On this episode I sat down with Coach Ryan Ojeda. Coach Ojeda is currently the strength and conditioning coach at West Feliciana high school. In this conversation we examine building fluid and dynamic movers and ensuring transfer from agilities and field work to the actual field of play. The first question that Coach Ojeda addresses is the role of agilities within preparatory methods. Coach Ojeda shares that he views agilities as multi directional speed and multidirectional speed exist on a continuum moving from change of direction to agilities. Agility training can bolster many different variables such as spatial and kinesthetic awareness, perception action coupling, force production, deceleration, and more. Change of direction allow for individuals to build proficiency within certain movement patterns and build familiarization of those patterns.
Coach Ojeda shares that he includes some manner of perception action coupling within each of his days. The manner in which this skill is interwoven depends upon the theme for the day. For instance, on a linear day they may perform a chase variation where an athlete has to deal with the time constraints presented by another athlete's movement choices. Perception action coupling on Lateral days may include different curvilinear elements to line up with the movement focus for the given session. By including activities in which athletes have to make real time decisions based upon variable outside stimuli athletes are given the affordances to become more robust and dynamic movers in open situations such as game play.
Deceleration is a major factor in the ability to be a dynamic mover and also to stay healthy. Coach Ojeda discusses how there is some layering and periodization of the forces that one deals with in regards to deceleration early on in the preparatory period. However, a common theme in this weeks episode is the affordances that open space and exploration can provide for finding optimal movement solutions. By allowing more exploration and open sided drills where athletes have to react, they have the opportunity to learn the different force applications that may be needed in a variety of circumstances.
One of the center pieces of the conversation focuses on transitions or rhythm changes, this is where the gallop entry is explained. Coach Ojeda shares how he began to notice the gallop as a pivotal skill. He explains how upon observing young kids move and avoid one another that the gallop seemed like a natural choice for young children to redirect and shift momentum and change direction. After this observation Coach Ojeda shares how he began to see this in a variety of sports settings. The gallop allows for a natural redistribution of weight to roll over the foot and increase impulse or force. Throughout the remainder of the conversation Coach Ojeda talks the audience through how he organizes and utilizes a variety of gallops to help increase athletes proficiency of movement. He shares how they utilize both short stride and long stride gallops and how they advance to gallop switches. With each talking point Ojeda shares how he blends activities and includes elements of open ended skill development to help allow athletes the opportunity organize to complete task optimally under a variety of circumstances.