Podcasts by The Perception

The Perception

Exploration of how psychological research can be applied to improving performance, accelerating skill acquisition and designing new technologies in sports and other high performance domains. Hosted by Rob Gray, professor of Human Systems Engineering at Arizona State University, the podcast will review basic concepts and discuss the latest research in these areas.

Further podcasts by Rob Gray

Podcast on the topic Sozialwissenschaften

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The Perception
474 – CLA to Swim Coaching, Andrew Sheaff from 2023-12-12T05:30

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The Perception
471 – The Legacy of Michael Turvey from 2023-11-14T05:30

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The Perception
466 – The Art&Science of Constraints-Based Coaching from 2023-10-10T04:30

A look at the science b...

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The Perception
462 - Movement as Problem Solving from 2023-09-12T04:30

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The Perception
453 – On the Coach’s Role in the CLA from 2023-07-11T04:30

A look at a couple of papers on a coach’s role within the ...

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The Perception
440 – Coach Journeys: Greg Souders, Standard Jiu-Jitsu from 2023-02-28T05:30

My interview with Greg Souders from Standard J...

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The Perception
439 – The Tyranny of Talent, Joe Baker from 2023-02-21T05:30

My interview with Joe Baker from York University discussing his new book – The Tyranny of Talent: How it Compels and Limits Athletic Achievement..and Why You Should Ignore It.

 

Li...

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The Perception
438 – Applying Ecological Dynamics to Physical Therapy, Martijn Lips&William Spinhoven from 2023-02-14T05:30

My interview with Martijn Lips & William Spinhoven, discussing their experiences applying Ecological Dynamics to Physical Therapy.

 

Links:

 

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The Perception
437– Training Visual Capabilities in Sport, Zoe Wimshurst from 2023-02-07T05:30

My interview with Zoe Wimshurst from Performance Vision. How can we train athletes to improve their task-relevant, visual capabilities and connect them with their skill on the field.

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The Perception
436 – Coach Journeys: Craig Morris, Embracing Not-Knowing from 2023-01-31T05:30

My interview with Craig Morris, Olympic Slalom Coach for British Canoeing. How can embracing the idea that you don’t know all the answers make you a better coach?

 

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The Perception
435 – Perceiving the Affordances of Others from 2023-01-24T05:30

How well can we perceive the action opportunities available to others? What information do we use? Can we perceive nested affordances – that is, be sensitive to not only another person’s action ...

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The Perception
434 – Coach Journeys: Martijn Nijhoff, Dutch Baseball from 2023-01-17T05:30

My interview Martijn Nijhoff discussing his experiences adopting an ecological approach to coaching.  

 

 

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The Perception
433 – How Does Motivation Fit in an Ecological Approach to Skill? from 2023-01-10T17:00

A look at how non-linear pedagogy supports the development of intrinsic motivation and connects with Self Determination Theory.

 

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The Perception
432 – Applying the CLA to Coach Development, Matt Wood from 2023-01-03T05:30

An interview with Matt Wood from Cardiff Met University about applying a constraints-led approach to coach learning and development.

 

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The Perception
431 – My NEW book is here, Learning to Optimize Movement: Harnessing the Power of the Athlete-Environment Relationship from 2022-12-20T05:30

A chapter-by-chapter preview of my new book, the follow-up to “How We Learn to Move”

 

Link:

https://perceptionaction.com/book/...

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The Perception
430 – News and Notes from 2022-12-13T05:30

A few updates on what’s going on with me and the podcast. And an exciting announcement – my new book, the follow-up to How We Learn to Move, is here!

 

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The Perception
429 – How Should We Be Varying Information in Practice? Does it HAVE to be Specifying? from 2022-12-06T05:30

What are the different types of information sources for controlling action and how should we be manipulating them in practice? Do we absolutely have to stick to the mantra: “make sure they are u...

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The Perception
428 - On Planning, Adapting&Co-Designing Practice from 2022-11-22T05:30

How should we plan our practices so that we are working on the right things at the right times? Is it better to let our coaching curriculum just emerge? How should we be getting the athletes inv...

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The Perception
427 – Letting the Body Find its Way: On the Role of Attention in Skilled Movement from 2022-11-15T05:30

Does thinking about movement always hinder performance? If so, is the solution to stop thinking and rely solely on automatic processes? Or is it possible to reach a state where consciousness rem...

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The Perception
426 – On Specificity, Representative Design&Whether the Game is Always the Best Teacher from 2022-11-08T05:30

Should we be striving to make everything in practice as close to the game as possible? What is the difference between specificity and representativeness?

 

Links:

<...

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The Perception
425 – Kinematic Sequencing: Variability in the Kinetic Chain? from 2022-11-01T04:30

Does the kinetic chain link in the expected proximal to distal order? Does it link in the same way with each execution of a movement? To foreshadow- NO and NO. A look at work on kinematic sequen...

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The Perception
424 – Action Capacity vs Skill: Training to Expand the Field of Affordances from 2022-10-25T04:30

What is the difference between an action capacity and a skill? How can we better connect the two through Affordance Theory?

 

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The Perception
423 – Implicit Training to Reduce Injury Risk, Eline Nijmeijer and Anne Benjaminse from 2022-10-18T04:30

I am joined by Elina Nijmeijer and Anne Benjaminse from the University of Groningen to talk about their interesting new work on implicit training to reduce injury risk in athletes.  

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The Perception
422– Learning Multiple Movements in Parallel from 2022-10-11T04:30

What is the best way to train multiple movements, like the serve, set and pass in volleyball, in parallel? Are the effects we see when interleaving different movements more consistent with an in...

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The Perception
421 – Intro to Ecological Psychology, Julia Blau and Jeff Wagman from 2022-10-04T04:30

An interview with Julia Blau and Jeff Wagman about their new Introduction to Ecological Psychology textbook.

 

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The Perception
420 – Creativity&Motor Skills, Skill Acquisition Summit 22 from 2022-09-27T04:30

Is creativity in sports rooted in divergent thinking – the cognitive ability to generate a lot of ideas or in having a diverse set of motor skills? And a preview of the 2022 Baseball Skill Acqui...

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The Perception
419 – The Effect of Different S&C Training Methods on Reducing Risk for Knee Injury from 2022-09-20T04:30

How do different S&C training methods support injury prevention. For example, which is better for learning a squat – external focus of attention instructions, self-controlled feedback or differe...

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The Perception
418 - Linking Movement Analysis, S&C and Skill Training from 2022-09-13T04:30

How can we use data from movement analyses to aid the design of S&C activities and skill practice? Data-driven training for soccer goalkeeping.

 

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The Perception
417 – Practice Activity Analysis, Karl Marius Aksum from 2022-09-06T04:30

A case study in how we should be doing theoretically-based task analyses of practice activities: the Rondo in soccer. Will the activity achieve its goals? Is it representative? Will it transfer ...

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The Perception
416 – The Development of Motor Synergies&the Influence of Constraints from 2022-08-30T04:30

How do motor synergies develop when we learning to catch a ball? How is this development shaped by the constraints imposed on the performer such as the information available during practice, the...

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The Perception
415 – Hysteresis in Movement Coordination from 2022-08-23T04:30

What is hysteresis in movement coordination? How can it be use to explain how the sequence of events influence an athlete’s performance – without the need to bring in memory or inference process...

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The Perception
414 – An Ecological Approach to the Quiet Eye, Ben Franks from 2022-08-16T04:30

Is there one ideal gaze strategy for performing a sports skill as has been suggested by the quiet eye research? My interview with Ben Franks from Oxford Brookes University looking at some of his...

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The Perception
413 – Perceiving Affordances of Sports Equipment: Implications for Design&Fitting from 2022-08-09T04:30

Can athletes perceive which balls, sticks, bats, racquets, etc afford the greatest opportunity for hitting, throwing, etc? What information do they use for this and how does it relate to Gibson’...

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The Perception
412 – A Theoretical Framework for Describing Movement Variability from 2022-08-02T04:30

So, by now we all know movement variability is good!  But it’s not all good. A look at a framework for categorizing different types of movement variability and how it might allow us to better de...

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The Perception
411 – How do Instructions Shape Search for a Movement Solution from 2022-07-26T04:30

How do instructions about task constraints influence how a performer searches for a movement solution? Is movement variability still beneficial even when you guide a performer towards the optima...

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The Perception
410 – Combined Effects of Variability and Errors in Practice Design from 2022-07-05T04:30

What are the combined effects of manipulating practice variability (for example, blocked vs random) and errorful versus errorless practice, which know influence implicit learning.

 

<...

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The Perception
409 – Social&Cultural Constraints in Skill Development, James Vaughn from 2022-06-28T04:30

My interview with James Vaughn discussing his recent case study of the role of social and cultural constraints on skill development in team sports.

 

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The Perception
408– Prescription, Focus of Attention Instructions&Movement Variability from 2022-06-21T04:30

Do external focus of attention instructions promote more movement variability? Do we have to prescribe the fundamentals to an athlete before we allow athletes to explore movement solutions?

...

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The Perception
407 – An Ecological Approach to Hockey Goaltending Practice Design from 2022-06-14T04:30

How can we apply the principles of ecological dynamics to coaching ice hockey goaltenders? What has research shown about skill acquisition in goalkeeping?

 

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The Perception
406 – An Ecological Approach to Deception in Sports from 2022-06-07T04:30

My interview with Harry Ramsey and Matt Dicks to discuss their interesting new paper - Maximising Grip on Deception and Disguise: Expert Sports Performance During Competitive Interactions. How c...

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The Perception
405 – Ecological Approach to Practice Design in American Football from 2022-05-31T04:30

My interview with Tyler Yearby and Shawn Myszka about their new paper looking at an ecological approach to practice design in American football.

 

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The Perception
404 – Training Anticipation with Eye Movement Sonification from 2022-05-24T04:30

Can you improve an athlete’s ability to anticipate the actions of an opponent by guiding their gaze to particular locations using sound?  

 

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The Perception
403 – Manipulating Ball Weight as a Constraint in Practice from 2022-05-17T04:30

Does training with lighter or heavier than regulation balls improve performance? What adaptations to coordination patterns do they encourage? Do they increase the chance of injury?

 

...

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The Perception
402 – Regulating Motor Redundancy in Throwing from 2022-05-10T04:30

What are the invariant and variant properties in accurate throwing actions? How do skilled performers exploit redundancy in ball release and body level degrees of freedom?

 

Ar...

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The Perception
401 – Using Blur to Train Perceptual-Motor Skills from 2022-05-03T04:30

What effect does blurring your vision have on sports performance? Can blur actually be used as a training tool to help learners educate their attention to better information sources?

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The Perception
400 – JC #37: Skill Acquisition Theory&Coaching from 2022-04-26T04:30

To celebrate the 400th episode of the podcast, I was joined by a few friends to discuss something I am very passionate about: the role of skill acquisition theory in coaching. Is it just “psycho...

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The Perception
399 – Predicting Individual Differences in Motor Learning from 2022-04-19T04:30

I am joined by Rajiv Ranganthan to discuss his recent paper looking at individual differences in motor learning. How effectively can we predict differences in the ability of individuals to learn...

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The Perception
398 – Decision Making IV: Debating Ecological vs Information Processing Approaches from 2022-04-12T04:30

A little post game analysis of my discussion/debate with Mike Ashford about ecological vs information processing-based approaches to decision making in sports.

 

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The Perception
397 – Reorganization of Action from Changing Task Constraints from 2022-04-05T04:30

How do golfers reorganize the action of putting in response to changes in the task constraints? How does this depend on their own individual constraints?

 

Articles:
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The Perception
396 – The Science of the Racer’s Brain from 2022-03-29T04:30

My interview with Otto Lappi and Alan Dove, authors of the new book The Science of the Racer’s Brain. What makes a skilled racing driver?  

 

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The Perception
395 – Key Principles of the Ecological Approach to Skill from 2022-03-22T04:30

What are the key principles of the ecological approach to skill and how do they relate to each other?

 

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ht...

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The Perception
394 – Models of Motor Learning from 2022-03-15T04:30

A review of “Always Pay Attention to the Which Model of Motor Learning You Are Using?” How can we classify different models of motor learning? Can we ever truly replicate findings in this area? ...

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The Perception
393 – Reconciling Differential Learning and External Focus of Attention Findings from 2022-03-08T05:30

How can we reconcile the findings from the large body of research on focus of attention instructions (which has shown a clear benefit for an external focus over an internal one) and the findings...

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The Perception
392 – What is the Role of “Memory” in the Ecological Approach to Skill? from 2022-03-01T05:30

I was joined by Andrew Wilson from Leeds Beckett to discuss a question we both get a lot: what role does memory play in the ecological approach? Is it really the case that skillful action involv...

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The Perception
391 – Are “Advance Cues” Used for Predictive or Prospective Control? from 2022-02-22T05:30

Is the advance information we get from an opponent’s kinematics, their body language, used to predict/anticipate what is going to happen next as traditionally proposed? Or is it used as informat...

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The Perception
390 – Movement&Skill Acquisition Ireland Webinar Series 2022 from 2022-02-16T05:30

My interview with Phil Kearney and Alan Dunton from MSAI discussing their 2022 Webinar series: Applying skill acquisition in different domains.

 

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The Perception
389 – Interview with Todd Hargrove, Playing with Movement, The Feldenkrais Method from 2022-02-15T05:30

My interview with Todd Hargrove from Better Movement. How can playing with and exploring movement be beneficial? Why should we be thinking options not corrections in movement training and physic...

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The Perception
388 – An Extended Challenge Point Framework for Practice Design from 2022-02-08T05:30

A look at the extended challenge point hypothesis. How can we get the level difficulty right to challenge a performer? What are 3 different goals coaches should consider when designing a practic...

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The Perception
387 – Task Specific Devices&Soft Assemblies from 2022-02-01T05:30

How do the components of our motor system flexibly reorganize in response to task demands? How do we use information about performance errors (knowledge of results) to search for new organizatio...

