Finding the Edge

We had Rafe Kelley (Evolve Move Play) on to draw from his wealth of experience from martial arts, gymnastics, and early U.S. parkour coach to adopting ecological dynamics into his practices, where he learned to use environments and constraints to drive skill without over-coaching. We discuss play as a natural self-education process, how flow relates to challenge and competence, and how coaches can...

In this episode of the Finding the Edge podcast, we continue exploring the book 'Dynamics of Skill Acquisition.' We delve into the concepts of adaptability, affordances, and the performer-environment relationship. We aim to demystify these complex ideas and explain their importance in coaching and athletic development. This episode sets a theoretical foundation for better practice design a...

In this episode, we kick off a new series aimed at making the motor learning academic literature more approachable for average coaches. We explore the foundational ideas of Ecological Dynamics through an overview of the seminal book ‘Dynamics of Skill Acquisition’ and a guided walk through of Chapter 1. Intro music by: Muellzy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / muellzymusic  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Us & learn more about Ecologic...

In this episode we dive into the concepts of stability, meta-stability, and skill acquisition in sports. We discuss how to balance stability and adaptability through an ecological approach, and share practical examples from baseball and softball training. Discover how to create a dynamic practice environment to foster adaptability and improve performance. Intro music by: Muellzy ⁠⁠⁠⁠  / muellzymus...

In this episode of Finding the Edge podcast as we delve into an intriguing thought experiment with frequent guest of the show Tanner Pruitt. We discuss whether it's better to focus on recruiting highly skilled pitchers and then develop their velocity, or to recruit hard throwers and then develop their skill? We dive into the nuances, trade-offs, and methods for optimizing pitcher performance b...

On this episode we talk with Tommy Johnson, the owner of Primal 1 Baseball facility in Gaithersburg, MD. Tommy is a seasoned baseball coach with a unique journey from professional baseball to earning a doctorate in kinesiology. Tommy shares his deep dive into various training methodologies, biomechanics, and the importance of skill acquisition frameworks for player development. 00:00 Introduction...

In this episode of the Finding the Edge, we explore the age old pitching debate about velocity and command. The question is can we train command? If so what does it look like to develop command using ecological principles? 00:00 Introduction and Hosts Introduction 00:05 Velocity vs Command: The Eternal Debate 00:23 Analyzing Walk Rates and Team Performance 02:08 Year-to-Year and In-Season Walk Rat...

In this episode, we explore the role of exit velocity in baseball and moving beyond one dimensional evaluations towards the use of an ecological approach. We discuss the importance of context and the athlete-environment relationship with regard to what the game rewards as being our level of analysis. Video podcast featured in this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/live/oZix5Pq4mYw?si=UgJzvKnoPD0bX2...

In this episode of Finding the Edge podcast, we delve into the process-oriented vs results-oriented dichotomy. We discuss the importance of a principled-based approach, developing adaptable athletes, pitch calling strategies, and creating effective practice environments. Emphasizing the need for athletes to balance conviction with adaptability, we explore how these elements come together for succe...

In this episode we discussion the core principles of transfer of training for skill development. How do we develop skill and have the things we do in practice transfer to the game? We delve into the importance of understanding and applying ecological dynamics concepts such as the constraint-led approach and representative learning design to develop skills that transfer to the game.  Intro music by...

In this episode we dive into the concept of skilled intentionality with regards to the pitcher-batter interaction. We explore how intention shapes a player's behavior and performance, the importance of perceiving relevant information within the game (becoming attuned) and being calibrated is the basis for successful performance outcomes. We also discuss practical training strategies and the nu...

In this episode of the Finding the Edge Podcast, we explore the fundamentals of ecological dynamics and its application for baseball. We discuss the mutual relationship between athletes and their environment, the importance of variability and attunement to specifying information, and the idea of skilled intentionality. The conversation touches on player autonomy, collaborative coaching, and how ec...

This episode we had on Zach Jungles, Jared Slater, and Rob Blanc on to discuss their personal experiences utilizing Square 1 with their athletes. Zach Jungles is a strength coach who has worked with athletes from the high school level to the professional level. He and Jared Slater will be teaming up to bring Square 1 to the Charleston, South Carolina area soon! Rob Blanc works remotely with many b...

