This conversation with Coach Developers Alan Keane and Simon Turner delves into the importance of adaptability in sports coaching, particularly under pressure. It emphasizes the need for coaches to find a balance between directing players and allowing them autonomy, highlighting the significance of understanding players' needs and the context of the game.

Alan is a highly regarded performance basketball coach with a focus on meeting the needs of the people he coaches. He’s a Great Britain national team head coach, award winning former teacher and current PhD candidate. Simon is a coach and facilitator who works at the intersection of sport and social change. He’s coached basketball for 20+ years and trained over 400 sports practitioners in the intentional use of sport to change people’s lives.

Their support services enable coaches and organizations to become more aware of their strengths, increase the level of care in team environments and create impact for the people and the community they serve. To learn more, go to https://mvmtsports.com

In this episode, Jamie Munro interviews FLG Program Director Corey Winkoff, who is also the Girls Assistant Coach at St. Anthony's. They discuss Corey's journey into ecological coaching, emphasizing the importance of player development over winning. Corey shares his innovative offensive principles, known as SWAGR, which focus on spacing, ball possession, movement, deception, and reading the game. The conversation delves into strategies for teaching players to handle pressure, the differences between picks and seals in zone offenses, and the significance of creating high percentage shots. They also explore the role of constraints in coaching and how to adapt drills to enhance player understanding and performance.

Summary

In this conversation, Mikey Thompson, head coach at Christopher Newport, discusses the evolution of coaching methods in lacrosse, focusing on ecological dynamics and the importance of adaptability. He emphasizes the need for intentionality and discipline in coaching, the significance of principles of play, and how constraints can create opportunities for players. The discussion also covers dynamic offensive strategies, defensive adaptability, and the importance of making practice enjoyable for players. Mikey reflects on his growth as a coach and the collaborative environment within his coaching staff.

In this episode of the Ecological Lacrosse podcast, Michael Sowers reflects on his recent lacrosse season, discussing personal development, the importance of slowing down in gameplay, and mastering the two-man game. He shares insights from his experiences in pickup games and box lacrosse, emphasizing the significance of shooting techniques and deception. The conversation also covers the evolution of training methods and the role of constraints in enhancing game awareness and performance.

In this episode of the Ecological Lacrosse Podcast, Jamie Munro and Mike O'Neill discuss the transformative impact of the Constraints Led Approach in coaching women's lacrosse. They explore how this method enhances player development, adaptability, and overall enjoyment of the game. The conversation covers various topics, including effective practice planning, the importance of picks in offense, and strategies for adapting to different defensive styles. O'Neill shares insights from his experience coaching at Kent Denver School and running the Concept club program, emphasizing the significance of creating a fun and engaging learning environment for players.

In this episode of the Ecological Lacrosse Podcast, Jamie Munro and Alex Sarama delve into the principles of coaching through the lens of ecological dynamics. They discuss the significance of internal versus external feedback, the importance of intentionality in coaching, and how to use external cues to enhance player deception. The conversation also covers the concept of affordances in sports, the necessity of principles of play, and how to create effective training environments that foster player development.

In this conversation, speed coach Tony Holler discusses his approach to speed training and the principles behind his 'Feed the Cats' philosophy. He explains how he has applied these principles to sprint-based football and how it has become a movement in the sport. Holler emphasizes the importance of specific and high-quality training, as well as the role of rest, recovery, and sleep in athlete performance. He also discusses the significance of measuring and testing speed, and how improving maximal speed can enhance overall athletic performance. Holler challenges the traditional focus on weightlifting in the weight room and highlights the importance of sprinting for speed development. The conversation explores the role of mechanics and training methods in improving speed and performance. Tony Holler emphasizes the importance of the nervous system in sprinting and highlights the need for consistent sprinting practice. He challenges the belief that mechanics alone can make an athlete faster, stating that consistency and sprinting fast are key. The Atomic Workout, a 15-minute speed workout, is introduced as a practical way to improve speed. The conversation also touches on the significance of rest, recovery, and sleep in optimizing performance.

In this conversation, Jamie Munro and David Farrokh delve into the intricacies of ecological dynamics in sports, exploring how understanding these concepts can enhance coaching practices. They discuss the importance of the action-perception relationship, the role of constraints and affordances, and the significance of deception in competitive scenarios. The dialogue emphasizes the interconnectedness of individual actions within team dynamics and the necessity of shared affordances for effective collaboration in sports. In this conversation, Munro and David Farrokh explore the intricacies of offensive strategies in sports, focusing on the importance of recognizing patterns, affordances, and the principles of play. They discuss how variability in training can enhance players' adaptability and decision-making in competitive situations. The dialogue emphasizes the contextual nature of skills and the dynamics of interaction in sports, highlighting the need for coaches to understand these concepts to effectively guide their players.

In this episode of the Ecological Lacrosse Podcast, Jamie Munro and Matt Rowley discuss the evolution of a principles-based offense in lacrosse. They explore how unpredictability, off-ball actions, and player autonomy contribute to a more dynamic and effective offensive strategy. The conversation delves into the importance of creating space, timing off-ball cuts, and the role of constraints in practice to enhance player development. They also emphasize the significance of team culture, accountability, and the joy of practice in fostering a successful lacrosse program.

In this episode, Jamie Munro and Deemer Class delve into the ecological dynamics of lacrosse, focusing on talent evaluation, principles of play, and the importance of adaptability in players. They discuss how to assess players beyond physical attributes, emphasizing decision-making, off-ball intelligence, and the ability to capitalize on advantages. The conversation also touches on the challenges of coaching and the need for specific feedback to help players improve their perception and decision-making skills on the field.