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The Perception
386 – Decision Making III: Emergent, Mental Model Driven or Both? from 2022-01-25T05:30

A look at the recent systematic review of decision making in sports. Is decision making best explained as being emergent, mental model driven or both? Is this an example of integrating direct an...

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The Perception
385 – A 10 Commandments for an Ecological Approach to Skill from 2022-01-18T05:30

A look Michaels and Palatinus’ 10 commandments for ecological psychology and their implications for skill acquisition research and coaching. Why are the principles of the ecological approach a p...

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The Perception
384– Learning to Move with Pain: Affordances&Constraints from 2022-01-11T05:30

How does pain shape learning and re-learning to move? How does it change the field of affordances available to an athlete? What is the best way to treat it?

 

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The Perception
383 – Why I Switched Sides to the Ecological Approach from 2022-01-04T05:30

Why did I make the switch in my career from thinking about skill as an indirect, predictive process involving internal models to direct perception, ecological dynamics?  Why do I think the latte...

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The Perception
382– Online vs Offline Information VS Direct vs Indirect Perception from 2021-12-28T05:30

What is the difference between using online vs offline information to our control our actions on the one hand and the dichotomy between direct vs indirect perception, on the other? How have thes...

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The Perception
381– An Ecological Approach to Volleyball Coaching&Practice Design from 2021-12-21T05:30

How can we apply an ecological approach to coaching volleyball? Are the ideas of “repetition without repetition” and motor synergies supported by research on this sport? What has research shown ...

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The Perception
380 – Interview with Brian Bushway&Tom Izdebski from Acoustic Athletics, Learning to Use Auditory Information in Sports from 2021-12-14T05:30

Can athletes learn to use the auditory information available in a sports environment to improve their performance? Can we see all around us with sound?

For those that aren’t familiar with...

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The Perception
379 – Journal Club #36: Making Isolated, At-Home Training More Representative from 2021-12-07T05:30

How can we make isolated, at home sports training more representative? A discussion with Ryan and Brett from SwitchedOn Training.

 

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The Perception
378 – Achieving Balance (and Integration?) in Skill Acquisition Research&Theory from 2021-11-30T05:30

A few updates on the first month of my book release. And how do we achieve balance in looking at the different theories of skill acquisition? Is it possible to integrate the different approaches...

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The Perception
377 – Nonlinear Pedagogy Revisited from 2021-11-23T05:30

What exactly are Linear and Nonlinear Pedagogy? How does Nonlinear Pedagogy relate to ecological dynamics?

 

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The Perception
376 – Why Ecological PLUS Dynamics? What is Metastable Attunement? from 2021-11-16T05:30

Why do we need both ecological psychology and behavioral dynamics to understand skilled behavior? What is metastable attunement and how does it capture this combination?

 

Arti...

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The Perception
375 – Journal Club #35: Pursuing Further Education in Skill Acquisition for Coaches&Practitioners from 2021-11-09T05:30

What are the options for furthering your education in skill acquisition if you are a coach or practitioner. What should you be looking for in a program and advisor?

 

More info...

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The Perception
373 – Journal Club #34: An Ecological Approach to the Use of Film/Video Analysis in Coaching from 2021-10-26T04:30

A discussion about how film and video can be used identify information-movement laws and affordances, and be used to guide an athlete’s exploration of perceptual-motor space.

 

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The Perception
372 – An Ecological Approach to Basketball Practice Design and Coaching from 2021-10-19T04:30

What does the research say about the role of movement variability in basketball? How do new players solve the degrees of freedom problem? How can we use the CLA to encourage the development of g...

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The Perception
371 – Interview with Andrew Wilson, The Ecological Learning Lab from 2021-10-12T04:30

My interview with Andrew Wilson from Leeds Beckett discussing this exciting new project he is coordinating with Southampton Football Academy: The Ecological Learning Lab. What is it all about an...

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The Perception
370 - Analogy Instructions&Movement Coordination, Skill Acquisition Summit Preview from 2021-10-05T04:30

How do analogy instructions effect movement coordination? Is it better to use a separate analogy for each body part or an integrated one for the whole movement? Plus, a preview of the upcoming S...

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The Perception
369 – Journal Club #33: An Ecological Approach to Martial Arts and MMA from 2021-09-28T04:30

How can we apply an ecological approach to training martial arts and MMA? How can we redesign practice to make it more alive and representative? A discussion with Rafe Kelley, Shawn Myszka, Josh...

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The Perception
368 – Article Review: Do self-organization training methods better promote creativity? from 2021-09-21T04:30

How does the ecological approach to skill acquisition change the way we think about movement creativity? How can we promote it through practice design?

 

Article:

<...

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The Perception
367 – Journal Club #32: Exploring Ecological Dynamics from 2021-09-14T04:30

How does cognition fit into an ecological approach? Was is the difference between technique, skill and action capacity? How should rule based vs physical constraints be used in practice? An emer...

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The Perception
366 – Article Review: Balancing the Demands of Learning and Performance in Sports from 2021-09-07T04:30

When faced with changing constraints how do performers balance the competing demands of exploring solution space for a new movement solution and maintaining short-term performance success?

<...

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The Perception
365 – Article Review: Does More Representative Practice Design Lead to Better Transfer of Training? from 2021-08-31T04:30

Does more representative design lead to better transfer of training? Does it make athlete more adaptable and strategic in their play? What is the relationship between the CLA and representative ...

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The Perception
364 – Article Review: The Role of Movement Variability in Movement Accuracy from 2021-08-24T04:30

How do skilled performers achieve both speed and accuracy? Is it by reducing variability in movement parameters (i.e., repeatability)? Or is by allowing movement parameters to co-vary and compen...

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The Perception
363 – Article Review: Choosing the Optimal Task Difficulty for Training from 2021-08-17T04:30

How well calibrated is our perception of task difficulty? To what degree can athletes assess whether the difficulty of a practice task is optimal for motor learning?

 

Articles...

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The Perception
362 – Smart Perceptual Mechanisms&Training an Athlete to “See Through the Matrix” from 2021-08-10T14:26:21

What is a “smart” perceptual mechanism? How does it differ from the rote mechanisms used in information processing theory, where simple features are used for computation and processing? Are we m...

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The Perception
361 – Self Organization&Self-Regulation in Skill Acquisition: Clarifying Some Confusions from 2021-08-03T04:30

What is the role of the “self” in self organization? How does its pre-loaded conception lead to some misunderstanding about self-organization and misapplication of methods designed to promote it...

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The Perception
360 – Biotensegrity from 2021-07-27T04:30

What is biotensegrity? How can it be used to understand movement coordination and preparation on an individual level and team coordination?  How does it relate to Bernstein’s concepts of motor s...

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The Perception
359 – Habit vs Skill II: Being Fast and Adaptable from 2021-07-20T16:29:24

Conscious control seems to be far too slow to account for skilled performance in sports while using automatic habits seems not to be smart enough to allow for adaptation to the ever-changing con...

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The Perception
358 - Article Review: Interoceptive Attention&Adaptation to Individual Constraints from 2021-07-06T04:30

What is interoceptive attention and how might it help an performer adapt to changes in individual constraints like fatigue and anxiety?

Article:

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The Perception
357 - Article Review: Does the structure and amount of variability in practice matter? from 2021-06-29T04:30

Does the amount of and structure of variability matter when training a new learner? Are there benefits to using Differential Learning over a simple serial, variable practice schedule?

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The Perception
356 – Article Review: How do Changes in Informational Constraints Influence Movement Variability? from 2021-06-15T04:30

How do changes in the perceptual information available alter movement variability? If we constrain vision with occluding glasses or constrain audition with headphones how do performers adapt the...

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The Perception
355 – Article Review: How Does Movement Coordination Change with Increased Effort? from 2021-06-08T04:30

How does the constraint of effort (for example, throwing at 80% of your max vs 100%) change the coordination of degrees of freedom in movement? Do movements become mostly invariant across indivi...

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The Perception
354 – Article Review: Does Practice Representativeness Effect Perceptual-Motor Calibration? from 2021-06-01T04:30

Does the representativeness of a practice task effect perceptual-motor calibration? For example, is the calibration of decision making and gaze behavior more effective when hitting off a pitcher...

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The Perception
353 – Article Review: Variability of Practice as an Injury Prevention Mechanism from 2021-05-25T04:30

A look at a new study comparing the effects of the CLA, differential learning, and prescriptive training on risk factors for ACL injury.

Article:

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The Perception
352 – Top Research Articles of 2021 (So Far) from 2021-05-18T04:30

A look at some of the most interesting research articles from 2021 so far. How do constraints shape skill acquisition? How can we interpret some of the classic problems in perception from an eco...

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The Perception
351 – Perceptual-Motor Styles from 2021-05-11T04:30

Why do many individuals have a distinctive manner of performing a motor action (aka a perceptual-motor style)? How can we determine whether a particular style is functional? How do styles change...

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The Perception
350 – Movement Sonification to Aid Motor Learning from 2021-05-04T04:30

How can mapping a movement parameter into sound be used to aid motor learning? How can it be used to help stablilize movement patterns or alternatively encourage a learner to be creative and  lo...

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The Perception
349 – Movement Reversals&what they tell us about Motor Control from 2021-04-27T04:30

Why do we sometimes start moving in completely the wrong direction before changing course when intercepting a moving object? Under what conditions do these “movement reversals” occur and what do...

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The Perception
348 – The Color of Noise in Motor Control from 2021-04-20T04:30

A look at 1/f or pink noise in the motor system. How can it be used as a metric to understand the coordination of degrees of freedom in movement? How does it change when learning a new skill?  <...

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The Perception
347 - Journal Club #31: Using Observation and Imagery in Coaching from 2021-04-13T04:30

I was joined by Adam Bruton, Dan Eaves and David Wright from the Research on Imagery and Observation (or Rio group) for a really interesting discussion about applying these methods in coaching. ...

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The Perception
346 – How Do Action Capabilities Constrain Affordance Perception&Decision Making from 2021-04-06T04:30

How do an athlete’s action capabilities (e.g. their speed, power, movement time) influence their abilities to perceive affordances and make decisions? How well calibrated are these things? Can w...

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The Perception
345 - Journal Club #30: An Ecological Approach to Youth Sports Coaching&Physical Education from 2021-03-23T04:30

I was joined by Mark O’Sullivan, James Rudd, Rich White and Michael Zweifel for a really interesting discussion about applying ecological dynamics to youth sports coaching and physical literacy....

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The Perception
344 – Co-Adaptation: How Can Pitchers Exploit the Perceptual-Motor Strategies used by Hitters? from 2021-03-16T04:30

A discussion with Randy Sullivan from Florida Baseball Ranch and several professional baseball pitching coaches. Our topic was co-adaptation in baseball, looking at how a pitcher might exploit t...

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The Perception
343 – Journal Club #29: Exploring the Ecological Approach to Skill Acquisition from 2021-03-09T05:30

What are some the misconceptions about it how might we improve its understanding and application?

 

More information:

http:/...

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The Perception
342 – A Constraints-Based, Grand Unifying Theory of Sports Performance from 2021-03-02T05:30

Can we use Newell’s constraints framework to unify the typically siloed subdisciplines (for example, skill acquisition, S&C and biomechanics) within sports science? A look at Paul Glazier’s Gran...

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The Perception
341 – Interview with Ollie Runswick, King’s College, Anticipation, Adding Context to Practice, Video Feedback from 2021-02-23T05:30

A discussion with Ollie Runswick from King’s College London discussing his research on anticipation, how and when to add context to practice, and the use of video feedback in sports training.   ...

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The Perception
340 – Educating a Coach’s Attention&the Use of Diagnostic Constraints from 2021-02-16T05:30

How do good coaches pick up information while observing an athlete, that can be used to guide skill acquisition? How can coaches better educate their attention to information that will better su...

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The Perception
339 - Journal Club #28: Ingold’s “Perception of the Environment” Part I from 2021-02-09T05:30

A look at the first section of Tim Ingold’s book “The Perception of the Environment: Essays on Livelihood, Dwelling and Skill”. Topics include education of attention, the role of culture in spor...

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The Perception
338 - Journal Club #27: Positively Advancing the Coaching Science Discussion in 2021 from 2021-02-02T05:30

A follow up to some of the issues we discussed in Journal Club #25. How can move beyond the arguing about methods and theories?

 

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The Perception
337 – An Ecological, Enactive Account of the Use of Mental Imagery in Sports from 2021-01-26T05:30

How can we understand the use of mental imagery in sports from an ecological perspective? How can perception be direct in imagery if there is no stimulus present? How does it relate to skilled i...

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The Perception
336 – Strong Anticipation: Coordinating with the Future without Predicting It from 2021-01-19T05:30

Can we “anticipate” the future without predicting it? Are delays in our perceptual-motor system flaws that we must compensate for or actually advantageous? A look at the concept of strong antici...

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The Perception
335 – Skilled Intentionality from 2021-01-12T05:30

How do skilled performers selectively respond to some of the many available affordances (or opportunities for action) in their environment? How do they coordinate their action to keep multiple a...

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The Perception
334 – Interview with Dan Peterson&Len Zaichkowsky, The Playmaker’s Decisions from 2021-01-05T05:30

A discussion with Dan and Len about their new book: The Playmaker’s Decisions - The Science of Clutch Plays, Mental Mistakes and Athlete Cognition.

 

Current book, The Playmaker’s ...

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The Perception
333 – Journal Club #26: Using Verbal Instructions in Coaching from 2020-12-22T05:30

A discussion with Rajiv Ranganathan and Andrew Wilson about using verbal instructions as constraints in coaching/ When should a coach use instruction and how should they use it?   

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The Perception
332 - Journal Club #25: Translating Theory into Coaching Practice from 2020-12-15T05:30

What is the role of theory in coaching? Do you need a theory? If so, should you chose one or mix and match?  

