Coaching the Entire

Squash Shot Cycle

USSRA Coaching Conference

September 2000
Tim Bacon,Smith College
Gail Ramsay, Princeton University
 Ice-Breaker!
Turn to the person next to you and briefly tell each other (less than 15 sec.): based on your past
coaching experience what is the MOST important thing to teach to that C/B player (or young
junior/or no. 7 player on your team ladder)
 Overview
Shot-cycle
Open skill process

Global Approach to Error Correction

3 Coaching Principles
Example Coaching Topics
 The Shot Cycle
Watching-Ready-Position (Perception =
anticipation + ball judgement)
Movement to the ball
Stroke
Recovery
 The Open Skill Process
Perception
Decision
Action

Feedback
 Global Approach to Error
Correction
Appropriatediagnosis is critical for accurate
training prescription

Technical Error? 4 possibilities

Examples of Technical Errors
Technical-Technical bad grip
wrong swing path
Technical- doesnt watch
Perceptual/Decision- arrives late
making late start
Technical-Physical insufficient speed
poor endurance
Technical-Mental choking
focus too narrow
 Global Approach to Error
Correction
Type of Error Type of Practice
Technical-Technical Stroke lesson
Technical- Perception-Decision-
Perceptual/Decision- making drills
Making
Technical-Physical Physical training
Technical-Mental Mental Skills Training
 Examples of
Perceptual/Decision Errors
Pays attention to wrong cues
Focused on too small an area
Focused on too broad an area
misjudges path, speed, direction of ball
miscalculates time/place of arrival of ball
selects wrong movement to ball
selects wrong instance of correct movement
The Psychological is Important
too!
Attention=concentration
Nideffer s model of concentration
attentional errors
choking
 Four Types of Attentional
Focus
Broad

WIDTH

Narrow

External Internal
DIRECTION
Attentional Problems
Internal Attending to past events
distractions (e.g., what was?)
Attending to future
events (e.g., what if?)
Choking under
pressure
Overanalysis of body
mechanics
Fatigue
Choking An Attentional
Problem
 Three Teaching Principles
Progression not correction
Respect learning styles - especially
kinesthetic
Integration - bridge the gap between
practice and match play
 Example Shot-Cycle Topics
Watching - Anticipation
Watching - ball judgement
Movement - split-step
Hitting: Decision-Making - drop or boast?
Hitting - kinesthetic approach to teaching
the grip
 Anticipation in Racquet Sports
Abernethy: A players initiate movement
before the ball is struck - D players do
not!
Expert players rely on shoulder and racquet
head cues - novices don t
Differences between world-class and
national-level players
 Progression for Anticipation
Identify pre-impact cues
train the perception
train the decision
train skill 1
train skill 2
alternate skills
randomize skills
competitive-conditioned game
evaluate in match play
 Brainstorm Other Anticipation
Examples
Groups of 3-4 coaches
2 minutes to find other examples (hint: most
common situations, easiest to teach,
beginner-intermediate-advanced topics)
take up 1 example from several groups
turn in examples - we will distribute
 Teaching Ball Judgement
Train the perception: straight or cross
Train the decision: fore or back
Train skill 1: forehand
Train skill 2
Alternate execution of skills
Randomize execution of skills
Competitive game
Evaluate in match play
Brainstorm Other Ball Judgment
Examples
Groups of 3-4 coaches
2 minutes to find other examples (hint: most
common situations, easiest to teach,
beginner-intermediate-advanced topics)
take up 1 example from several groups
turn in examples - we will distribute
Teaching the Basic Split-Step by
Progression
Verify split-step
split to shadow stimulus
split to coach self-rally
split on coach feed - return to coach
split during rotating rails
split in game situation
evaluate in match play
 Decision-Making (Tactics)
Progression
Choose a topic: select two skills where player
must differentiate
Sell the decision
Train the perception
Train the decision
Train skill 1
Train skill 2
etc.
 Brainstorm Other Decision-
Making Examples
Groups of 3-4 coaches
2 minutes to find other examples (hint: most
common situations, easiest to teach,
beginner-intermediate-advanced topics)
take up 1 example from several groups
turn in examples - we will distribute
 Kinesthetic Grip Progression
Rally program from 6 : forehand,
backhand, alternate, with and without a
bounce, finish with short (easy) game
top & side cues to feel the grip
mthodes de contraintes - catch and
send, contact behind, COLFing, etc.
 3-min. Group Discussion
How have you successfully changed/taught
poor learners grips?
What cues do you use?
What progressions do you use?
How can we get every U.S. junior to start
with the correct grip?
 Summary
Shot-cycle
Open skill process
Global Approach to Error Correction
3 Coaching Principles
Questions? Discussion?
www.science.smith.edu/exersci/tba
con/home.html