Adaptions within our coaching practice
What is a Challenge Point?
The challenge point can be defined as a “model that can be used to promote motor learning through manipulation of conditions of practice to modify task difficulty, that is, the interaction of the skill of the learner and the difficulty of the task to be learned” (Pollock et al., 2014). This in a sense is the ‘level’ of the task being coached. For example, if the challenge point (level) is too hard for the participants to complete, they will lose motivation and disengage within the session and vice versa with the session being too easy. Therefore, as a coach it is vital you adjust the challenge point (level) of the session that is suitable for the participants age and stage of development.
What is a constraint led approach and how can this support you in coaching?
By using a constraint led approach in coaching allows for you to adapt your sessions and the challenge point to ensure participants are staying engaged throughout the session. We can do this by manipulating the session in various ways such as; constraints on the performer, constraints on the task and constraints on the environment. By manipulating these three constraints allows for the challenge point to be met at all times enabling the team to stay engaged throughout the session.
