Tom Parry

In this discussion, Tom Parry, a program director at Butler University specializing in kinesiology, explores the critical differences between opposed and unopposed practice for skill development in sports. He emphasizes innovative coaching methods that integrate academic research with practical application. The conversation also highlights the importance of fostering athlete engagement and decision-making, encouraging a shift away from traditional techniques to more contextual and interactive training approaches that genuinely resonate with young athletes.

Tom Parry, Kinesiology director focused on motor-skill learning and ecological dynamics. Tyler Yearby, co-director of Emergence, specialising in coach education and movement skill development. They debate opposed vs unopposed practice, purposeful task design, staged progression from 1v0 to pressure, ‘aliveness’ in training, multimodal perception cues, and tricks to shape attention and transfer to games.