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He has his Ph.D. in biomechanics Step 3: Evaluate the Performance
When the coach or personal trainer is evaluating any performance, they are simply comparing the “ideal” with the actual performance of the client. They are identifying errors and evaluating those errors to determine the focus of your correction efforts. Is the error actually dangerous and there is a risk of injury? Is it a new trainee learning a new skill that will take time to develop the proper motor pattern?
How do we Optimize?
Step 4: Instruct the Client
This is where proper communication skills are vital so the coach or personal trainer can successfully communicate with the trainee and correct errors in technique.
What do we Optimize?
Again, we focus on both the movement (kinematics) and the forces that cause the movement (kinetics). The coach or personal trainer must take into account the structure of the body (specifically, the anatomy of the joints first and the body type), its intended function, and the goal of the exercise. The need to understand the ideal movement and instruct accordingly is imperative with the goal being that the trainee performs every movement as close to the ideal technique (which may be unique to them) in order to maximize performance and to minimize injury.
EDITORS NOTE:
This article is very relevant to coaching and why it was included. The approach is very important for successfully teaching baseball skills. Hitting, throwing, catching and running all involve biomechanics (human body movement). The forces the body exerts and the forces exerted on it. We as coaches must understand their influences to be able to teach properly. Below are two excerpts from interviews done with Dr. Duane Knudson and Dr. David Q. Thomas FACSM:
“The job of a coach is to simplify and demystify. Many coaches tend to over complicate the game. Most instruct (tell) vs. teach (educate). The reason is - most coaches don’t know the actual reason why. Coaches can’t just regurgitate information. A coach has to gain that true knowledge and understanding first. Then they can teach and give the answer why. When a coach teaches ‘why’ – then it makes sense to the athlete. Once it makes sense, it demystifies and simplifies. A coach has to teach movement technique and use biomechanics and physics to qualitatively analyze movement. Yet most do not, nor do they understand it or they have read only a couple things about biomechanics and then make assumptions about the rest. ” -Duane Knudson, Ph.D., FACSM. FISBA, FRSA – Professor and Chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance – Texas State University. Dr. Knudson has his Ph.D. in biomechanics and has published over 95 peer-reviewed articles in influential journals.
"Traditional teaching and coaching methods tell you what techniques to teach or coach without scientific support. They use theories and philosophies. Biomechanics and physics corrects theories and philosophies (misconceptions, beliefs and myths) by using supportive science. With the use of biomechanics, you can make instructional decisions based on the science of human movement and tailor it as it relates to that individuals current physical abilities." - Dr. David Thomas FACSM – College of Applied Science & Technology School of Kinesiology and Recreation– Illinois State University.
With the use of biomechanics, you can make instructional decisions based on the science of human movement and tailor it as it relates to that individuals current physical abilities.