Principles of Self-Determination Theory and a Conjugate Program: Building Intrinsic Motivation

Introduction  Self-Determination Theory (SDT) provides valuable insights into enhancing motivation and well-being among athletes. Its three principles - autonomy, relatedness, and competence - can be effectively applied to coaching a conjugate program, creating an environment that fosters athlete growth and performance. In this blog post, we will explore how these principles empower athletes, promote skill … Continue reading Principles of Self-Determination Theory and a Conjugate Program: Building Intrinsic Motivation

What is a Constraints-Led Approach: Constraints-Led Conjugate

Written by: Kevin Cann The constraints-led approach (CLA) is a teaching/coaching methodology that utilizes task, environmental, and performer constraints to elicit self-organization in skill development.  This is viewed more as a “hands-off” approach to coaching where the coach creates an environment that offers learning for the performer instead of using a lot of verbal feedback. Typically, … Continue reading What is a Constraints-Led Approach: Constraints-Led Conjugate

Memory and Skill Acquisition

Written by: Kevin Cann When we are in the gym hitting repetitions, we are learning.  Since we are learning, our memory systems are involved in this process.  I believe we have 4 different memory systems, but today I am going to spend time discussing 2 of them. Coaches give lifters feedback on their lifts.  However, do lifters understand … Continue reading Memory and Skill Acquisition

Executive Attention Network, Focus, and Triggers

Written by: Kevin Cann I have posted YouTube videos of the emotions of fear and frustration.  Experts are still trying to figure out what emotions actually are and there is quite a bit of disagreement here.  Emotions, for the purpose of our discussion, are nothing more than a certain release of neurochemistry.  How we act when this neurochemistry … Continue reading Executive Attention Network, Focus, and Triggers

Initial Conditions, Movement Variability, and Skill Acquisition

Written by: Kevin Cann The human is a complex system.  I think this idea most accept, but most have a hard time understanding what this means.  In order to make sense of things we like to reduce the complexity down to a sum of its parts, and perhaps disregard some more complex nuances. How coaches view developing … Continue reading Initial Conditions, Movement Variability, and Skill Acquisition