 

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331 - Journal Club #24: Talent Development&How Elite Athletes are Made from 2020-12-08T05:30

A discussion about talent development. How can it be facilitated through coaching and practice design? What role does technology and analytics have to play?

 

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The Perception
330 – Interview with Bill Warren, Brown, The Ecological Approach to Perception-Action from 2020-12-01T05:30

A discussion with Bill Warren from Brown University about his extensive body of work using an ecological approach to perceptual-motor control. Topics include affordances, calibration, informatio...

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The Perception
329 - Journal Club #22: Designing Practice Warm-Up from 2020-11-24T05:30

A discussion about practice warm-up sessions. What should their purpose really be? How can we innovate and re-design them to promote exploration and pave the way for motor learning?

L...

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The Perception
328 – Interview with Frans Bosch, Movement Analysis in Sport from 2020-11-17T05:30

A discussion with Frans Bosch about his new book, Anatomy of Agility – Movement Analysis in Sport. Why is it critical to take into account the body’s interests when coaching movement? Why is sta...

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The Perception
327 – Interview with Sian Beilock, Barnard, Building a Toolbox for Performing Under Pressure from 2020-11-10T05:30

A discussion with Sian Beilock from Barnard College. Why does pressure affect different performers in different ways? What should be in your toolbox when preparing for a high pressure situation ...

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The Perception
326 – Revisiting “Automaticity”&Its Relevance to Skilled Performance from 2020-11-03T05:30

Revisiting the concept of “automaticity”. Does it still have relevance to understanding skilled performance? Should the goal of training really be to get a performer to a stage where they are do...

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The Perception
325 - Journal Club #21: Fundamental Movement Skills from 2020-10-27T04:30

I am joined by Stu Armstrong and Kasey Crider to discuss Karl Newell’s recent article “What are Fundamental Motor Skills and What is Fundamental About Them?” What exactly are they? Do we need to...

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The Perception
324 – An Ecological Approach to Sports Injury Prevention&Adaptation (Not Recovery) from 2020-10-20T04:30

An ecological approach to preventing and adapting to sports injury. To what extent can we predict injury from technique? How is injury risk related to movement variability and attentional focus?...

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The Perception
323 - The Role of Movement Efficiency&Economy in Motor Learning: A Constraints-Based Framework from 2020-10-13T04:30

Do learners choose movement solutions that are economical – that is those which not only achieve their performance goal but are also the most efficient and have low energy expenditure? What info...

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The Perception
322 – Overspeed Perception&Decision Making Training from 2020-10-06T04:30

Can decision making in sports be improved by using above real time or “overspeed” video based training? Does it seem more “game-like” to athletes? Does it result in transfer of training to impro...

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The Perception
321 – Differential Learning III: Clarifying Methodology, Acute Training Effects&Brain Activity from 2020-09-29T04:30

A more detailed look at the manipulations used in Differential Learning. Are the movement variants representative? Will they induce an internal focus of attention? As a coach, how should you cho...

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The Perception
320 – Using a Constraints Led Approach to Develop Tactical Skill from 2020-09-22T04:30

How can a constraints led approach be used to develop tactical behavior in teams sports? Can a Step-Game Approach be combined with the CLA to improve tactical knowledge and team synergy? How doe...

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The Perception
319 – Instruction, Feedback and the Promotion of Self-Organization from 2020-09-15T04:30

A look at how can we use instruction and feedback to guide self-organization in motor learning. Why, when and how should a coach use these types of informational constraints?

Articles...

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The Perception
318 – My Recent Skill Acquisition Studies from 2020-09-08T04:30

A look at a couple of my skill acquisition studies that have recently come out. How does variability in practice conditions influence the coordination of degrees of freedom?  And, a direct compa...

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The Perception
317 – Interview with Kevin Becker, TWU, Focus of Attention&Holistic Cueing from 2020-08-25T04:30

A discussion with Kevin Becker from Texas Women’s University. What factors moderate the classic “external focus is better than an internal focus” effect? What are athletes’ self-reported focus s...

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The Perception
316 – Machine Learning for Understanding Motor Learning from 2020-08-18T04:30

A look at research examining how machine learning techniques can be used to further our understanding of motor learning, investigating questions related to talent development, the structure of p...

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The Perception
315 – Interview with Christian Vater, Bern, Using Peripheral Vision in Sports, Gaze Training from 2020-08-11T04:30

A discussion with Christian Vater from the University of Bern. What are the different ways athletes use peripheral vision in sports? Can you train an athlete to adopt a different gaze strategy? ...

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The Perception
314 – Knowing Your Opponent: Deception&an Ecological View on Using Probability Information from 2020-08-04T04:30

A look at recent studies investigating the use of situational probabilities by athletes? Does knowing your opponent’s tendencies make you more susceptible to deception? Does it matter whether yo...

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The Perception
313 – Do Explicit Strategies for Altering Technique Interfere with Implicit Motor Learning? from 2020-07-28T04:30

How do implicit and explicit learning interact with each other? If a coach gives an athlete an explicit strategy for correcting their technique is it going to hinder implicit learning? What does...

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The Perception
312 – Adding Variability, Execution Redundancy&“Essential Noise” to Practice with Equipment Modifications from 2020-07-21T04:30

A look at how modifying sports equipment (e.g., changing size, altering mass distribution or making more flexible) can enhance motor learning by adding variability and increasing movement execut...

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The Perception
311– Individual Differences&Intrinsic Dynamics: Why Do Some Performers Self-Organize Better Than Others? from 2020-07-14T04:30

A look at individual differences in motor learning and coordination. What are intrinsic dynamics and how do they influence learning? How do patterns of coordination change with learning? Why do ...

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The Perception
310 – Developing Adaptable Performers: Training in Regions of Metastability from 2020-07-07T04:30

A look at the concepts of multi and meta-stability in coordination. How can a performer have multiple movement solutions that are both stable and flexible at the same time? How might we develop ...

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The Perception
309 - Journal Club #20: Sport Practitioners as Sport Ecology Designers from 2020-07-02T04:30

I am joined by Damian Farrow, Alex Lascu, Derek Panchuk and Carl Woods to discuss the article: Sport Practitioners as Sport Ecology Designers: How Ecological Dynamics Has Progressively Changed P...

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The Perception
308 – Interview with Paula Silva, Cincinnati, Anti-fragility, Movement Adaptability, Dynamic Touch from 2020-06-30T04:30

A discussion with Paula Silva from the University of Cincinnati. How can stress help a performer adapt and grow? What is anti-fragility? How do we measure and it and train it? How can it be used...

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The Perception
307- Using Biomechanical Analyses to Reduce Injury&Improve Performance from 2020-06-25T04:30

How should biomechanics be applied in sport to improve performance and reduce injury? Should we be identifying ideal movement parameters from group based analyses or attempting to optimize for e...

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The Perception
306 – Interview with Matt Dicks. Portsmouth, Perception-Action Coupling, Exploring to Learn, Affordances from 2020-06-23T04:30

A discussion with Matt Dicks from the University of Portsmouth. How does “anticipation” behavior change as we vary the degree of perception-action coupling? What is the role of perceived affford...

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The Perception
305- Journal Club #16: What are “normal movements” in atypical populations? from 2020-06-18T04:30

I am joined by Rajiv Ranganathan and Harjiv Singh to discuss the 1996 article “What are “normal movements” in atypical populations?” Are atypical movements in impaired populations actually funct...

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The Perception
304 – Interview with Wolfgang Schollhorn, Mainz, Differential Learning from 2020-06-16T04:30

A discussion with Wolfgang Schollhorn from the University of Mainz. What has research on coordination profiling shown about the role individuality and variability in skilled performance? Why is ...

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The Perception
303 - New Remote Motor Learning Technology from 2020-06-11T04:30

A look at some technologies that might allow a coach or therapist to guide motor learning remotely. What has initial research shown about the effectiveness of these devices? How should auditory ...

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The Perception
302 – Interview with John van der Kamp, VU, Implicit Learning, Ventral vs Dorsal Stream, Movement Creativity from 2020-06-09T04:30

A discussion with John van der Kamp from Vrije University in Amsterdam. What does the latest research say about the benefits of implicit learning? Does it promote automaticity? What are the role...

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The Perception
301- Journal Club #14: Deliberate Practice from 2020-06-04T04:30

I am joined by Ed Coughlan to discuss Anders Ericsson’s recent article “Clarifying the differences between deliberate practice and other types of practice”. Does deliberate practice really have ...

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The Perception
300 - Evolution of My Ideas: How I Self-organized towards Self-Organization from 2020-06-02T04:30

Celebrating the 300th episode by looking at how my personal views about perceptual-motor control and skill acquisition have been shaped by my experiences and changed over time.

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The Perception
199 – Interview with Kate Wilmut, Oxford Brookes, Perceptual-Motor Control in DCD, Embodied Perception vs Action from 2020-06-01T04:30

A discussion with Kate Wilmut from Oxford Brookes University. How is the perception of affordances, motor control and planning affected in Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)? How are embo...

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The Perception
198- Journal Club #13: Affordances from 2020-05-28T04:30

I am joined by Duarte Araujo, Marianne Davies, Ben Franks & Stuart Armstrong to discuss the topic of affordances. How do affordances invite opportunities for action and how do we select between ...

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The Perception
197 - Journal Club #12: Talent ID&Selection from 2020-05-26T04:30

I am joined by Joe Baker, David Mann, Joerg Schorer and Nick Wattie to discuss topics including: what exactly is “talent”, how good are we at talent ID/selection and what impacts does it have on...

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The Perception
196 – Interview with James Rudd, LJMU, An Ecological Dynamics Approach to Improving Physical Literacy&Movement Skills in PE from 2020-05-25T04:30

A discussion with James Rudd from Liverpool John Moores University. What are the trends in movement competency/skill in children in recent years? How should we be assessing skill and Physical Li...

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The Perception
195 – Interview with Jia Yi Chow, NTU Singapore, Nonlinear Pedagogy from 2020-05-21T04:30

A discussion with Jia Yi Chow from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. What is nonlinear pedagogy? What has research shown regarding its effectiveness in PE teaching? How can a co...

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The Perception
194 - Journal Club #11: Prospective Control from 2020-05-19T04:30

I am joined by Andrew Wilson, Tyler Yearby and Garrett Boyum to discuss Prospective Control. We talk about how it differs from predictive control, the patterns of behaviors it creates, how it de...

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The Perception
193 – Interview with Ben Cohen, WSJ, The Hot Hand: The Mystery&Science of Streaks from 2020-05-18T04:30

A discussion with Ben Cohen from the Wall Street Journal about his new book – The Hot Hand: The Mystery & Science of Streaks. Does the Hot Hand in sports exist? How does it change the behavior o...

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The Perception
192- Journal Club #10: VR Training from 2020-05-14T04:30

I am joined by Sam Vine from Exeter and Cathy Craig from INCISIV for a discussion about present and future of VR Training. What can and can’t VR do for sports training? How should we be assessin...

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The Perception
191- Journal Club #9: Skill Acquisition Summit Roundtable from 2020-05-12T04:30

I am joined by Frans Bosch, Randy Sullivan, Martijn Nihoff, Bart Hanegrafff and Paul Venner for a roundtable discussion about training at home, transitioning back to full training and Frans’ new...

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The Perception
190 - Prescriptive Instruction vs Self Organization: Comparative Research&Playing Both Sides from 2020-05-11T04:30

Contrasting Prescriptive and Self-Organization approaches to skill acquisition. What has research directly comparing them found? Is it a good idea (or even possible) to adopt both approaches as ...

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The Perception
189 - Journal Club #8: Focus of Attention and Proprioceptive Information from 2020-05-07T04:30

I am joined by Vicki Gottwald and Gav Lawrence to discuss their new paper: An internal focus of attention is optimal when congruent with afferent proprioceptive task information.

 

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The Perception
188 - Journal Club #7: Focus of Attention and Cueing in Injury Rehabilitation from 2020-05-05T04:30

I am joined by Nick Winkelman, Alli Gokeler, Anne Benjaminse, Harjiv Singh and Jed Diekfuss to discuss the recent article “Comparing the effects of external focus of attention and continuous cog...

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The Perception
187 – Interview with Joan Ryan, Intangibles: Unlocking the Science&Soul of Team Chemistry from 2020-05-04T04:30

A discussion with Joan Ryan, author of the new book- Intangibles: Unlocking the Science & Soul of Team Chemistry. What is team chemistry? How does it influence performance and how can it be cult...

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The Perception
186 - Journal Club #6 – General vs Specific Training&“Learning to Learn to Move” from 2020-04-28T04:30

I am joined by Keith Davids and Shawn Myszka to discuss the role of generalized vs sport specific training. How, when and why should we incorporate more generalized training in practice? What do...

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The Perception
185 – Freezing Degrees of Freedom as an Early Movement Solution from 2020-04-27T04:30

What evidence is there that performers use Bernstein’s freezing degrees of freedom coordination solution in the early stages of learning? How does if and when they use it depend on the performan...

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The Perception
184 - Journal Club #5: Bringing Representative Learning Design to Home Training from 2020-04-21T04:30

I am joined by Marianne Davis and Stuart Armstrong to discuss how the principles of Representative Learning Design can be applied when training at home to make practice more enjoyable, engaging ...

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The Perception
183 – Interview with Greg Appelbaum, Duke University, Sports Vision Testing and Training, Brain&Behavior from 2020-04-20T04:30

A discussion with Greg Appelbaum from Duke University about his work testing and training the sensorimotor abilities of athletes. What aspects of vision are predictive of on-field performance? D...

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The Perception
182 - Journal Club #4: Ecological Cognition&Sports Decision Making from 2020-04-14T04:30

I am joined by James Vaughn, Ben Franks, Shawn Myska, Tyler Yearby, and Stuart Armstrong for a great discussion about the ecological approach to decision making in sports

 

Art...

