Welcome to the first edition of our Top 10, where we’ll share what’s most important to us or driving our thinking right now. Let’s dive in!

An ecological approach to motor learning

This paradigm shift is challenging the way coaches typically run a practice. Oftentimes, you’ll see players “going through the motions” or repeating a specific action, with the goal of getting the action “right” or closer to perfect.

An ecological approach is focused on the relationship between the performer and their environment, and thus when it comes to motor learning, is about making sure the skill fits the circumstances, rather than making sure the skill fits the prescribed “ideal.” For example, it means that rather than focus on great shooting form, an ecological approach might focus on the shooting form necessary to get the ball in the basket, based on real actions that happen in a game.

We like this change because it switches the focus from an emphasis on ideal form and perfect execution to an emphasis on workability. “Does this movement work in this context under these conditions?” is a much more effective question to ask when teaching than “did this person do that right?”