In our previous blog, we explored the concept of expertise using driving as the analogy. Not only did we challenge you to think about your experiences as a driver, but we asked you to draw the parallels with your experiences as a player and coach. You were also asked to consider how you support your young players' transitions through their own stages of learning.

Ericsson and Pool (2016) define deliberate practice as:

• A highly structured activity; laser focused on specific goals that will improve performance. Improvement is the key driver.
• Different from just repetition of a task. It requires significant effort and it is not inherently enjoyable.

Deliberate practice is characterized by the following traits. As you review each trait, consider how well you integrate each principle into your own planning, delivery and evaluation of your practices. Think about how you take steps toward a more deliberate practice environment.

• Deliberate practice develops skills that have pre-existing technical templates that "define" expert performance. The large majority of skills and techniques have a “common optimal movement pattern,” also referred to as a “technical model,” which is used as a reference point to teach, analyze and develop performance. Coaches must know, understand and most importantly, be able to teach and refine the movement patterns required for expert performance. Know—and teach—fundamentals.

• Deliberate practice takes place outside one's comfort zone. It stretches athletes and challenges them to try things that sit beyond their reach. It demands near maximal effort, physically and mentally, which is often not inherently enjoyable. Coaches should know what the players’ current ability level and starting point are so that they can personalize learning and integrate the right amount of stretch and challenge to ensure players can improve.

• Deliberate practice demands well-defined and well-designed goals. Deliberate practice should focus on specific targets, not just general improvements. SMART goal setting will allow you to create:
  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Relevant
  • and Time-based goals for each athlete.

• Deliberate practice is.... deliberate. It requires focus. It requires full and conscious attention on the task at hand. Focusing solely on performance-relevant cues is the goal. Coaches have to help players tune out performance-irrelevant cues in order to have a laser-like focus. Go-to coaching tools to support the focus agenda include concentration training, simulation training and distraction drills.

• Deliberate practice demands critical feedback. Players need to receive immediate informative feedback and knowledge of the results of their performance. The accuracy and timing of the feedback is critical. Equally as important is how this is offered. Sometimes, you can’t wait until the film room to provide feedback.

• Deliberate practice is informed and defined by mental representations. A mental representation or mental model is simply a mental reference point held by coaches and athletes. Mental models are visual impressions of the technical model or optimal movement pattern. Coaches use these mental models for contrastive analysis purposes. Imagine a split screen with the technical model on one side and the player’s performance on the other and now imagine the coach comparing each to establish the performance matches and mismatches. This helps inform what athletes should be doing, guide how they are doing it and critically used to establish how well they are doing it as training progresses.

Being able to design, deliver and evaluate deliberate practice is key to your coaching effectiveness and player development. Remember to jot down any observations so that you can integrate relevant actions into your own coaching practice.

Sarah McQuade is an independent coach education consultant, owner and director of e.t.c coaching consultants and co-director with The Coach Learning Group. To learn more about accessing how-to coach skills workshops click the Coaching Skills button at www.etcoachingconsultants.com.