Movement Patterns

Adapted or adaptable athletes?

I had the chance over the last few days to look at different people of various ages and sporting backgrounds trying to learn new exericses.

It was interesting that some of the older people were better able to pick up new movment patterns, especially those who came from a trampolining background.

When it came to multidirectional movements, skipping, coordinating left leg with right hand etc, some of the younger people really struggled, despite being regular sports participants.

This supports the theory that sports people today are overdrilled in specific movement patterns. They are not given new and challenging exercises as part of their warm ups or conditioning programmes.

I have worked with trampolinists previously, some of the training progression is similar to gymnastics, so co-ordination is improved. When you look at under 5s being told to specialise in football\ rugby\ tennis etc you wonder how this helps the child develop.

When it comes to team selection\ talent identification do the coaches look at someone who can adapt to new challenges, or do they pick the 11 year old who has the best pass in a stationary position whose Dad has had them practicing that one move for 2 years?

Unless you are performing a set routine such as tumbling, or a free kick, sport requires adaptation to constantly changing environments, at speed and under pressure. Training should also match these demands.

Read more on Motor skills development