How much more important then in complex sports, does the game information in the form of defenders, direction, space, goals, etc (read Game Design: Uphold the Game’s Integrity) need to be perceived by the player to act. They cannot be separated. The perception/action is intertwined. Must perceive in order to act and must act in order to perceive.

So why do we continue to focus on the actions on their own? Including some form of game information is crucial to perceive and explore possible solutions.

Rather than the common focus in practices to ensure a high number of actions (for repetition), we now need to ensure a high number of purposeful actions to provide the learning opportunities to explore.

For example, in football, getting more touches on the ball isn’t enough. Players need purposeful actions in some kind of game form to be of any relevance to learning in context and be transferable. This is where representative learning states its case. (Read Repetition Must be In a Representative Setting)

IMAGE CREDIT: Graeme McDowall

It’s still too common to see coaches prescribing solutions without providing a ‘question’ of the game, and furthermore directing learners to certain techniques yet doing it without a context presenting any game information to perceive and therefore act in their own functional way;

“Traditional pedagogical styles tend to prevent individual learners from exploring and discovering their own functional movement solutions to a performance problem. Finding their own solutions is a more appropriate characterisation of learning in sport and physical education (Davids et al., 2014). Successful performance in sport involves the individual learner being challenged beyond mere repetition and imitation of a putative classic action. Instead, as a result of learning, individuals should be able to critically interpret patterns of play, make their own decisions, and create functional actions that can be adapted to solve competitive performance challenges (Renshaw et al., 2010). (Excerpt From: Jia Yi Chow. “Nonlinear Pedagogy in Skill Acquisition: An Introduction.” Taylor and Francis, 2015)

Is their a perfect technique? There’s only functional solutions of interactions between performer, task and environment. If we force certain techniques on learners we squash and rob learners of creativity, uniqueness and dare we even say, soul.

The movie ‘Ginga - The Soul of Brazilian Football’ made in 2006 is an inspiring expression of ‘joga bonito’ (the beautiful game) we admired of Brazil at the time. But we see more than just how mezmorising they move with the ball. We’re introduced to the person and the game. It’s the soul of a person that brings the game to life. And the game that gives life to the soul.

It’s time for change people. Can we please stop focusing on technique, not only because it doesn’t matter, but by doing so the learners miss out on the varied expressions and complexities of focusing on the game.

So ‘What’ Does matter?

Yes, what matters is the ‘What’, not the ‘How’ of technique. What?? How? Stay with us.

Whether the learner is 5 or 15, we need to give the ‘What’. What is the game? What is the task? And you watch the ‘How’ evolve.

If we focus  the learners on the ‘What’ of the game, it’s principles and the complexities of team dynamics, the “How” on kicking a ball becomes irrelevant. It’s called external focus.

“According to Wulf (2007), an external focus of attention is described as ‘where the performer’s attention is directed to the effect of the action’, while an internal focus of attention is defined as ‘where attention is directed to the action itself’.” (Excerpt From: Jia Yi Chow. “Nonlinear Pedagogy in Skill Acquisition: An Introduction.” Taylor and Francis, 2015)

We need to get on with an external focus on the game, otherwise we fall into the dangers of players being:

‘Friends with the ball, strangers to the game’

Forget Technique, let’s get on with the game shall we?

“But my Mrs can’t kick a ball.” Really? Well tell her to score a goal and give her a few attempts and we’re sure she’ll find a way. We underestimate and actually disrespect the individual and the game if we judge someone on how they connect with the ball. The beauty of a game, especially football, is that everyone can play, in their own way. Everyone can attempt to score a goal and protect a goal. And the beauty of being a team sport, is that we each have our own expression when the ball is at our feet, but what you decide to do with it or how you spend your time without the ball is played with the head.

We can get caught up in obsessing over the details of what the technique must look like and we miss out on the joy of the game that can be loved by all when we just play.

So ‘What’ is next?

If we are honest, we’ve all at some stage followed tradition and been guilty of isolating and trying to correct technique. Yes, we’ve focused on the ‘How’ of our learners rather than the ‘What’. It’s all part of the learning journey.

How much more then, now that we are aware of our our mis-leadings, do we need to move forward towards a modern learning landscape where player’s are given freedom to explore and express their own solutions in response to the game information as they perceive/act.

So the ‘What’ for us as Leaders then becomes ‘What does a supportive learning space for exploration and expression look like? (Read The Performance Playground)

Do we teach? Rather, we become facilitators, guides and designers. The GAME becomes the teacher. We coach the GAME, not the player.

So since we’ve now established why technique does not need to be the focus, next we will explore why we need to move away from traditional teaching concepts in the learning space and when we actually let go of looking at technique and carefully design and manipulate games and tasks, the beauty then comes as a learner’s own solutions emerge, and other’s then begin to notice “Wow, that kid has got great technique” and you haven’t even taught it. Or have you? The learning journey continues as we next explore teaching…