Constraints Based Coaching

BUILD THE MACHINE FOR THE RACE IT IS IN!!

What experts do during practice distinguishes them from non experts

They produce an adaptation

They create a ‘SUPERIOR OPERATING SYSTEM’

“we are what we are because of stresses placed upon us and the adaptations we have made to these stresses both physical and otherwise. The state of our bodies, our minds, and our personalities is the result of these adaptations”

(Counsilman, 1968)

Performance Grows on the Edge of Stability in ECOLOGICALLY VALID environments

PERFORMANCE

Time

Training Instability

Performance Stability

Ecologically Valid

Settings that provide essentially more time for participation and which do not invoke physical,

psychological and performance adaptation should not be considered as

TALENT DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTS

(Cobley et al 2011)

Ecologically Valid!?!?

Behaviour orientates itself to information sources in the environment!

What information sources are in your training environment?

How do we create performance instability in ecologically valid environments?

Manipulate the constraints that control performance

Constraints: The boundaries which shape the emergence of a system seeking a stable state of organisation (Renshaw et al 2010)

Learners generate specific movement solutions and decision making behaviours to satisfy the unique combination of

constraints imposed upon them.

Manipulations: Task / Environment / Performer

Elite Group Session Plan

Task Organisation

Game: TOUR TRAINING

Aims: • To develop decision making skills

whilst fatigued• To develop focus & concentration

whilst fatigued• To practice being aware of your

score and develop appropriate strategy

• To explore performance strategies whilst fatigued and under pressure

Endurance training (high repetition / short recovery). 70 – 90% MHR for 90 minutes HAND OUT TASKS 10.50 On course activities – change scaling parameters of the course 4.00 Review

Performer

Task

Environment

Environment

Task Organisation

Game: Decision Making & Skill Development Aims: Create independent problem solvers and tacticians Develop concentration in a fun environment Develop skill

 • Game

• Questions and challenges - what are we trying to do (tactical), how we can do it better (technique and tactical)

• Return to game 

• Further questions and challenges

• Progression of game

• Repeat the above cycle

Junior Session

Environment and Task

PuttChipPitch???

20 Yards

Summary

Identify and manipulate key constraints to induce adaptations in the behaviours that lead to superior performance

Create problems (instability) for the performer because as they overcome them they adapt to a higher level of performance

To organise Ecologically Valid practice environments with all information sources present and flowing!

Build the machine for the race it is in!!