attention is on the outcome or objective of what they need to achieve (external focus) not on how they are doing  it technically (internal focus). 

  • Transfer from practice environment to the game environment is central. 

  • Activities are player centered not coach centered. 

• Delivery:

  • The coaching method used is a constraints led approach.  The coach changes constraints (sources of information) to guide and facilitate the learning.

  • Players are not being scripted in their actions.  The coach holds back from telling them how to do things.  Instead objectives or outcomes are provided.

  • The coach allows for exploration and discovery.  Players use their perceptions to act and find solutions that help achieve the objective.

  • Questioning and feedback is used over telling and scripting.  Well formed questions to players create reflection and reinforcement and result in better learning and retention.​​

​

Throughout the upcoming season I will continue to expand the library to provide coaches with a wide range of examples, skills and coaching approaches.