Haven't coached as long as many, nor am I near as bright as most on this board,,, some concepts I've tried to incorporate more into my coaching these last 6 months. Here's my thoughts on it whipped into a little reading.
When we watch basketball games on television and then are at the game in the arena, we see two very different things. So often at practices we get caught up in observing athletes from the same coaching perspective each time (ala television), without realizing what a different observation point can provide (ala being there live).
In observing the same activity from a different perspective, we pick up different steps in the process that are part of the athletes movement, both good and not so good. We see movements in a different way. It almost can look like a different event. By changing our perspectives, we can provide better coaching to our athletes, better cues, and give better feedback to ourselves.
Below is a list of different perspectives that can be used in practice.
1) In front of the athlete, behind the athlete, to the side of the athlete. Coach Boo talks about watching athletes from behind and being able to see hip and spinal movements which may deviate the athlete from the desired plane of movements. Weight shifts in the throwing events are seen differently from the side than from behind. Move to different positions for the same activity to see how the event differs. Just be careful of standing in front of a thrower about to launch an implement!
2) Change the distance In watching the long jump, standing at the board, 5 feet perpedicular to it, is much different than standing 50 yards away perpendicular to it. The approach looks a lot different and errors that weren't seen before become much more prevelant. A further distance allows the event to be observed as a whole, while closer perspectives focus more on parts of the movements.
3) Listen, don't watch.
Just the other day at practice, I was setting cones out, as athletes were doing accelerations at my back and then through where I was standing. I could tell just by listening to frequency and sound of footstrike who was about to sprint by. In many events their is a rhythmic nature in which it occurs. By allowing hearing to be the only sensory we rely upon, we can pick up errors that visually we may be missing out on. In jumping events we know that everything up to the take off point is 95% of what is important to the jump. We can hear the increasing rhythm on the runway, if there is any slowing down, the quick one-two of the last two steps. Try it some time, turn your back and just listen.
4) Video
A great tool, which allows us to see action over and over and at a slower speed. A great perspective most of the time, although it can be almost overly critical.
The one other important aspect of changing perspective is the observation point you as a coach may have at a meet. Learn to coach from different perspectives. Bigger meets may put you in the stands, 50 yards from a field event, with no where even to a take off board. Having watched from that position before, gives you a better point to start with in any cues you may give.
Just my thoughts. Would welcome others.