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The Perception
181 – Interview with Fabian Otte, Cologne, Applying the Periodization of Skill Training Framework from 2020-04-13T04:30

A discussion with Fabian Otte from the German Sport University in Cologne on how to effectively develop a periodization plan for skill training and development.

 

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180 – Interview with Nick Winkelman, Irish Rugby, The Language of Coaching: The Art&Science of Teaching Movement from 2020-04-09T04:30

A discussion with Nick Winkelman about his new book: The Language of Coaching. Topic include: is there a place for the use of internal focus of attention cues, developing effective analogies, av...

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The Perception
179 - Journal Club #3: Pitch Information&the Regulation of Baseball Swing Timing from 2020-04-07T04:30

I am joined by Garret Boyum, Brock Hammit and Robert Frey from the Finding the Edge podcast and Peter Fadde from Game Sense sports to discuss an interesting new article on baseball batting. How ...

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The Perception
178 – Interview with Chris Button, Otago, 2nd Ed of Dynamics of Skill Acquisition, Applying Ecological Dynamics to Water Safety from 2020-04-06T04:30

My discussion with Chris Button, Professor in the School of Physical Education, Sport & Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, New Zealand. How can ecological dynamics and representative learni...

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The Perception
177 - Journal Club #2 - Attractor Stability&Adaptation to Constraints from 2020-03-31T20:57:39

I am joined by @PsychScientists, @singh_harjiv and @Marianne_D1 to discuss new juggling study relating the stability of attractors in our intrinsic coordination and the ability to adapt to new t...

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The Perception
176 – Journal Club #1: Equipment Scaling&Functional Variability from 2020-03-26T04:30

I am joined by Marianne Davies and Ben Franks to discuss the really interesting new article by Tim Buszard and colleagues from AIS: Scaling sports equipment for children promotes functional move...

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The Perception
175 – What is the Role of Eye Dominance in Skilled Motor Action? from 2020-03-24T04:30

What is the relevance of ocular dominance for the control of action? How might it effect an athlete’s choice of stance or side? Is there any evidence to support the idea that being cross-dominan...

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The Perception
174 – Technique Change II: Proactive Interference, Constraints&Individual Differences from 2020-03-19T04:30

Revisiting issue of technique change, first discussed in Episode 14. How do we prevent proactive interference from a well-learned technique? How does this vary between individuals? How is techni...

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The Perception
173 – Practice Design to Improve Emergent Decision Making from 2020-03-17T04:30

A look at decisions as emerging from a process searching for information to act and acting to acquire information. How can we manipulate constraints and interaction with opponents in practice to...

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The Perception
172 – Game-Based Approaches to Coaching from 2020-02-25T05:30

A look at games based approaches to coaching. How do methods like teaching games for understanding differ from the constraints led approach? Is the CLA just “old wine in new bottles” or does it ...

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The Perception
171 – Coordination, Control&Skill: A Three Stage Model of Motor Learning from 2020-02-18T05:30

What are the differences between coordination, control and skill? A look at a 3 stage model of skill acquisition and its implications for coaching and motor learning research.

 

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The Perception
170 – Interview with Shawn Eagle, Pittsburgh, A Perception-Action Coupling Approach to Sport Concussion from 2020-02-11T05:30

Applying perception-action principles to concussion and behavioral injury risk. How does concussion affect an athlete’s perception of affordances and action boundaries in their environment?

...

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The Perception
169 - Going Blind: Are there Benefits to Training without Vision? from 2020-02-04T05:30

Does training blind under non-vision conditions result in improved performance when the athlete returns to full vision conditions? Does it allow a performer to become more sensitive to informati...

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The Perception
168 – Periodization of Skill Acquisition from 2020-01-28T05:30

How might we periodize skill acquisition in a manner similar to physical training – taking into account factors like specificity, load, progression and reversibility? A look at the skill acquisi...

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The Perception
167 – New Research on Generalized Perceptual-Cognitive Training from 2020-01-21T05:30

A look at some recent studies investigating generalized, perceptual-cognitive training for sport. Is there any evidence that training perception and cognition out of context will result in trans...

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The Perception
166 - Exploratory Search for Information, Affordances&Action Selection from 2020-01-14T05:30

How do we use information from our environment to select between different opportunities for action (i.e. affordances)? How do we pickup this information? A look at exploratory head movements in...

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The Perception
165 – Adaptive Training to Promote Motor Learning from 2020-01-08T17:11:51

A look at a few different ways to adapt training to promote motor learning. Learner-controlled practice schedules, the win move/lose stay method, and adaptive, algorithm based schedules.

...

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The Perception
164 – Constraining Vision to Educate Attention&Promote Skill Acquisition from 2019-11-20T16:44:58

Comparing and contrasting some different methods for using visual constraints during practice, including stroboscopic training, spatial  and temporal occlusion. What transfers to competition? Listen

The Perception
163 – The Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching IV: Why do we “Constrain”? from 2019-10-29T04:30

Part 4 in my series on the CLA. What is the purpose of adding constraints in the constraints led approach to coaching? How does this differ from what has been done in the past?  What are the dif...

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The Perception
162 – Differential Learning II: Contextual Interference vs Stochastic Resonance from 2019-10-22T04:30

Revisiting the theory of differential learning. How does it differ from contextual interference? How much structure should we use when varying conditions in practice? What is stochastic resonanc...

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The Perception
161 - Practicing with a Partner: Matched or Mismatched from 2019-10-15T04:30

Are there benefits to doing interleaved practice with partner? Is it better if you work on the same or different skills?

 

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160 – Visuomotor Calibration&Frames of Reference from 2019-10-08T04:30

Why can even relatively short breaks (like a rain delay or waiting for an opponent to take their turn) hurt performance? Why do athletes sometimes seem to completely misperceive the position of ...

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The Perception
159 – What is an Optimal Movement Pattern? from 2019-10-01T04:30

Is there one optimal movement solution for any given task? If not, can we identify the optimal movement pattern for each individual? How can knowledge of performance feedback be used to achieve ...

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The Perception
158 – Motor Learning as a Search within Perceptual-Motor Workspace from 2019-09-24T04:30

A look at motor learning as a search within perceptual-motor workspace in the Search Strategies Approach theory. How do performers find stable regions in this workspace, and how does their searc...

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The Perception
157 – Coordinative Structures in Skilled Performance from 2019-09-17T04:30

How do we coordinate movement across our different body segments and with respect to the external environment? A look at a specific example of a coordinative structure in baseball batting.

<...

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The Perception
156 – How Consistently Do We Need to Move to Be Consistently Successful? from 2019-09-10T04:30

How consistently do you need to move in order to consistently be successful in a sports skill? Is low variability in movement kinematics a key to achieving your goal? How should we be measuring ...

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The Perception
155 - How Soon Should you Give Performance Feedback? from 2019-08-27T04:30

How soon should you give an athlete performance feedback? Is there any value in delaying it a bit? What is happening in the time between an action finishing and feedback being processed?

...

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The Perception
154 – How is Peripheral Vision Used in Sports? Gaze Anchors&Pivot Points from 2019-08-21T04:30

How exactly is peripheral vision used in sports? What are the costs and benefits of different gaze strategies?  A look at gaze anchors and visual pivot points.

 

Articles:...

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The Perception
152 - Learning New Movement Patterns: Specificity vs Variability from 2019-08-06T04:30

A look at a recent study on learning new gait patterns. Which is better: practicing the criterion task the whole time, progression from easier to difficult or random practice?

 

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The Perception
151 –The Equilibrium Point Hypothesis of Motor Control from 2019-07-23T13:12

A look at the equilibrium point hypothesis of motor control. How can movements be controlled both actively (voluntarily) and re-actively (involuntarily)?

 

Articles:

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150 – New Motor Learning Neuroscience Research from 2019-07-15T16:30:21

A look at some recent motor learning neuroscience articles. Can we achieve gray matter plasticity through motor learning? How are motor synergies reflected in brain activity? What are the neural...

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The Perception
149 - How Does Noise Shape Motor Learning? from 2019-07-02T04:30

A look at the role of motor noise in motor learning? How to we minimize the effects of noise on motor control? Do we choose movement solutions that are less noisy?

 

Articles:<...

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148 - On Becoming Skillful: A Dynamical Systems Approach from 2019-06-18T04:30

A look at the 1995 article by Jane Clark which provides an excellent overview of the dynamical systems approach to skill acquisition.

 

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147 - New Constraints Led Approach (CLA) Research from 2019-06-11T12:45:54

A look at a couple new studies examining the CLA to skill acquisition. How does the presence of an opponent influence the kinematics of a tennis serve? Can we correct technical errors without us...

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The Perception
146 –Effects of Analogy, Explicit Instruction&Attentional Cues on Performance from 2019-05-21T16:28:08

A look at 3 recent studies evaluating the effects of different types of instruction (explicit, analogy and focus of attention) on performance, movement kinematics and motor learning.

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The Perception
145 – Incidental Training, Goal Babbling&Motor Exploration from 2019-05-15T16:12:46

A look at a couple of recent motor learning articles. Does incidental training lead to protection against choking under pressure? How do we acquire a new movement skill? Do we initially explore ...

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The Perception
144 – An Ecological Dynamics Assessment of Perceptual-Cognitive&VR Training in Sport from 2019-05-07T16:28:48

What are the limitations of current perceptual-cognitive and brain training technologies that use an isolated, process driven approach to improve perception and decision making in athletes? How ...

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The Perception
143 – Naturalistic, Recognition-Primed Decision Making from 2019-04-16T04:30

A look at Naturalistic and Recognition-Primed Decision Making. How do we make quick and effective decisions when faced with complex, time pressured situations? How do we bring our previous exper...

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The Perception
142 – Affordance Based Control from 2019-04-09T04:30

Is the role of affordance perception just action selection? Or does it also play a role in action control? What does it mean to “know one’s limits”?

 

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141 - Demonstration&Imitation as Rate Enhancers in Skill Acquisition from 2019-04-02T04:30

A look at the role of demonstration and imitation in motor learning. What is rate enhancer in skill acquisition?

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140 – An Ecological Approach to Visual Anticipation in Sports from 2019-03-26T04:30

Is the common finding that expert athletes are better at using advance cues to anticipate their opponent’s actions evidence that they are using a predictive, internal model for action control? O...

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The Perception
139 - Improving Performance by Amplifying Errors from 2019-03-19T04:30

Can having a performer amplify or exaggerate movement error be an effective way to correct it? Is error amplification a more effective method than corrective instruction?  

 

A...

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138 – Alternative Ways to Cue&Provide Feedback from 2019-03-05T05:30

A look at some different ways we can cue and provide feedback to a performer including bandwidth, temporal-comparative and translational feedback and rhythm-based cues.  

 

Art...

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The Perception
137 – The Yips from 2019-02-26T05:30

A look at the phenomenon of The Yips. What exactly is it? How does it differ from choking under pressure? What effects does it have on movement coordination? How can it be treated?  

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The Perception
136 - Talent Equation Podcast Panel - Applying Theory to Coaching from 2019-02-20T14:27:35

A panel discussion about applying different theoretical approaches to coaching, fence sitting, and "it depends" on the Talent Equation podcast hosted and produced by Stuart Armstrong:

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The Perception
135 – The Problem of Motor Redundancy vs the Bliss of Motor Abundance from 2019-02-05T05:30

Is having numerous possible solutions to a motor task a problem of redundancy that must be solved by somehow restricting the perception-action system? Or is it a gift of abundance that allows us...

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The Perception
134 – Are there General Perceptual-Motor Abilities? Should we be Testing&Training Them? from 2019-01-29T05:30

A look at the somewhat controversial topic of general perceptual-motor abilities. Are there general abilities such as agility and hand-eye coordination that apply to all sports or are the skills...

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The Perception
133 – New Representative Design Research from 2019-01-22T05:30

A look at some recent research on representative design. How can we evaluate the representativeness of typical practice activities used in sport? What expertise differences emerge when we evalua...

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The Perception
132 – Simple vs Complex Motor Skills: Do Training Principles Generalize? from 2019-01-15T05:30

Do the principles derived from studying simple laboratory skills apply to the more complex skills involved in most sports? How does task complexity influence the way in which we manipulate load ...

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The Perception
131 – How Should we Space Training to Optimize Skill Acquisition? from 2018-12-11T05:30

What is the optimal spacing of training sessions to promote acquisition of a new skill? How does it depend on task complexity and intensity? What underlying processes are involved?

 

...

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The Perception
130 – Designing Affective Practice II: Emotion as a Constraint, Role of a Coaches’ Emotions from 2018-11-27T05:30

How do the emotions of an athlete constrain the movement solutions that emerge in practice? How can they be used an indicator of progress in learning? How might a coaches’ emotions influences sk...

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The Perception
129 – The Legacy of Paul Fitts II: A Three Stage Model of Motor Learning from 2018-11-20T05:30

The second episode in a series looking at the contributions of Paul Fitts to our understanding of motor control and motor learning. A look at Fitts’ highly influential 3 phase model of skill acq...

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128 – Affordances&Momentum, Value of Unstructured Practice from 2018-11-13T05:30

Does our perception of affordances in our environment depend on psychological momentum, changing as we move towards or away from achieving our goal? What is the value of informal, unstructured p...

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The Perception
127 – The Legacy of Paul Fitts I: Fitts’ Law&the Speed-Accuracy Tradeoff from 2018-10-30T04:30

The first episode in a series looking at the contributions of Paul Fitts to our understanding of motor control and motor learning. What is Fitts’ Law? How can it be used to understand and predic...

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The Perception
126 – Guiding Movement by Coupling Taus from 2018-10-23T04:30

A look at David Lee’s Tau Coupling theory which seeks to explain how movements are controlled by using taus from our different senses and intrinsic tau guides. What is general tau theory and why...

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The Perception
125 – The Legacy of James J Gibson III: The Ecological Approach, Research&Challenges from 2018-10-16T04:30

The final episode in my series looking at the contributions of JJ Gibson to the study of perception and action. Where is the ecological approach to perception and action now? What evidence is th...

