In this episode with discuss learning and performing in sport. For too long, learning and performing have been viewed as separate processes—train, then apply. 

But is that truly how we skilfully engage in competitive situations?  

In this episode we suggest learning and performing are a symbiotic process. If you’re not learning while performing or performing while learning, are you truly progressing?

We discuss this theme from a motor learning and skill adaptation perspective and explore how to create environments that balance exploration (learning) and execution (performing). 

This approach can develop problem solvers who can adapt, attune, and thrive under real-world conditions.

Papers discuss in the episode.

Learning and performing: What can theory offer high performance sports practitioners?
https://socibracom.com/bjmb/index.php/bjmb/article/view/280

An ecological dynamics approach to motor learning in practice: Reframing the learning and performing relationship in high performance sport 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667239122000089

Christian Thue Bjørndal is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sport and Social Science. He has a Master’s Degree in Sports Coaching and Sport Psychology from NIH and received in 2017 his PhD from research focusing on the dynamics of talent development in Norwegian handball.

Christian is interested in interdisciplinary perspectives on athlete learning and development in sport with a special emphasis on sociocultural perspectives and ecological dynamics. He has extensive coaching experience from youth and elite handball and is certified EHF Master Coach.

Returning for a second time this week is Craig Morris, who has been a British Canoe Slalom performance coach for the past 20 years.  

Craig started his career as a pathway development lead in the Olympic sport of Canoe Slalom, he found a home in coaching at the age of 23. The process of co-creation in the pursuit of growth and performance enthralled and drove him to work tirelessly to learn more of himself, others and the concept of learning itself. 

Many years later as personal coach to multiple Olympic, World and European medal winning individuals his adventure horizons continue to expand. The passion to carry his learning as a leader and coach in Olympic Sport guides him into new environments with new challenges including individual and team consultancy, executive coaching and mentoring and much more. 

Enjoy the show!

Sion has been involved in futsal since 2004. As a player he represented Great Britain at two World University Games and played International futsal for Wales for 5 years. Captaining his country and scoring at international level are his proudest playing moments. 

He has also had the honour of coaching the England & Wales U19s as well as the England U21s and being assistant coach for the Men’s senior team over the last 5 years. 

Sion has worked in the sport sector for the past 15 years; with the FA a Coach Educator, mentor & Development Officer, for Sport England leading their work on coaching, and is now with England Hockey supporting the implementation of their talent system.

He is never happier than when spending time with his family exploring new places, or being on the futsal court working with players (something he is particularly looking forward to resuming over the next 12 months with the national programme). 

Sion is an advocate of creating opportunity for young players to achieve beyond what they thought was possible. He enjoys listening to the High Performance podcast and learning from high performing individuals from across the sport & the business world in order to further develop himself in service of the Game he loves.

Link to the video mentioned in the episode.

 https://youtu.be/XfWU62xfNmQ?feature=shared

Enjoy!

This week we are joined Timo Jaakkola, Sami Kalaja, and Pauliina Vastamäki, organisers of the The International Motor Skills Acquisition Conference.

We discuss the forthcoming conference that will run from March 26th to 28th, 2025. Full conference details in the link below. 

Link to conference registration Event Registration - Kisakallio

Eric Brymer is an AHPRA registered psychologist, endorsed sport and exercise psychologist and board approved supervisor. He is also a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society and Associate Professor at Southern Cross University.

Eric is interested in the psychology of performance, wellbeing and learning in adventure and nature-based contexts. His research is particularly focused on the impact of adventure and the human-nature relationship on health and wellbeing and the design of effective interventions.

Enjoy!

Georgia Askew is a skill acquisition specialist with Para Table Tennis, Australia. She is also a Ph.D. candidate at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, studying the integration of skill acquisition with paralympic coaches and athletes.

Georgia is also a Melbourne Storm fan!

Links to Georgia's academic publications
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.848735/full

https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/iscj/11/1/article-p154.xml

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003184430-8/role-skill-acquisition-coach-athlete-development-paralympic-sport-ross-pinder-daniel-powell-stephen-hadlow-georgia-askew-ra%C3%B4ul-oudejans

Enjoy the show.

Jim McKay is an Australian professional rugby union football coach. He has held head coaching positions across the world including Brisbane City (Australia), Cornish Pirates (UK) and Kobelco Steelers (Japan), and assistant coaching positions with the Queensland Reds (winning premierships in 2011 and 2021), and the Australian Wallabies Rugby Union Football team.

Jim uses theory and data to inform his coaching practice and is a lifelong learner.

Links to Jim's papers are here:
Practicing Unstructured Play in Team Ball Sports: A Rugby Union Example
https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/iscj/5/3/article-p273.xml

An Ecological Insight Into the Design and Integration of Attacking Principles of Play in Professional Rugby Union: A Case Example
https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/iscj/8/3/article-p394.xml?content=abstract

Enjoy the show!

Dr Alex Lascu is a skill acquisition amateur (lover of) and researcher at the University of Canberra and Victoria University. Their love of learning and development is currently being explored with WA Cricket, in the hopes of helping every coach start, and continue, their own learning journeys to help young people love sport for a lifetime.

Dr Alex also runs the https://skillacqlascu.com/ website. 

Enjoy!

Check out the The Constraints Collective Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective

In this episode we introduce our Patreon site. The site will be updated on the 1st of every month with access to a range of education materials. In addition to education materials we will also be hosting a monthly get together on Zoom.

Check out the site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective