Chase Aldridge: Welcomes Adam Law, BYU coach, to discuss his journey into the ecological approach to skill acquisition and its current applications.
- Adam Law: Shares his background as a walk-on college baseball player, a minor league player for the Dodgers and Mariners, and his transition to coaching and obtaining a master's degree in performance psychology.
Journey to the Ecological Approach:
- Family Influence: Adam's father, a major league all-star, initially influenced his training methods. Adam later recognized the limitations of sticking to a single approach.
- Professional Experience: Encountered various coaching styles and began to appreciate different methods after facing barriers in his own development.
- Player Development: Realized traditional training methods were insufficient for rapidly improving youth players aiming to sign professionally or play at university levels.
- Exploration: Along with colleagues, Adam explored European soccer and tennis development, embracing the ecological approach, constraints-led training, and differential learning, which were less common in the U.S. baseball context.
Convincing Players and Implementing New Methods:
- Data and Proof: Players respond well to data and proof of effectiveness. Presenting successful examples and periodic progress reviews helps gain their buy-in.
- Infield Defense: Uses an infield report card system to track and improve defensive skills, inspired by methods from Kai Correa and other coaches.
- Detailed Planning: Emphasizes the importance of planning and tracking progress, which requires more effort but leads to better results.
Creative Training Techniques:
- Kill Zone Training: Focuses on catching the ball in the "kill zone" using various implements like small gloves and even novelty oversized gloves to enhance skill stability.
- Gamification and Motivation: Creates a culture of learning and embraces failure as part of the process. Gamifies drills to keep players engaged and motivated.
Blending Mental and Physical Skills:
- Mental Skills Integration: Adam's background in mental skills coaching informs his approach, coupling physical skill development with mental skills like diaphragmatic breathing to handle anxiety and improve performance.
- Mental Flexibility: Emphasizes the importance of mental flexibility and adaptability, using a theoretical framework of mental fitness markers: strength, endurance, flexibility, and resilience.
- Effective vs. Ineffective Thoughts: Encourages players to distinguish between effective and ineffective thoughts rather than simply labeling them as positive or negative.
Challenges and Adaptability:
- Routine vs. Flexibility: Helps players recognize that rigid routines can become crutches. Encourages adaptability by questioning the necessity of specific pre-game rituals and focusing on what is within their control.
- Transitioning Roles: As a college coach, Adam is excited to experience the different stressors and schedules of college players compared to professional players, aiming to help them balance their identities and roles.
- Contact Information: Adam can be found on Twitter and Instagram (@AdamLaw217) and his website, MojoLab.com.