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The Perception
124 – The Legacy of James J Gibson II: The Theory of Affordances&Its Application to Sports from 2018-10-09T04:30

124 – The Legacy of James J Gibson II: The Theory of Affordances & Its Application to Sports

 

The second episode in a series looking at the incredible contributions of JJ Gibson t...

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The Perception
123 – The Legacy of James J Gibson I: Invariants&Direct Perception from 2018-09-25T04:30

The first episode in a series looking at the incredible contributions of JJ Gibson to the study of perception and action.  What is direct perception? What are invariants? How do these ideas form...

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122 – Reflections on the FBR Summit: Putting Self Organization into Practice from 2018-09-18T04:30

Some reflections on the excellent Skill Acquisition Summit I recently attended at the Florida Baseball Ranch. What are some of the best practices for using self-organization for developing sport...

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The Perception
121 - How Much Variability in Practice&When? Does Water Immersion Enhance Motor Learning? from 2018-09-11T04:30

A look at a couple interesting recent articles on motor learning. How much variability should we add to practice and when? Are skills strengthened when they are reconsolidated when performing sl...

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The Perception
120 – Perceptual-Motor Calibration from 2018-09-04T04:30

A look at the process of perceptual-motor calibration. How do we scale our perception of affordances in the environment to our action capabilities? What conditions are needed to allow for effect...

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The Perception
119 – Interview with Jeff Fairbrother, Tennessse, Motor Learning, Feedback, Focus of Attention from 2018-08-28T04:30

A discussion with Jeff Fairbrother, Professor of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport Studies at the University of Tennessee. We discuss the effect of repeated reten...

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The Perception
118 – Interview with Paul Venner, Dutch Baseball, Variability&Constraints in Movement, S&C from 2018-08-21T04:30

A discussion with Paul Venner, Head of Athletic Performance at Dutch Baseball and Founder of Ultimateinstability. We discuss the important role of movement variab...

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The Perception
117 – Shared Mental Models vs Shared Affordances in Team Coordination from 2018-08-14T04:30

A look at the two main theoretical approaches (and associated methodologies) for understanding team coordination in sports: Shared knowledge/mental models (built on information processing) and s...

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The Perception
116 – New Research on Implicit Learning: Is it a More Effective Way to Acquire New Skills? from 2018-08-07T04:30

A look at some recent research on implicit learning. Is it really a better way to learn perceptual-motor skills? Does it give an athlete more cognitive resources to devote to strategy and decisi...

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The Perception
115 – Interview with Randy Sullivan, Florida Baseball Ranch, Skill Acquisition Summit from 2018-07-24T04:30

A discussion with Randy Sullivan, CEO and owner of Florida Baseball Ranch. We discuss how Randy’s approach to skill development and injury rehabilitation has evol...

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The Perception
114 – Interview with Israel Halperin, Skill Acquisition Training&Research, Cueing, Combat Sports from 2018-07-17T04:30

A discussion with Israel Halperin, combat sports coach and researcher from Tel Aviv, Israel. We discuss the use of focus of attention cues, the role of athlete au...

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The Perception
113 – Online vs Internal, Model-Based Control of Action from 2018-07-03T04:30

Are the complex actions involved in sport controlled online, by visual information that is currently available to a performer? Or do they rely on the use of predictive, internal models of the wo...

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The Perception
112 - Interview with Len Zaichkowsky&Dan Peterson, The Playmaker’s Advantage from 2018-06-26T04:30

A discussion with Leonard Zaichkowsky & Daniel Peterson about their recently released book, The Playmaker’s Advantage: How to Raise Your Mental Game to the Next Le...

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The Perception
111 – When Should a Coach Abandon a Practice Activity and Try Something Else? from 2018-06-19T04:30

As a coach, what should you do when your athletes do not seem to be responding to a new practice activity? Are there things you can change? What should you look for? When should you abandon it a...

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The Perception
110 – Donor Sports&the Value of Non Sport Specific Practice from 2018-06-12T04:30

How do you know whether a training activity that is very different from your sport will lead to transfer? Is their value in non-specific practice? Does it depend on skill level? What is a donor ...

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The Perception
109 – Habit vs Skill: Which Should We Attempt to Develop in Performers? from 2018-06-05T04:30

Is it better for an athlete to develop pre-formed, reflexive responses that operate outside of consciousness (in other words, habits)? Or should we be focusing on cultivating adaptive skills tha...

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The Perception
108 – Does Brain Stimulation Enhance Acquisition, Performance and Retention of Sports Skills? from 2018-05-29T04:30

Can noninvasive brain stimulation be used to enhance acquisition, performance and retention of sports skills? What exactly are tMS, tCS and tDCS? Are products like Halo Sport worth your investme...

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The Perception
107 – Interview with Mike Studer, President NWRA, Applying motor learning principles to rehabilitation from 2018-05-22T04:30

A discussion with Mike Studer, President of Northwest Rehabilitation Associate. We discuss using dual tasks to encourage the development of procedural memories, constraint-induced practice, con...

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The Perception
106 – Does Neurofeedback Training Improve Sports Performance? from 2018-05-15T04:30

How effective is neurofeedback training for improving sports performance? Is it worth the investment of time and money?  Which brain rhythm should we be targeting for the best results?   

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The Perception
105 – How Difficult Should Practice Be? The Challenge Point Hypothesis from 2018-05-01T04:30

What is the optimal level of task difficulty to use in practice? How does it depend on the complexity of the skill and the experience of the learner? A look at the Challenge Point Hypothesis and...

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The Perception
104 – Practicing with Intent: The Role of Intention in Action from 2018-04-24T04:30

What does it mean to “practice with intent”? How does intention shape the way we learn and perform perceptual motor skills?  

 

Articles:

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The Perception
103 – Interview with Rajiv Ranganthan, MSU, Motor Learning, Variability&Coordination from 2018-04-10T04:30

A discussion with Rajiv Ranganthan, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at Michigan State University. We discuss motor synergies and redundancy, the role of moveme...

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The Perception
102 – Modified Perceptual Training, Proactive&Reactive Motor Inhibition from 2018-04-03T04:30

How can we best sort through the myriad of vision and perceptual-cognitive training tools for sports? What are the key characteristics we should be looking for? How effectively can skilled athle...

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The Perception
101 – Brain Dynamics&Psychomotor Efficiency, Effect of Culture on Movement from 2018-03-27T04:30

What characterizes the brain activity of an elite performer? How does brain activity change during the process of skill acquisition? Do cultural environments influence motor skills? Are there “m...

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The Perception
100 – The Why, What, How&When of Movement Variability from 2018-03-13T04:30

Why is movement variability beneficial for skill acquisition and execution? What distinguishes “good” from “bad” variability in movement?  How do different coaching/instructional methods (e.g. o...

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The Perception
99 – Interview with Shawn Myszka, Sport Movement Skill Conference, Ecological Dynamics from 2018-03-06T05:30

A discussion with Shawn Myszka from Movement Mastery. In the interview we discuss the upcoming Sport Movement Skill Conference and the Ecological Dynamics movemen...

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The Perception
98 – Interview with Movement&Skill Acquisition Ireland, Constraints Based Coaching from 2018-02-27T05:30

A discussion with Ed Coughlan, Phil Kearny and Olly Logan, founders of Movement & Skill Acquisition Ireland. In the interview we discuss the goals of the organiza...

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The Perception
97 – Interview with Mark O’Sullivan, AIK, Affordances, Practice Design&Talent Development from 2018-02-20T05:30

A discussion with Mark O’Sullivan, Coach with AIK Football in Stockholm. We discuss Mark’s concept of football interactions and how it ...

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The Perception
96 – Can Assisted Movement Facilitate Skill Acquisition? from 2018-02-13T05:30

A look at research investigating the effects of assisted/guided movement on skill acquisition. Can experiencing the movement pattern of an elite athlete facilitate motor learning in a novice? Is...

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The Perception
95 – The Legacy of Nikolai Bernstein III: “Repetition without Repetition”&Beyond from 2018-02-06T05:30

A look at how Bernstein’s famous phrase “repetition without repetition” revolutionized how we think about motor learning. And an introduction to a few extensions of Bernstein’s ideas including c...

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The Perception
94 – The Legacy of Nikolai Bernstein II: Skill Acquisition through Free(z)ing Degrees of Freedom from 2018-01-30T05:30

A look at Bernstein’s theory of freezing/freeing degrees of freedom during skill acquisition and some research which has tested these ideas.

Articles/Books:

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The Perception
93 – The Legacy of Nikolai Bernstein I: Problems in Movement Coordination from 2018-01-23T05:30

The first episode in a series looking at the contributions of Nikolai Bernstein to our understanding of motor control and motor learning. What were Bernstein’s “problems? Is finding solutions to...

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The Perception
92 – Differential Learning from 2018-01-16T05:30

A look at the Differential Learning approach to skill acquisition. Is maximizing movement variability by preventing repetition and correction the optimal way to design practice? How does this di...

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The Perception
91 – Variability of Practice Revisited from 2018-01-09T05:30

A look at some recent research examining contextual interference, blocked vs random and variable vs constant practice.  How should coaches put these concepts into practice?

 

A...

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The Perception
90 – Interview with Leah Robinson, Michigan, Fundamental Movement Skills from 2017-12-12T05:30

A discussion with Leah Robinson, Associate Professor of Movement Science from the University of Michigan. Topics include the importance of fundamental movement sk...

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The Perception
89 – The Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching III: Evaluating its Effectiveness from 2017-12-05T05:30

Looking at research that has evaluated the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) to coaching. How effective is this approach? What effects do changing constraints actually have on performance? How does...

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The Perception
88 – The Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching II: Dynamics&Representative Design from 2017-11-28T05:30

What processes are involved when movement coordination is self-organized around constraints? How does the performer take into account their own action capabilities? What is the best way to desig...

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The Perception
87 – The Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching I: What are Constraints? from 2017-11-21T05:30

The first in a 3 part series on The Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching. What exactly are constraints? What are some common misconceptions about them? Why is understanding the theory behind the...

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The Perception
86 – Interview with Brian McCormick, Talent Development&Practice Design in Basketball from 2017-11-14T05:30

A discussion with Brian McCormick, Head basketball coach at Broward College in Florida. Topics include current problems with the way we identify and develop talen...

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The Perception
85 – Interview with Dave Mann, Vrije University, Vision&Gaze Behavior in Sports from 2017-11-07T05:30

A discussion with Dave Mann, Assistant Professor at Vrije University in Amsterdam. Topics include gaze behavior, handedness and stance in batting; developing visi...

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The Perception
84 – Time Scales in Motor Learning from 2017-10-31T04:30

Is motor learning a single process that occurs at one time scale as suggested by the famous learning curve? Or are things happening simultaneously at multiple time scales, with some adaptations ...

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The Perception
83 – Vision&Gaze Behavior in Baseball Batting from 2017-10-24T04:30

Just in time for the start of the World Series: a look vision and gaze behavior in baseball batting. Which aspects of vision are critical for hitting? Do great batters have superior vision? Wher...

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The Perception
82 - Movement Instruction, Knowledge&Description from 2017-10-17T04:30

What are the key differences between describing an athlete’s movements, an athlete’s knowledge about those movements, and the instructions used by a coach to facilitate those movements? How can ...

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The Perception
81 – Interview with Tim Buszard, ISEAL, Scaling Equipment, WMC, Contextual Interference from 2017-10-10T04:30

A discussion with Tim Buszard, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Sport, Exercise & Active Living (ISEAL) & Tennis Australia. Topics include scaling sport...

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The Perception
80 – Interview with Gaby Wulf&Rebecca Lewthwaite, OPTIMAL Theory of Motor Learning from 2017-10-03T04:30

A discussion with Gaby Wulf, Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, UNLV, and Rebecca Lewthwaite, Director o...

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The Perception
79 – Designing Affective Practice I: Using Pressure to Aid Motor Learning from 2017-09-26T04:30

Why is it important to include emotional context in practice? A look at the evidence for the beneficial effects of anxiety in training and guidelines for implementing pressure training.

<...

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The Perception
78 – New Research on Changing Movement Patterns from 2017-09-19T04:30

When a coach identifies a maladaptive movement pattern in an athlete, what is the best way to change it? Do formal biomechanical evaluations help? How can we identify the origins of the problem?...

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The Perception
77 – Achieving&Assessing Transfer in Sport Training from 2017-09-12T04:30

What is “transfer of training”? How should we be assessing it and what does research tell us is the best way to achieve it?

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The Perception
76 – Interview with Mark Williams, Utah, Talent ID and Development from 2017-09-05T04:30

A discussion with Mark Williams, Professor and Chair of the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation at the University of Utah. We discuss designing effec...

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The Perception
75 – Attentional Theories of Choking Under Pressure Revisited II: Integrative Theories from 2017-08-29T04:30

Can the two opposing theoretical views of the role of attention in choking under pressure be integrated? A look at some theories that have attempted to do so and consideration of what still need...

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The Perception
74 – Interview with Sam Vine, Exeter, Quiet Eye, Pressure, VR Training from 2017-08-22T04:30

A discussion with Sam Vine. Senior Lecturer of Psychology & Human Movement Science from the University of Exeter. We discuss recent research and unresolved issues ...

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The Perception
73 – Attentional Theories of Choking Under Pressure Revisited I: Critiques from 2017-08-15T04:30

Is focusing one’s attention on skill execution as a result of increased self-consciousness really the primary cause “choking under pressure”?  Is the evidence in support of this theory flawed? Listen

The Perception
72 – Interview with Edward Coughlan, CIT, Skill Acquisition&Deliberate Practice from 2017-08-08T04:30

A discussion with Edward Coughlan. Lecturer in Skill Acquisition at the Cork Institute of Technology in Ireland. We discuss practice design, skill acquisition, del...

