Rob

311– Individual Differences & Intrinsic Dynamics: Why Do Some Performers Self-Organize Better Than Others?

311A look at individual differences in motor learning and coordination. What are intrinsic dynamics and how do they influence learning? How do patterns of coordination change with learning? Why do some athletes seem to be better able to self-organize than others? How should we take this into account in coaching?Download link Articles:Multi-stability and meta-stability: understanding…

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310 – Developing Adaptable Performers: Training in Regions of Metastability

310 A look at the concepts of multi and meta-stability in coordination. How can a performer have multiple movement solutions that are both stable and flexible at the same time? How might we develop this by training within meta-stable regions?Download link Articles: Multi-stability and meta-stability: understanding dynamic coordination in the brainHow boxers decide to punch…

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309 – Journal Club #20: Sport Practitioners as Sport Ecology Designers

309I am joined by Damian Farrow, Alex Lascu, Derek Panchuk and Carl Woods to discuss the article: Sport Practitioners as Sport Ecology Designers: How Ecological Dynamics Has Progressively Changed Perceptions of Skill “Acquisition” in the Sporting Habitat. We discuss: the shift from coach as instructor to coach designer, the challenges of “hands-off” coaching, do coaches…

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How to make CLA gains “sticky”

If I add a constraint to practice to take away (i.e., de-stabilize) a movement solution won’t the performer just return to using their old, familiar solution once the constraint is removed? This is a question I get asked a lot and indeed it is important issue both for the Constraints Led Approach (CLA) and most…

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308 – Interview with Paula Silva, Cincinnati, Anti-fragility, Movement Adaptability, Dynamic Touch

308 A discussion with Paula Silva from the University of Cincinnati. How can stress help a performer adapt and grow? What is anti-fragility? How do we measure and it and train it? How can it be used to challenge an athlete at the right level? What is dynamic touch and how is it important for…

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My new paper: Movement coordination & training in baseball batting

A paper I have been working on for awhile has just been published in Frontiers in Psychology. You can read and download an open-access copy here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01295/full Abstract:How do baseball batters solve the problem of coordinating the timing of the different phases of movement to generate a powerful swing that is appropriately adjusted for the…

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307- Using Biomechanical Analyses to Reduce Injury & Improve Performance

307 How should biomechanics be applied in sport to improve performance and reduce injury? Should we be identifying ideal movement parameters from group based analyses or attempting to optimize for each individual athlete? How can we make biomechanics tools more accessible? Plus a discussion with Mike Sonne and Casey Mullholland about the development and use…

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306 – Interview with Matt Dicks. Portsmouth, Perception-Action Coupling, Exploring to Learn, Affordances

306 A discussion with Matt Dicks from the University of Portsmouth. How does “anticipation” behavior change as we vary the degree of perception-action coupling? What is the role of perceived afffordances and action capabilities in the control of action? How do we explore our environment to learn (i.e. acting to perceive) and learn to explore?…

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305 – Journal Club #16: What are “normal movements” in atypical populations?

305 I am joined by Rajiv Ranganathan and Harjiv Singh to discuss the 1996 article “What are “normal movements” in atypical populations?” Are atypical movements in impaired populations actually functional adaptations to changes in constraints? Does a therapist “know better than our CNS” such that we should be trying to correct these adaptations and get…

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304 – Interview with Wolfgang Schollhorn, Mainz, Differential Learning

304 A discussion with Wolfgang Schollhorn from the University of Mainz. What has research on coordination profiling shown about the role individuality and variability in skilled performance? Why is noise essential for perceptual-motor control? How does differential learning promote motor learning and what are practical guidelines for how to use it effectively?Download link More info…

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