As coaches, we need to be aware of our athletes’ current abilities. This is why we should perform at least a visual assessment of how they move. When first assessing athletes, I always allow them move freely in many different directions in the beginning. I often also use the FMS or other three dimensional movements to see how their body handles itself in space. However, the strategies I devise from that point on are based on what I know the body should be able to accomplish.

The important aspect of coaching is to have strategies for ascending or descending a skill to meet the needs of the athletes. For example, if I ask an athlete to perform a jump rope exercise and she only performs a double jump for each rotation of the rope and is unable to jump once for each rotation, then I have to descend. Therefore, what I might allow her to perform the jump rope action without the rope but use the hand/wrist action. This will allow her to find the timing. I will eventually let her spin a rope but hold only one handle so she can time the revolutions of the rope with the jump. Finally, I ascend it to the actual one jump per revolution task.

If an athlete demonstrates to me she could perform the jump rope task well from the start, then I certainly would not descend her for the sake of descending her. It would make no sense with this athlete and for my purpose.

The same goes for any other skill or task. A good coach knows how to make necessary adjustment to accomplish the goal. You might not reach the goal as quick as you planned due to the lack of skill demonstrated by the athlete, but you will reach the goal following this strategy.

I have always preached the purpose of being knowledgeable in movement (for speed, strength, or mobility training) and the breakdown of progressions is so you can properly assess and make adjustments. I have a high understanding of movement. I also understand the progressions of speed, strength, and mobility training quite well. Yet, I rarely use any of the descended progressions unless I need to. What I mean by this is if I give a task or skill to an athlete that falls into the category of basic fundamental skill level like a lateral shuffle and stop, then that is exactly what I will assign them first. If they can perform the skill well in the beginning, then I do not have any need to descend this skill. On the other hand, if they do not perform the skill well, then I will break down the components of the shuffle and deceleration move.

Something to note….if I am instructing a large camp with many athletes, I will start at the lower end of the skill progressions, thus I will start descended. The reason is I have not assessed all the athletes and I don’t know their current skill level. It makes better sense to start lower and than quickly build it up. With small groups or individuals, I start where I know they should be and make my decisions from there.

P.S. – Please let me know if you would be interested in a series of tele-coaching seminars on coaching strategies, speed training, program design, etc.?