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The Perception
Skill Acquisition AZ (SAAZ) 2017 Meeting Announcement from 2017-08-07T10:26:35

Meeting webpage: http://perceptionaction.com/saaz/

If you are interested in attending please take the short survey on this page to help ch...

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The Perception
71 – Virtual Environments for Training&Understanding Sports Skills III: Altering Reality for Research from 2017-08-01T04:30

How have researchers used virtual environments to distort reality, disobey gravity, create conflicting feedback, and alter an athlete’s perception in the name of science? How have they effective...

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The Perception
70 – Interview with Anne Benjaminse, Groningen, Attentional Focus in Injury Prevention&Recovery from 2017-07-25T04:30

A discussion with Anne Benjaminse from the Department for Human Movement Sciences at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. We discuss the role of attention...

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The Perception
69 – Virtual Environments for Training&Understanding Sports Skills II: Evaluating the Evidence from 2017-07-18T04:30

How effective are VEs for sports training? Have they achieved good fidelity? Can they induce competitive anxiety? Does augmentation help performance? Do they show evidence of transfer of trainin...

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The Perception
68 – Interview with Emma Mosley, Southampton Solent, Emotional Intelligence, HRV&Pressure from 2017-07-11T04:30

A discussion with Emma Mosley, Lecturer in the School of Sport, Health and Social Sciences at Southampton Solent University. We discuss topics including emotional ...

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The Perception
67 – Virtual Environments for Training&Understanding Sports Skills I: Why, How and When? from 2017-07-04T04:30

What are the potential advantages of using virtual environments (VE) to train and study sports skills? How should a VE be evaluated? How important is fidelity, presence, and cost? When is the be...

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The Perception
66 – Interview with Gerard Jones, Bristol Rovers FC, Coaching to Develop Decision Making from 2017-06-27T04:30

A discussion with Gerard Jones, Head of Coaching at Bristol Rovers Football Club. We discuss topics including developing decision making skills in players through ...

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The Perception
65 – Body Awareness, Kinaesthetic Sensitivity&Proprioceptive Training from 2017-06-20T04:30

How important is feel or body awareness in sports?  How can we assess kinaesthetic sensitivity and proprioceptive acuity in athletes and can these be improved through training? How does it influ...

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The Perception
64 – Intermittent Vision: How Much Do We Need to Be Able to See To Act? from 2017-06-13T04:30

How well can we integrate samples from a visual scene (e.g. when an outfielder is trying to catch a fly ball and has to look from the ball to the wall and back)? How long of a view do we need an...

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The Perception
63 – Innovative Video Feedback, Affordances for Movement&Team Coordination from 2017-06-06T04:30

News: A look at a few recent articles in the area of motor learning and performance. Can skill execution be improved by combining self and expert models in video feedback? How do combat...

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The Perception
62 – Interview with Stephanie Rossit, East Anglia, How the Brain Supports Perception&Action from 2017-05-30T04:30

A discussion with Stephanie Rossit, Lecturer in Psychology from the University of East Anglia in the UK. We discuss perceptual and action related deficits ...

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The Perception
61 – Interview with Damian Farrow, Victoria University/AIS, Practice Design from 2017-05-23T04:30

A discussion with Damian Farrow. Professor of Skill Acquisition at Victoria University in Melbourne Australia. We take a step by step look at practice design discu...

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The Perception
60 – Interview with Jenelle Gilbert, CSU Fresno, Mental Skills Training from 2017-05-16T04:30

A discussion with Jenelle Gilbert, Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, California State University Fresno.  We discuss the importance of mental ski...

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The Perception
59 – Interview with Bruce Hoyer, MMA Coach, Next Edge Academy from 2017-05-09T04:30

A discussion with Bruce Hoyer, Martial Arts Coach at the Next Edge Academy in South Dakota. We discuss how Bruce has employed a variety of different ideas from spo...

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The Perception
58 – Flow&Psychological Momentum from 2017-05-02T04:30

What do we mean when we say an athlete is “in the flow”? How often does it occur? What brings it on? Can we control it?  How does it relate to “psychological momentum” and performance?

 <...

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The Perception
57 – Interview with John Kiely, UCLAN, Rethinking the Stress Process&Periodization from 2017-04-25T04:30

A discussion with John Kiely, Senior Lecturer in Elite Performance from the University of Central Lancashire. Topics discussed include the evolution of the...

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The Perception
56 – Variability&Motor Learning, Attentional Training, Explicit Instructions&Skill Transfer from 2017-04-18T04:30

News: Listener picks for articles to review including more research on the effect of variability on motor learning, attention training to reduce the effects of stress on performance and...

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The Perception
55 – Interview with Harri Mannonen, Finland, Basketball as a Complex System from 2017-04-11T04:30

A discussion with Harri Mannonen, basketball coach based in Kouvola, Finland. Topics discussed include: why is it useful for coaches to look at basketball as a complex system, what is the best w...

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The Perception
54 – Perceptual Learning III: Application to Sports from 2017-04-04T04:30

How can we apply the principles of perceptual learning to improve information pickup on the sports field?

 

Articles/links:

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The Perception
53 – Perceptual Learning II – Direct Learning from 2017-03-28T04:30

How does a performer become attuned to the perceptual information that is optimal for a task? Perceptual learning as a direct movement through information space guided by information for learnin...

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The Perception
52 – Perceptual Learning I: Introduction from 2017-03-21T04:30

How does experience and practice change our ability to extract information from our environment and how can we best facilitate this process?  What changes in our brain during perceptual learning...

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The Perception
51 – Rule Changes to Make Sports More Exciting from 2017-03-07T05:30

Sports Science Shorts: will baseball’s new proposed rule changes to speed the pace of play make the game more exciting and attract new fans?  What can we learn from similar attempts mad...

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The Perception
50 – Structure of Motor Variability&Learning Rate, Facebook&Anxiety, Child vs Adult Motor Learning from 2017-02-28T05:30

News: A look at a few recent articles in the area of motor learning and performance. Can the structure of motor variability predict the rate at which a performer learns a new skill?  Do...

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The Perception
49 – Interview with Danny Newcombe, Oxford Brookes University, CLA&Coaching from 2017-02-21T05:30

A discussion with Danny Newcombe, Lecturer in Sports Coaching and PE, Oxford Brookes University. Topics discussed include: applying the constraints-led approach to practice design and physical e...

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The Perception
48 – Interview with Diane Ste-Marie, University of Ottawa, Observational Learning&Feedback from 2017-02-14T05:30

A discussion with Diane Ste-Marie, Professor in the School of Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. Topics discussed include: why do athletes tend to perform better when they have control ...

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The Perception
47 – Interview with Dave Collins, Institute of Coaching&Performance, UCLAN from 2017-02-07T05:30

A discussion with Dave Collins, Professor & Director of the Institute of Coaching & Performance, University of Central Lancashire. Topics discussed include: what it’s like to be a sports psychol...

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The Perception
46 – Self Talk&Mantras in Sport from 2017-01-31T05:30

Do athletes perform better when they talk to themselves? Should the talk be motivational or instructional? Positive or negative? Does it work for both novices and experts?

 

Articl...

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The Perception
45 – Soccer Illusions, Detecting Opponents with Sound&Training with Mirrors from 2017-01-24T05:30

News: A look at a few recent journal articles. Do soccer players and referees sometimes see an event that never really happened? Can a basketball player detect where a dribbler is heade...

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The Perception
44 –Social Facilitation of Performance&The 1st Sports Psych Experiment from 2017-01-17T12:43:08

Why does the presence of others change the performance of an individual athlete? Why is this social facilitation effect sometimes good and sometimes bad?  Does it matter whether the other people...

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The Perception
43 – P&A Court II: Low vs High Variability in Motor Control&Learning from 2017-01-10T05:30

Should the goal of practice be to reduce movement variability to as low a value as possible? Is high variability the signature of an unskilled performer or a necessity for effective learning? Listen

The Perception
42 – Top 5 Sport Psychology Stories of 2016 from 2017-01-03T13:12:21

My list of the top 5 sports psychology stories from 2016:

  1. The death knell for brain games?
  2. Deliberate practice fights back!
  3. What to do about the relative...

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The Perception
41 – Motion in Depth Blindness&Visual Channels from 2016-12-06T05:30

A look at visual channeling theory and its consequences for perception. Why are some people blind to approaching objects in certain areas of their visual field and what implications does it have...

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The Perception
40B – Report from Sports Biometrics Conference from 2016-11-29T05:30

My report from the Sports Biometrics Conference held from Nov 13-15, 2016.  Issues discussed include validity of analytics data, whether athletes are going to agree to be continuously monitored ...

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The Perception
40A – Anxiety&Performance: Planning Actions, Motor Learning and Holistic Goals from 2016-11-22T05:30

News: A look at a few recent articles examining the effects of anxiety and pressure on performance and methods for counteracting these effects. Does pressure effect the planning or onli...

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The Perception
40 – P&A Court I: Monocular vs Binocular Vision from 2016-11-15T05:30

Why do we have two eyes?  Is binocular vision necessary for successful performance of motor actions like those involved in sports and driving? Or is it just redundant information? What is it lik...

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The Perception
39B – Specificity vs Variability in Training/My Ultra Update from 2016-11-08T05:30

Which is better: specific or variable practice?  How does it depend on what you are trying to achieve in terms of retention and transfer of skill? The ultramarathon as a complex system and my re...

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The Perception
39A – Halloween Special II: Effects of Fear on Perception&Performance from 2016-10-31T04:30

Is fear in a performer a debilitating problem that must be overcome? Or can freezing from fear actually improve our ability to perceive and act?

 

Articles:

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The Perception
39 – Perceptual-Motor Development II: Ecological Approach from 2016-10-25T04:30

A look at perceptual-motor development from the ecological perspective.  If it’s not pre-programmed by our genetics, how does a child’s pattern of movements emerge from the dynamical constraints...

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The Perception
38A – Interview with Andrew Wilson, Leeds Beckett, Ecological Approach from 2016-10-18T04:30

A discussion Andrew Wilson from Leeds Beckett. We discuss ecological psychology ideas like motor abundance, functional equivalence and degeneracy, Andrew’s recent study on task dynamics and info...

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The Perception
38 – Perceptual-Motor Development I: Traditional Approaches from 2016-10-13T04:30

A look at perceptual-motor development from an information processing, stage-based perspective.  What is the relative importance of genetics and early experience? Are their critical periods in w...

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The Perception
37D - Sciencing My Way Through Ultrarunning: Intro from 2016-10-11T04:30

Thinking aloud about some sports science issues as I prepare for my first 50K ultra.  What is the optimal focus of attention for a runner and how does it change as you switch from road to trail?...

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The Perception
37C – Interview with Kylie Steel, Western Sydney, Applying Biological Motion from 2016-10-06T04:30

A discussion with Kylie Steel Senior Lecturer in the School of Science and Health at Western Sydney University in Australia. In the interview we discuss biological motion: what is it and how can...

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The Perception
37B – Sports Science Shorts: Stereotype Threat&Performance from 2016-10-04T04:30

What is stereotype threat and how can it affect sports performance? Is it possible that being challenged by a statement like “girls can’t play sports” could make a female athlete perform better ...

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The Perception
37A – Interview with Joe Baker, York, Talent ID&Development from 2016-09-29T04:30

A discussion with Joe Baker, Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University in Canada. Topics include: how good are we at identifying talent, early specialization v...

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The Perception
37 – UAVs, Drones&Helicopters/Inhibiting Actions in Sports from 2016-09-27T04:30

A look at the unique perceptual and cognitive issues associated with uninhabited air vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters. Are fully automated drones a good idea? What are some of the technologies th...

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The Perception
36C – Interview with Costas Karageorghis, Brunel, Applying Music in Sport from 2016-09-22T04:30

A discussion with Costas Karageorghis, Reader in Sport Psychology from Brunel University and author of the new book “Applying Music in Exercise and Sport”. We discuss topics including how music ...

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The Perception
36B – Ringside Feedback in Boxing, Action Capabilities&Perceived Location from 2016-09-20T04:30

News: What type of feedback do coaches give to boxers between rounds? Does the attentional focus, level of autonomy and valence of the feedback relate to winning and losing? How do the ...

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The Perception
36A – Interview with Amit Katwala, Applying Neuroscience to Sports from 2016-09-15T04:30

A discussion with Amit Katwala, senior writer for Sport Magazine and author of the new book: The Athletic Brain: How Neuroscience is Revolutionizing Sport and Can Help You Perform Better.  we di...

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The Perception
36 – Aviation Instruments&Automation/Causal Mechanisms of the Quiet Eye from 2016-09-13T04:30

A look at some of the developments in cockpit technology. Do “glass cockpits” really lead to better flying performance? Can Head-Up Displays and Highways in the Sky reduce pilot workload? Has au...

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The Perception
35C – Sports Science Shorts: Reversal of the Relative Age Effect from 2016-09-08T04:30

Does the advantage of being relatively older (i.e., being born in Jan, Feb or March) hold up when the highest levels of sport are examined?  Why might this effect reverse, giving a clear advanta...

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The Perception
35B – Effects of Increasing Contextual Interference&Augmented Audio Feedback on Motor Learning from 2016-09-06T04:30

News: A look at a couple recent motor learning studies. How can we build on basic concepts such like contextual interference and extrinsic feedback to speed skill acquisition?

 <...

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The Perception
35A - Sport Science Shorts: Review of “The Arm”, Injury Prevention&Recovery from 2016-09-01T04:30

One of the greatest challenges those of us working in sports currently face is how to keep athletes healthy and on the field.  Should we take a conservative approach, giving them more rest days ...

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The Perception
35 – Flight Simulation&Training/Part vs Whole Practice from 2016-08-30T04:30

A discussion of the history of flight training with an emphasis on flight simulation. What makes a good simulator? Should it really perfectly re-create the real world? Can we identify effective ...

