motor learning & control – or – why can’t they just do it?

MOTOR LEARNING & CONTROL – or –

WHY CAN’T THEY JUST DO IT?

CLASSIFICATION OF ROWING STROKE:

Gross motor skill

Continuous in nature

Open environment

SKILLED PERFORMANCE Appropriate muscle recruitment and

control, performed with correct sequencing

and accuracy.

Cognitive: figuring out what to do, how to start trying

Associative: finer tuning

Autonomous: Skill becomes more automatic

WHAT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THE BRAIN WHILE THIS IS GOING ON?

Input (stimulus)

-----processing-----

Response (output) 

STIMULUS ID---RESPONSE SELECTION---RESPONSE PROGRAMMING

IDENTIFICATION – acknowledge stimulus and figure out what it is.

SELECTION - what response is appropriate.  PROGRAMMING – after selection, telling

CNS programmed with what to do (force, time, speed, etc.) & initiating action.

WHAT PURPOSE DO COACHES SERVE?

• Provide structure• Provide training plan• Provide feedback on

performance• Provide assistance to athletes

to enhance their experience with sport and team.

WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT DO WE CONTROL?

Environment. Practice planning FeedbackCoaching style.

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Know your audience.Every individual learns differently, at a

different rateThose able to think about a skill –

conceptualize it – have an advantage in the beginning

Masters tend to grasp first technique learned for stability.

juniors are willing to experiment more. Low skilled performers (novices) learn better

by watching skilled peers than by watching a coach – opposite for higher skilled performers.

Create a safe learning environmentReinforce non-testing circumstances

Encourage “screwing up the boat” for learning’s sake

Reward learning moments to whole team regardless of outcome

PRACTICE PLANNING & LEARNING

PRACTICE, IN GENERAL…Prioritize and plan Develop practice goals Explain and model. Plan systematic tests for goal achievement

EFFECTIVE DRILLWORK PRIORITIZEFATIGUE FACTORPROBLEM VS. SYMPTOMEDUCATE ROWERS ON WHY’SLIKE ALL GOOD GOALS, FIXING IS YES OR

NO(PRACTICE + FEEDBACK + PRACTICE) X ??INCREASE POWER, SPEED AS THEY

IMPROVEEXAMPLES

Feedback any information about a

movement.

Intrinsic = coaching goal. sensory info, kinesthetic. Athletes figure it out.

Extrinsic KR and KP.

KR – letting them know what’s going on KP – action that caused the response – Timing important

COACHING STYLE

HOW YOU DO WHAT YOU DO MATTERS…

HOW YOUR STYLE AFFECTS LEARNINGAthletes will mimic your attitude.Take the 10 word challenge.Know it or not, they’re listening…Feedback doubles as motivation and KRReinforcement vs. feedbackNotice what you are looking for and

responding to.ShowtimeModel the behavior you are expecting to see

HAVE FUN!!!