A Constraints-led Approach to Figure Skating Coaching

Motor skill acquisition and athlete development practices are rapidly  evolving. Positioned at the forefront of this evolution, the  constraints-led approach encourages practitioners to consider the  athlete as a whole person, with unique traits, abilities, and  capacities. Accordingly, an athlete’s competitive success lies in the  practitioner’s ability to adapt programming to the unique needs of each  athlete and to facilitate the athlete-environment relationship.

A  Constraints-led Approach to Figure Skating Coaching applies  contemporary motor skill acquisition and athlete development practices  to figure skating. The book encourages coaches to think about why they  coach, the athletes they want to support, and the goals they want their  program to achieve. It informs coaches how to transform these core  considerations into the driving inspiration for their daily coaching  practices including assessment methods, the coach-athlete relationship,  practice structure, competition preparation, and conceptions of  technique. The lessons here are founded on the constraints-led approach.  They are personal, yet broadly inclusive to the global sports  programming market.

The book is written through a ‘conversive’  voice and is accessible to a broad audience interested in athlete  development and programming such as coaches, athletes and parents. At  the same time, academics and students in the areas of sport coaching,  biomechanics, motor skill acquisition, strength and conditioning, and  related disciplines will find interest in the insights provided from  this underrepresented niche in sports.