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The Perception
34B - Adventures in Analytics: Intro to Bayes Theorem&Fantasy Football from 2016-08-25T04:30

What are conditional probabilities and how can they be used to help you draft and set you weekly lineup for a fantasy football team?

More About the Analysis:

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The Perception
34A – Report from Sports Expertise Workshop from 2016-08-23T04:30

A few thoughts on the “Seeing the forest and the trees: Theoretical and practical issues in sport expertise” workshop held in conjunction with Annual Meeting of the North American Society for th...

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The Perception
34 – Plane Crash Analysis/Famous Sporting Errors from 2016-08-16T04:30

An analysis of some of the most serious plane crashes that were caused by human error with a goal of understanding what happened in terms of perceptual-motor and cognitive processes. What can we...

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The Perception
33 – Information Processing in Aviation /Self-Controlled Feedback in Sports from 2016-08-02T04:30

How do pilots use all the information from the outside environment, instruments and air traffic control to make decisions and act?  Does their ability to sample information depend on experience?...

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The Perception
32 – Spatial Disorientation in Aviation/Ironic Effects of Pressure in Pitching from 2016-07-19T04:30

How does a pilot know which way is up or whether they are banking left or right? Sounds easy, but maintaining spatial orientation is one of the most difficult challenges in aviation.  What visua...

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The Perception
31 –Visual Perception in Aviation/ Manipulating Spatial&Temporal Constraints in Practice from 2016-07-05T04:30

What visual information can a pilot use to land a plane? What misperceptions can occur and how can they lead to crashes?  What is the Black Hole Illusion?

-What is the best way to train a...

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The Perception
30 –Driver Training&Testing/What is the Greatest Sports Record? from 2016-06-21T04:30

How effective is driver training and education?  Is it helping to reduce accidents? Which countries have the most difficult driver’s tests?  Can simulation help improve training and licensing pr...

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The Perception
29 –Risk Perception&Tolerance in Driving/Glare&Sports from 2016-06-07T04:30

How good are drivers at detecting the risks and dangers that lurk around the corner? What is the best way to assess this ability?  Do people actually want some risk when driving?  Is the desire ...

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The Perception
28B - Sport Science Shorts: Soccer Penalty Kicks from 2016-05-30T04:30

A look at the psychological side of penalty kicks to get you ready for Euro 2016. How does a penalty shootout compare to high pressure situations in other sports? What is the best strategy for t...

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The Perception
28A – Interview with Sam Miller, Baseball Prospectus, Putting Analytics into Practice from 2016-05-26T04:30

A discussion with Sam Miller, Editor in Chief at Baseball Prospectus and co-author of the new book: The Only Rule Is It Has to Work: Our Wild Experiment Building a New Kind of Baseball Team.  We...

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The Perception
28 – Older and Younger Drivers/Guiding an Athlete’s Attention from 2016-05-24T04:30

Why do teenage and elderly drivers have consistently higher accident rates? Are teenagers just being careless and risky? Does it matter who is in the car with them?  Do the declines perceptual a...

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The Perception
27E - Adventures in Analytics: Spieth’s Future and the Choking Hangover from 2016-05-23T04:30

How well do performers recover from incidents of choking under pressure?  An examination of some baseball data to determine which factors influence whether or there is lingering performance effe...

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The Perception
27D – Interview with Anders Ericsson, FSU, The New Science of Expertise from 2016-05-19T04:30

A discussion with Anders Ericsson, Professor of Psychology atFlorida State University and co-author of the new book: Peak: TheSecrets from the New Science of Expertise. We touch on topicsincludi...

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The Perception
27C – Effects of Mental Fatigue on Attention&Decision Making in Sports from 2016-05-17T04:30

News: What effect does mental fatigue have on sports performance?  Does fatigue change our ability to focus our attention, anticipate and make decisions on the field? Or does it just de...

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The Perception
27B - Sport Science Shorts: Augmented Reality in Sports Broadcasting from 2016-05-16T04:30

Is adding virtual objects (e.g., the offside line in soccer or the first down line in football) to augment sports broadcasts always a good way to enhance a fan’s experience or can it be taken to...

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The Perception
27A – Interview with Mark Anshell, MTSU, In Praise of Failure from 2016-05-12T04:30

A discussion with Mark Anshell, Professor of Health & Human Performance at Middle Tennessee State University and author of the new book: “In Praise of Failure in Sport: The Value of Overcoming M...

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The Perception
27 – Driver Warnings/Tunnel Vision in Sports from 2016-05-10T04:30

If your vehicle can detect you are about to collide with something how should it warn you? As it turns out, getting the human factors issues (e.g., timing, modality, level of information) correc...

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The Perception
26E - Sport Science Shorts: Psychology Strikes Out! from 2016-05-09T04:30

The story of Coleman Griffith, the first psychologist to work with a professional sports team. Was he a hit with the Chicago Cubs in 1938? Or was it a big swing and a miss?

 

A...

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The Perception
26D – Interview with Peter Fadde, SIU, Sports Training and VR from 2016-05-05T04:30

A discussion with Peter Fadde from Southern Illinois University. We touch on several topics related to training including perception-action coupling, part vs whole training and sport specificity...

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The Perception
26C –Talent ID Using Perceptual-Motor Assessments/ Sensorimotor Rhythm Feedback for Training from 2016-05-03T04:30

News: Can tests of general perceptual motor skills (e.g., agility, speed, eye-hand coordination) given to 7-11 year olds predict future participation and performance in sports?  Can neu...

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The Perception
26B – Adventures in Analytics: Pitching Entropy/100th Episode from 2016-05-02T04:30

Hurray for the 100th Episode of the Podcast! Can baseball pitchers overcome a lack of velocity by being less predictable?  How does entropy relate to success in sports?

To See the Dat...

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The Perception
26A– Interview with Denise Hill, University of Portsmouth, Choking Under Pressure from 2016-04-28T04:30

A discussion with Denise Hill, Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology at the University of Portsmouth. We discuss the experience of choking from the athlete’s point of view, whether we have bee...

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The Perception
26 – Driver Assistance Systems&Automated Vehicles/Designing Effective Sports Training from 2016-04-26T04:30

What new technologies are being developed to make driving safer?  Will they remedy all the problems of driver distraction?  Are we ready for an automated car to do the driving for us? 

5 ...

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The Perception
25E - Adventures in Analytics: Handedness&Batting Stance from 2016-04-25T04:30

What is the relationship between the hand you throw with and how you hold a bat? How do players choose which side to bat from? Is it better to have your dominant hand higher or lower? My analysi...

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The Perception
25D– Interview with Jordan Muraskin, deCervo, Brain Recording&Sports from 2016-04-21T04:30

A discussion with Jordan Muraskin, post-doctoral fellow at Columbia University and co-inventor of deCervo. We discuss topics including his research on the brain activity that underlies fast deci...

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The Perception
25C – Using Fractions to Save Soccer Balls/Gymnastics Movement Feedback from 2016-04-19T04:30

News: How do soccer goalkeepers move in response to shots coming from different directions and with curved trajectories? How can fractions be used to explain this behavior? Which factor...

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The Perception
25B - Sport Science Shorts: Why Can’t We Perceive Acceleration&Does it Matter? from 2016-04-18T04:30

How can we be so good at hitting and catching accelerating objects when we can’t really judge acceleration? Do we use anticipation or just correct errors based on feedback?

Articles:<...

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The Perception
25A– Interview with Sam Sommers, Tufts University, This is Your Brain on Sports from 2016-04-14T04:30

A discussion with Sam Sommers, Associate Professor of Psychology from Tufts University and co-author of the recently released book, This is Your Brain on Sports: The Science of Underdogs, the Va...

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The Perception
25 – Driver Distraction /Bringing Sports into the Lab from 2016-04-12T04:30

How much does talking or texting on a smart phone impair driving performance?  How can we get drivers’ attention back on the road? 

How can we effectively bring the sports field into the ...

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The Perception
24E - Sport Science Shorts: Nonverbal Communication from 2016-04-11T04:30

How important is nonverbal communication (e.g., hand gestures, high fives, using gaze) in sports? Why is a lot of the communication that occurs between athletes ineffective?

 

...

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The Perception
24D– Interview with Dan McGehee, University of Iowa from 2016-04-07T04:30

A discussion with Dan McGehee, Director of the Transportation and Vehicle Safety Research Program in the Public Policy Center at the University of Iowa. We discuss how driver behavior in a simul...

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The Perception
24C – A Constraints-Led Approach to the Quiet Eye, Gaze Training in Beach Volleyball from 2016-04-05T04:30

News: How has research on the quiet eye manipulated the performer, environment and task constraints? What questions are still unanswered?  Does training a novice to have eye movements l...

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The Perception
24B - Sport Science Shorts: Bobbing, Weaving&Deceptive Actions from 2016-04-04T04:30

Why do even the most elite athletes sometimes get completely fooled by a killer step-over move in soccer, head fake in football, or cross-over dribble in basketball? Where should an athlete look...

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The Perception
24A– Interview with Natasha Merat, ITS, University of Leeds from 2016-03-31T04:30

A discussion with Natasha Merat, Associate Professor in the Institute for Transport Studies at The University of Leeds. We discuss topics including detecting driving distraction, the effects of ...

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The Perception
24 – Attention&Memory in Driving/Tactical Creativity in Sports from 2016-03-29T04:30

How much attention is required to drive effectively?  Is driving a manual trans...

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The Perception
23E- Sport Science Shorts: Color Blindness in Athletes&Fans from 2016-03-28T04:30

Are athletes with color vision deficiencies less likely to make it to the elite levels of sport? If they do get there, will their color blindness effect their performance or determine which posi...

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The Perception
23D– Interview with Nick Reed, Transport Research Lab  from 2016-03-24T04:30

A discussion with Nick Reed, Academy Director at the Transport Research Lab in the UK. We discuss topics including ball catching, distracted driving, new in car technologies, the human factors a...

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The Perception
23C – Letting it Happen vs Making it Happen/Challenging the Truths of Motor Learning from 2016-03-22T04:30

News: What exactly does it mean to be in “the flow” as an athlete? Can we make it happen or do we just need to let it happen? Is it really true that skill acquisition is a single proces...

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The Perception
23B - Sport Science Shorts: Transfer from Cricket to Baseball from 2016-03-21T04:30

Which is harder: hitting a baseball or cricket ball? Will Kieran Powell be successful in his attempt to transfer between the two sports?

 

Articles/links:

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23A– Interview with Keith Lohse, Auburn, Motor Learning&Rehabilitation from 2016-03-17T04:30

A discussion with Keith Lohse, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Director of the Rehabilitation Informatics Lab at Auburn University. We discuss topics including internal vs external focus ...

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The Perception
23 – Gap Acceptance in Driving/Pain Perception in Athletes from 2016-03-15T04:30

How do drivers decide whether or not it is safe to make a turn in front of an o...

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The Perception
22E- Sport Science Shorts: Lumosity&the Future of Brain Training in Sport from 2016-03-14T04:30

What does the $2 million ruling against Lumosity mean for the future of brain training?  Should we give up on generalized perceptual-cognitive training for sport, or do we just need more evidenc...

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The Perception
22D – Interview with Cathy Craig, QUB, Understanding&Improving Movement from 2016-03-10T05:30

A discussion with Cathy Craig, Professor of Perception & Action Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast. We discuss topics including understanding and improvement movement in areas including pr...

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The Perception
22C – Tactical Knowledge in Soccer, How Similar are Throwing&Serving? from 2016-03-08T05:30

News: How is coordination achieved in team sports?  Does drawing plays on a white board really transfer to on field performance? Is telling a tennis player to “throw their racquet at th...

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The Perception
22B - Sport Science Shorts: Perceptual-Motor Control in Cycling from 2016-03-07T05:30

A look at some cycling science from a perceptual-motor control perspective. Where does a cyclist look when going around a curve?  What control strategies do young cyclists use? Does seat height ...

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The Perception
22A – Interview with Nancy Cooke, ASU, Team performance from 2016-03-03T05:30

A discussion with Nancy Cooke, Professor of Human Systems Engineering at Arizona State University. We discuss topics including how individual and team cognition differ, Nancy’s theory of Interac...

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The Perception
22 – Braking&Steering/Knuckleballs from 2016-03-01T05:30

How does a driver know when to start braking and whether they are braking ha...

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The Perception
21E - Sport Science Shorts: A Ball By Any Other Color from 2016-02-29T05:30

Does ball color effect performance in sports? Do cricket batsman have the right to complain about pink balls and baseball batters about the brief experiment with orange ones?

 

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The Perception
21D – Interview with Noel Rousseau, PGA golf professional and coach from 2016-02-25T05:30

A discussion with Noel Rousseau, PGA golf professional, coach and developer of the Everyday Golf Coach app. We discuss automaticity, how coaching needs to be tailored to individual players, hand...

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The Perception
21C – Does 3D MOT training transfer to sport? How good are airport baggage screeners? from 2016-02-23T05:30

News: Does training using the 3D multiple object tracking (Neurotracker) system transfer to on-field performance in soccer?  How good are baggage screeners at detecting threatening obje...

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The Perception
21B – Sport Science Shorts: Skill Acquisition in the Movies, the Award goes to from 2016-02-22T05:30

A look at some infamous movie training scenes from a skill acquisition and motor learning perspective. Awards for best use of contextual inference, best constraints led-approach, best use of key...

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The Perception
21A – Interview with Amy Whitehead, LJMU, Think Aloud Protocols, Decision Making in Sport from 2016-02-18T05:30

A discussion with Amy Whitehead, Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching and Physical Education, at Liverpool John Moores University. We discuss her new study looking at the effect of pressure on the...

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The Perception
21 – Visual Perception in Driving/Heuristics&Decision Making in Sports from 2016-02-16T05:30

How do drivers use visual cues to judge distance, speed an...

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The Perception
20E- Sport Science Shorts: Unorthodox Technique from 2016-02-15T05:30

Should we be correcting the form of an athlete with an unusual movement pattern? Or could this actually give them an advantage?  What do the different skill acquisition theories have to say abou...

