The New York Times published an article about the Constraints Led Approach to coaching. Quoting from the article… “This radical coaching method was once a “secret”. Now it’s reimagining athletic training and powering champions all over the world.”
A secret? Bullshit. I’ve been on it for years. Coached it. Done podcasts about it. Probably written a hundred articles about it.
The linked article is paywalled. If you don’t wanna buy it you’re not missing anything. It’s just a repeat of what I’ve been saying for years. In CLA coaches don’t teach skills. They also do not provide answers. They design games, within the game, that allow athletes to discover them.
“Radical”? Hardly. Think old school meets new school. Back in the day, before the big money, before the fame, before people became almost totally reliant on coaches, the game was considered the best teacher AND the best learning environment. In other words, the game taught itself. CLA goes back to that. The new school part: a coach designs constraints that bring athletes more problems to solve per session. The game teaches itself faster.
One bigger story that’s overlooked? The turn to CLA is an admission that there are no right ways; that problem solving techniques are personal; that no one has your answers but you.
I’ve taught this game in 20 countries. Been laughed at in every one of ‘em for suggesting stuff like… the game teaches itself, and teaching technique is detrimental. Whatever. In every one of those countries I’ve watched the players I coached figure the game out on their own. Then go on to play far more creatively than their taught colleagues.
Anyway, now that the New York Times is printing articles about it, saying super famous guys like Ohtani are coached that way… no doubt the constraints led approach is about to be all the rage.
Told ya so.