Ski boot fitting

This episode condenses a live recording made during my boot fitting at Solutions 4 Feet.

Proprietor and master boot fitter Colin discusses options for bespoke insoles, explains cuff alignment and you can hear how Masterfit insoles and ZipFit liners are moulded.

To get in touch visit www.richardbarbourcoaching.co.uk

Alternatively, search for lockedinshed or richard barbour coaching on Instagram.

This episode is sponsored by Richard Barbour Coaching. With expertise in sport and commerce I can help you reach your goals effectively. Get in touch to learn more.

Ski boot assessment

There comes a time when our beloved ski boots are tired and need replacing. That time has come for mine, so this one’s personal as it’s a recording made during a boot fitting assessment.

In this episode I’m talking with Colin Martin who runs Solutions for Feet, a specialist in ski boot fitting and custom orthotics.

I made the trip over to Bicester in Oxfordshire UK to have my initial assessment. Colin talks me through the process and makes his boot recommendations.

Link: www.solutions4feet.com

Focus of Attention - part 2

Where performers and coaches direct their focus of attention has significant influence on behaviour and learning. 

Marianne Davies is a Senior Coach educator for UK Coaching and former Coaching Manager for Canoe Wales. She’s got a background in adventure sports, is a keen equestrian and is currently doing a part-time PhD in Skill Acquisition in Equine Sports. 

We’ve teamed up to run some workshops at the forthcoming UK Snowsports Conference in Castleford at the beginning of September.

In this second of two related podcasts we delve further and closer into focus of attention, so let’s resume where we left off….

Brought to you by richard barbour coaching - it's personal.

There’s still a little time to take advantage of the special gift mentioned in the last episode. But you must be quick as this runs out on Friday 25 August at 11am UK time.

To book the conference click here: ⁠https://snowsportengland.sport80.com/.../con.../557/overview

Here's a link to the paper mentioned in the episodes.

Every story has two sides: evaluating information processing and ecological dynamics perspectives of focus of attention in skill acquisition: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1176635/full?&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field=&journalName=Frontiers_in_Sports_and_Active_Living&id=1176635

Focus of Attention - part 1

To book the UK Snowsports Conference click here: ⁠https://snowsportengland.sport80.com/.../con.../557/overview

What we see depends where we’re looking. Or more accurately…what we perceive as a coach or performer depends on what we are paying attention to, the information we receive and how we process that information. 

My coaching guru John Shedden devised a skill model based on the information processing concept in cognitive psychology. This has the same mnemonic as a technical analysis tool. Both models contain the letters P E and T with one of them being a favourite PET of mine when coaching. 

In this episode we’re discussing the models and their place in coaching and instructing. 

To listen to the full podcast, head to episode 4. Thanks for listening.

Skill: Measured vs Judged

Locked In Shed bitesize are short episodes covering key coaching concepts. In this episode John Shedden, former National Coach and Director of Coaching for the English Ski Council, and I discuss evaluation of skill.

Skill can be measured or judged. Listen on to hear more about skill and implications for the coach, especially when balancing the needs of young skiers and their parents.

If you want to hear more, listen to the full recording of Series 1: episode 9: reasons to be skilful part 3.

These recordings are about the art, science and history of snowsport coaching. As a coach educator for the national governing body Snowsport England, I wanted to create resources that supports their mission of inspiring participation in snow sport at every level.

A Locked in Shed production

Episode 9

Reasons to be skilful (part 3)

In this episode I’m continuing my discussion with John Shedden and my intention is to focus more attention on skill. As well as expanding on the implications of skill for performers and their coaches, we discuss considerations for goal setting, planning a coaching programme, some anecdotes, Mikaela Shiffrin’s practice and Donald Rumsfeld – Donald Rumsfeld! what on earth has he got to so with skiing?

We also reveal the secret weapon of this podcast, with responsibility for maintaining cheer and focus.

These recordings are about the art, science and history of snowsport coaching. As a coach educator for the national governing body Snowsport England, I wanted to create resources that supports their mission of inspiring participation in snow sport at every level.

A Locked in Shed production

References:

Knapp, B. (1963) Skill in Sport: The Attainment of Proficiency. 6th impression. London: Rutledge and Kegan Paul.

Shedden, J. (1982) Skilful Skiing. 1st ed. Wakefield: EP Publishing Limited.

Links:

National Governing Body coaching - www.snowsportengland.org.uk/coaching-instructing

Snowsport England Membership packages and benefits - https://www.snowsportengland.org.uk/membership-benefits/

What is skill?

In this episode I’m continuing my discussion with John Shedden and my intention is to focus attention on skill. John’s book Ski Teaching introduced to snowsports a definition of skill by Barbara Knapp, an academic in the Physical Education Department at the University of Birmingham. In her book Skill in Sport, first published in 1963 she introduced a definition of skill that has been at the heart of UK snowsport coach education ever since.

I wanted to discuss this definition and its component parts along with some of the implications for skiers and riders.

These recordings are about the art, science and history of snowsport coaching. As a coach educator for the national governing body Snowsport England, I wanted to create resources that supports their mission of inspiring participation in snow sport at every level.

A Locked in Shed production

References:

Knapp, B. (1963) Skill in Sport: The Attainment of Proficiency.6th impression. London: Rutledge and Kegan Paul.

Sharp, B. (1992) Acquiring Skill in Sport. 1st ed. Eastbourne: Sports Dynamics.

Shedden, J. (1972) Ski Teaching.1st ed. Cardiff: John Jones Cardiff Ltd.

Links:

National Governing Body coaching - www.snowsportengland.org.uk/coaching-instructing

Snowsport England Membership packages and benefits - https://www.snowsportengland.org.uk/membership-benefits/

Episode 7

I’m continuing my discussion with the former National Coach and Director of Coaching for Snowsport England, John Shedden.

During research, John explored how skiers’ perceptions were affected by sensory information. This influenced his thinking about skill and the importance of developing sound habits in closed environments before applying them in more complex environments. We go onto discuss some of the differences between the ski instructing and coaching and the role of governing bodies.

An insightful episode to help instructors and coaches use a person-centred approach with their skiers.

These recordings are about the art, science and history of snowsport coaching. As a coach educator, I wanted to create resources that support a mission of inspiring participation in snow sport at every level.

A Locked In Shed production

Links:

Slope and club finder - https://www.snowsportengland.org.uk/clubs-facilities/

National Governing Body coaching - www.snowsportengland.org.uk/coaching-instructing

Snowsport England Membership packages and benefits - https://www.snowsportengland.org.uk/membership-benefits/