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The Perception
20D – Interview with Stuart Armstrong, Player Pathways Manager with the Rugby Football Union from 2016-02-11T05:30

A discussion with Stuart Armstrong Rugby Football Union. We discuss topics including talent development and talent identification, the problems with competition, encouraging creativity through p...

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The Perception
20C – The Ecological Approach to Perception-Action&Implications for Skill Acquisition from 2016-02-09T05:30

What are the key ideas of the ecological approach to perception-action first proposed by James Gibson?  How do they differ from the traditional approach?  What are affordances? Are representatio...

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The Perception
20B - Sport Science Shorts: Let’s Talk about Sex&Sports from 2016-02-08T05:30

Is there any validity to the long-held belief by many athletes and coaches that having sex the night before a big competition will impair sports performance? Should you be abstaining this Valent...

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The Perception
20A – Interview with Barbara Barclay, President, Right Eye from 2016-02-04T05:30

A discussion with Barbara Barclay, President of Right Eye, a company developing products to measure, analyze and transform visual performance. We discuss topics including the present and future ...

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The Perception
20 – Imagery&Observational Learning from 2016-02-02T05:30

Exploration of ways in which an athlete can develop and enhance their sports sk...

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The Perception
19E - Sport Science Shorts: Some Super Football Science from 2016-02-01T05:30

A little football science to get you ready for the big game on Sunday!  How does a QB lead a receiver, how does the receiver using visual information to run to the ball and how good are official...

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The Perception
19D – Interview with Michael Grey, University of Birmingham, Motor Neuroscience, Neuroplasticity&Concussions from 2016-01-28T05:30

A discussion with Michael Grey, Reader in Motor Neuroscience and Director of the Neuroplasticity & Neurorehabilitation Lab at the University of Birmingham. We discuss topics including neuroplast...

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The Perception
19C – Are We Color Blind When Performing an Action? Can Collision Detection Be Trained? from 2016-01-26T05:30

News: Does using our dorsal visual stream during the control of action make us color blind?  When we improve after visual perception training is it really perception that is improved? Listen

The Perception
19B - Sport Science Shorts: Review of This is Your Brain on Sports: Beating Blocks, Slumps&Performance Anxiety from 2016-01-25T05:30

My review of the book “This is Your Brain on Sports: Beating Blocks, Slumps & Performance Anxiety”. How are past injuries and performance failures related to an athlete’s current struggles. Is B...

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The Perception
19A – Interview with Jennifer Cumming, University of Birmingham, Imagery and Mental Skills Training from 2016-01-21T05:30

A discussion with Jennifer Cumming, University of Birmingham. We discuss topics including imagery use and observational learning in athletes, mental skills training, tools for assessing the psyc...

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The Perception
19 – Consolidation&Interference Between Training Sessions from 2016-01-19T05:30

What processes occur during the times when an athlete is not on the field or...

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18E –Sports Science Shorts: Schema Theory, the Motor Program&Contributions of Richard Schmidt from 2016-01-18T05:30

Back in October of last year we lost one of the great thinkers and researchers in Motor Control and Motor Learning, UCLA Professor Richard Schmidt.  Richard’s Schema Theory of Motor Learning and...

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The Perception
18D – Interview with Duarte Araujo, University of Lisbon, Portugal, Ecological Dynamics in Sport from 2016-01-14T05:30

A discussion with Duarte Araujo, University of Lisbon. We discuss topics including an ecological approach to talent identification, affordances, non-linear pedagogy, developing sports analytics ...

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The Perception
18C – Does Aerobic Exercise Improve Motor Learning, Designing Practice to Promote Transfer from 2016-01-12T05:30

News: Does going for a 30min run make it easier to learn a motor skill afterwards?  Is there an optimal balance between stability and flexibility in practice?

 

Articl...

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The Perception
18A – Interview with Mark Upton, Coaching Science Manger, English Institute of Sport from 2016-01-07T05:30

A discussion with Mark Upton, Coaching Science Manger, English Institute of Sport. We discuss skill acquisition, coaching under pressure, being a sports parent and complexity in practice design....

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The Perception
18 – Performance Feedback from 2016-01-05T05:30

With the ever increasing availability of tracking and monitoring technology it ...

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The Perception
17A – New Year’s Resolutions, Do Clutch Athletes Really Exist? from 2015-12-29T05:30

News: My new year’s resolutions for 2016.  Is there any evidence of...

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The Perception
17 – Getting Deliberate About Practice&The 10K Hour Rule from 2015-12-22T05:30

How much does an athlete need to practice to become truly elite? What should it...

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The Perception
16B –Live Skill Acquisition Discussion with Shawn Myszka from 2015-12-17T05:30

A replay of our live discussion on the topic skill acquisition in which we covered topics including: Early specialization vs diversification? Deliberate play vs deliberate practice? Are athletes...

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The Perception
16A - Xmas Special: Bad Gifts, Slipping on Ice, The Problem with Fruit Cake from 2015-12-15T05:30

How do people regulate and modify their emotions (e.g., when pretending to like...

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The Perception
16 – Implicit Learning&Learning By Analogy from 2015-12-08T05:30

How can we learn to shoot a basketball by thinking about a cookie jar and learn...

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The Perception
15D - Sports Science Shorts: Top 5 Sport Psychology Stories of 2015 from 2015-12-07T05:30

My list of the top 5 stories in sports psychology/motor learning in 2015:

5.Skill acquisition is better when things look bigger

4.Is sports psychology research reliable

3.Ne...

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The Perception
15C – Interview with Josh Miller. Have We Been Wrong About the Hot Hand Effect for 30 Years? from 2015-12-03T05:30

A discussion with Josh Miller, Assistant Professor of Decision Sciences at Bocconni University, about his and Adam Sanjurjo’s recent work which has reversed the findings of 30 years of research ...

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The Perception
15A - Sports Science Shorts: Perception through the Eyes of the Fan. Is Watching Sports a Skill That Improves with Practice? from 2015-11-30T05:30

How do fans perceive the action going on in sports?  Does your ability to watch a sport improve with hours of practice in front of your TV?  How does the perception of fans differ from the perce...

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The Perception
15– Live from the Grand Canyon! Perception in Hiking&Climbing from 2015-11-24T05:30

How do we use vision to control the placement of our feet on rough terrain, to avoid spraining that ankle?  How do anxiety, fear and fatigue change the way we perform these activities?  What dif...

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The Perception
14D - Sports Science Shorts: Are Running&Finishing a Marathon the Same? from 2015-11-23T05:30

Is Pearl Izumi right: “marathons have changed from a race to run to a box to be checked”? Is Associative or Dissociative Attention better for running and how does it depend on pace?

 

...

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The Perception
14C – Interview with Keith Davids, Sheffield Hallam University, Constraints-Led Approach to Skill Acquisition from 2015-11-19T05:30

A discussion with Keith Davids, Professor of Motor Learning at Sheffield Hallam University and an innovator of the constraints lead approach to skill acquisition and coaching. We discuss using e...

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The Perception
14A - Sports Science Shorts: Review of See to Play, The Eyes of Elite Athletes from 2015-11-16T05:30

My Review of the book “See to Play, The Eyes of Elite Athletes” by Dr Michael Peters. Do I see eye to eye with his views on the role of vision in sports?

 

Articles/links:...

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The Perception
14 –Technique Change from 2015-11-10T05:30

Making adjustments to a heavily practiced, well established skill can be one of...

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The Perception
13D - Sports Science Shorts: The Effect of Cold Weather on Sports Performance from 2015-11-09T05:30

Ice, Ice Baby! As the thermometer keeps dropping what effect will the cold weather have on the perceptual-motor abilities of athletes?

Articles/links:

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The Perception
P&A Podcast going LIVE! from 2015-11-05T05:30

The Perception & Action Podcast is going LIVE and I want you to be involved (or at least just watch). On Wednesday November 11, 2015 at 9AM AZ/8 A...

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The Perception
13C – Interview with Shawn Myszka, Movement Mastery, NFL Skills Trainer from 2015-11-03T05:30

A discussion with Shawn Myszka, movement skills trainer for the National Football League. We discuss connecting research and practice, technique change, dealing with injury, choking under pressu...

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The Perception
13B - Sports Science Shorts: My Head Training Journey Part 2 from 2015-11-02T05:30

The second installment of My Head Training Journey where I examine whether a smart phone app can improve sports performance. Does the luge game race to the finish or going flying off the track? ...

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The Perception
13A - Halloween Special: Superstitious Rituals in Sports from 2015-10-29T04:30

How prevalent are superstitious rituals in sports e.g., always wearing the same...

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13 –Dealing with Sports Injuries from 2015-10-27T04:30

Recovering from an injury can be one of the most difficult challenges an ath...

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12D – Sports Science Shorts: 25 Years of Dynavision, a Case Study in Vision Training in Sports from 2015-10-26T04:30

Dynavision is a visual training device that has been marketed for improving sports performance and has been around for roughly 25 years.  It has received a lot of anecdotal support from athlete ...

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The Perception
12C – Interview with Alana D’Andrade, Fitlight Sport Corporation from 2015-10-22T04:30

A discussion with Alana D’Andrade, Director of Business Development for Fitlight Sport Corporation whose main product is the Fitlight Trainer, a system designed to improve an athlete’s reaction ...

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The Perception
12A - Sports Science Shorts: Icing the Kicker, The Effect of Waiting on High Pressure Performance from 2015-10-19T04:30

Does making an athlete wait longer to perform a high pressure action (e.g., icing the kicker in football) increase the chance of them choking?  If so, why does it occur?

 

Arti...

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The Perception
12 –Hot Hands, Cold Hands&Performance Streaks from 2015-10-13T04:30

I tackle what has been one of the most interesting and contentious issues in sp...

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The Perception
11D - Sports Science Shorts: My Head Training Journey from 2015-10-12T04:30

Can training with the new HeadTrainer app make you a better athlete? 

The beginning of my “head training journey” (Listen

The Perception
11C – Interview with Robert Gronbeck, Perceptual-Cognitive Sports Trainer&Coach from 2015-10-08T04:30

A discussion with Robert Gronbeck, owner and coach at Cairns Sport Performance ...

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The Perception
11A - Sports Science Shorts: The Home Choke&MLB Playoffs from 2015-10-05T04:30

Is it better to play and home or on the road in a sudden death playoff game?  Is the “home choke” real?

 

Links to articles discussed:

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The Perception
11 –Performing&Choking Under Pressure from 2015-09-29T04:30

We have all seen it.  A great athlete has a chance to win a championship.  All ...

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The Perception
10C - Sports Science Shorts: Which is Tougher, Rugby or Football? from 2015-09-28T04:30

This past Friday one of my personal favorite sporting events kicked ...

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10A - Sports Science Shorts: The Case of the FTC v Ultimeyes from 2015-09-21T07:00

Is the claim that visual training can “improve vision” deceptive and worthy of ...

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The Perception
Join Me on My Head Training Journey from 2015-09-20T18:03:50

Hi Everyone,

HeadTrainer is one the newest applications in the continually growing market of perceptual-cognitive training products for athletes. One o...

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The Perception
10 - Skill Retention and Transferring to a New Sport from 2015-09-15T04:30

How long do athletes retain the sports skills they learn: 5 years, 10 years, fo...

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The Perception
9B - Sports Science Shorts: Serena’s Choke? Auburn’s Virtually Awful QB from 2015-09-14T14:12:28

Did Serena Williams choke under pressure in her historical US Open loss?...

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9A - Catching the Perfect Wave, You’ve Got Distraction! from 2015-09-08T04:30

News: Can surfers really detect a perfect wave? Are smart phone notifications d...

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Pro Move Mini Motion Tracking System Review from 2015-09-01T04:35

Pro Move Mini Motion Tracking System Review

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The Perception
9 - Off the Learning Curve - Measuring Skill Acquisition from 2015-09-01T04:30

How do we know how well a new training program or piece of sports equipment is ...

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The Perception
8A - Sports Technology Evils, Police Chase Pressure from 2015-08-25T04:30

News: Are coaches using too much sports technology to evaluate players? How do ...

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8- How Do We Become an Expert? Intro to Skill Acquisition from 2015-08-18T04:30

Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden once said: “The importance of repet...

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The Perception
7A – Is Listening to Heavy Metal Music Bad For You? from 2015-08-11T04:30

News: Is listening to heavy metal music bad for you?

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7 – What Should an Athlete Pay Attention To? from 2015-08-04T04:30

What should an athlete focus their attention on when performing their sport? Sh...

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The Perception
6A – Motion Sickness, Anticipation Neurons from 2015-07-28T04:30

News: Are brain areas that produce movement involved in anticipating it? How ca...

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6 – Embodied Perception in Sport from 2015-07-21T06:15

Why do great athletes claim that on some nights baseballs look as big as a grap...

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The Perception
5A – Choking in Golf, Return Trips from 2015-07-14T04:30

News:Listen

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5 –Vision in Hitting and Catching from 2015-07-07T10:00

How does an athlete get their glove, racquet, hand, or foot to the right place ...

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4 – Anticipation in Sports from 2015-06-23T10:00

How do great athletes seem to know what is going to happen next?  What informat...

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3 – Eye Movements in Sports from 2015-06-09T10:00

What should an athlete look at when performing their sport?  For example, should a soccer goalkeeper keep their eye on the shooter’s leg when tryi...

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The Perception
2 - Vision Training Programs from 2015-05-26T09:00

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The Perception
1 - Vision in Sports from 2015-05-14T09:00

Sports talk is littered with phrases related to our eyes.  We talk of great court vision, a good eye at the plate  and seeing the ball well.  But ...

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The Perception
Podcast Preview from 2015-05-11T18:25:16

A preview of the new Perception & Action Podcast. An exploration of how psychological research can be applied to...

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The Perception
Perception&Action Podcast Promo from 2015-05-05T16:00

30 sec Promo

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