On this episode we had on Kyle Dupic who recently was hired at Wartburg College as their new co-pitching coach. Kyle has spent the past 7 years coaching at the high school level. He has more recently been diving into applying an ecological approach to pitching and we had him on the podcast to discuss his coaching experience with this new approach. Intro music by: Muellzy https://soundcloud.com/mue...

In this episode we had on Jared Slater a sports performance coach who go his BS in Exercise Science from Division II Missouri Western University, where he pitched for the Griffins. Since then he worked at TCU under Zach Dechant and most recently at Tred Athletics. Jared has recently integrated Square 1 a motor control restoration system to the work he does with baseball players with great success....

In this episode we have on former guest of the show Max Bay. Max most recently worked for the Huston Astros in their R&D department. In this episode Max advocates for the use of mix effects models for gaining deeper insights for player evaluations and development. Intro music by: Muellzyhttps://soundcloud.com/muellzymusicSupport Us & Learn More About Ecological Dynamics (links below)⁠Donat...

In this episode we have on Bill Miller, Tanner Pruett, and Yuji Suzuki to discuss the arm injury epidemic in baseball. The impetus for this conversation was the a podcast that Rob Gray did with Ryan Crotin which you can listen to Rob's podcast episode here ➡️ ⁠hhttps://www.youtube.com/live/IWgPTl2oAhs?si=GBEuAzC6Hle-DqcZ Intro music by: Muellzy https://soundcloud.com/muellzymusic Support Us &a...

In this episode we have on Tanner Pruett and Yuji Suzuki to discuss the arm injury epidemic in baseball. The impetus for this conversation was the a podcast that Rob Gray did with Randy Sullivan and Alan Jaeger which you can listen to Rob's podcast episode here --> https://open.spotify.com/episode/7FABPm3pDXepA5P35CI8Qy?si=7pETOZE-SBOyVn5veXzRuA Intro music by: Muellzy https://soundcloud.co...

In this episode we have on Ben Franks, a senior lecturer in applied coaching sciences at Oxford Brookes University. We discuss Ben's current work with cricket batters and how it can relate to baseball. Intro music by: Muellzy https://soundcloud.com/muellzymusic Support Us & Learn More About Ecological Dynamics (links below) ⁠ Donate to Finding the Edge: ⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/ftepod⁠⁠ Ecologic...

In this episode, we have on Tanner Pruett discusses his coaching journey and how it has evolved over time. Tanner played baseball at Modesto Junior College in CA and Crown College in MN. He began his coaching career at Starters Sports Training and went on to coach at St Cloud State University, Tread Athletics and is currently a pitching instructor at Mash Baseball and a volunteer pitching coach at...

In this episode, we share our thoughts on the 2023 Sport Movement Skill Conference hosted by Emergence. In our conversation, we explore the importance of discovering the ecosystem of Art and Science, where it lives and breaths within an Ecological Approach. We discuss the need for athletes to be adaptable and resourceful in dynamic sporting contexts. The conversation highlights the role coaches pl...

This week we talk about Cody Bellinger, Luis Arraez, Expected Stats, and Weighted Runs Above Average. Intro music by: Muellzy https://soundcloud.com/muellzymusic Support Us & learn more about Ecological Dynamics (links below) ⁠ Donate to Finding the Edge: ⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/ftepod⁠⁠Ecological Dynamics Resources Resources from Emergence a movement skill education company dedicated to helping co...

We have back on Chad Longworth and Bill Miller back on to discuss a twitter post Chad made on Coach like a Farmer. https://x.com/clongbaseball/status/1686165575007903744?s=20 Check out Chad Longworth's work linked below: LinkTree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/clongbaseball⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://chadlongworthonline.com/⁠⁠ Social media: ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠: ⁠⁠@clongbaseball⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠⁠@clongbaseball⁠⁠ Che...

We have back on Chad Longworth back on to discuss a blog post he wrote Winning And Learning: Exploring The Benefits of Growth Through Losing. https://www.chadlongworth.com/blogs/player-development/winning-and-learning-exploring-the-benefits-of-growth-through-losing Check out Chad Longworth's work linked below: LinkTree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/clongbaseball⁠ Website: ⁠https://chadlongworthonline.co...

In this episode we had on Andrew Wilson Professor at Leeds Beckett University. Major themes discussed were data collection and reporting, prospective control, and taking an Ecological approach to data analytics. Support Us & learn more about Ecological Dynamics (links below) Looking for an in-depth interactive introductory course on Ecological Dynamics? Checkout The Movement Academy Intro cour...