Slappin' Glass Podcast Nick Winkelman on Elite Communication, External vs. Internal Cueing, and Coaching Complex Movements
Feb 7, 2025
Nick Winkelman, Head of Athletic Performance and Science for the Irish Rugby Football Union and author of "The Language of Coaching," delves into the art of effective communication in coaching. He discusses the nuances of internal vs. external cueing, highlighting how different approaches can improve athletes' complex movements. Winkelman emphasizes the importance of clarity to bridge understanding and execution gaps, while also sharing strategies for enhancing emotional well-being and feedback mechanisms to foster growth in both athletes and coaches.
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Late-Practice Communication
- Decrease talking and new information as a session progresses.
- Shift from complex instructions to simple cues and reminders as fatigue increases.
Coaching and Skill Acquisition
- The most potent learning stimulus is physical practice in a relevant context.
- Coaches provide external information that athletes cannot access themselves, focusing on consistent errors or movement signatures.
Verbal and Nonverbal Cueing
- Coaches use verbal (cues) and nonverbal (drills/constraints) methods to influence athletes.
- Constraints modify the environment to highlight errors, making them obvious and uncomfortable for athletes to correct.
