Developing a Skill Based on Progression

 

The first priority is to establish a start point (where am I at now?) and from here set a realistic goal to achieve over an allocated time. For example, a player may throw balls into a bucket from 5m away.  He/she may achieve a 50% success rate.  At the end of 6 weeks, he/she may aim to get 80% of the balls landing in the bucket. 

Analyze the skill and break it down to its most basic movement patterns.

Rebuild the skill based on the key points involved.  For example a key point for throwing may be “point to the target”.  Use simple drills to emphasise the point e.g. an easy toss to a hoop or bucket.

Aim for a high chance of success so keep targets close or large in the early stages.

For some players you may need to break the skill down either further i.e. how they hold the ball or the way it rolls from the hand on release.  This “reverse chaining” can be tedious and/or cause the player to have doubt in their ability so use it sparingly as long as the player is having success.

Remove certain elements to help emphasis movement.  In a throw the movement of the legs can cause inaccuracy so isolating the top half of the body can highlight the importance of the point.  Getting players to sit or kneel is a great equaliser in a group and also a good way of developing power in a throw by using the core.

Add simple progressions – for throwing this can be achieved by adjusting the size and distance of targets, adding time pressures, adjusting the platform the throw is made from, throwing balls of a different size and shape etc. 

Put the player in an unusual situation to emphasise a key point.  A blindfold is a great way to focus on the “point on release” point for a throw.