Functional Stability A Tool for Skill Acquisition. A Coaches’ Perspective Stephen McKeown Alison Macfarlane

Aims. An opportunity to enhance one’s understanding of: Principles of Functional Stability Qualitative skills analysis from a functional perspective The importance of integrated approach to skill acquisition incorporating functional stability How to acquire and develop fundamental and specialist movement skills using principles of functional stability in a coaching environment

An interpretation of Functional Stability Why is it important?

Physical competence (Gambetta 2007) The ability to express force production, force reduction and force stabilisation in general movement. Walking, running, lunging, bending, pushing, pulling, rotating, reaching, bracing. ………and combinations of these in multi- joint,multi-directional, multi-plane environment

To execute sports specific movements or actions whether running, jumping,throwing, catching, kicking or hitting…….. To execute sports specific movements or actions whether running, jumping,throwing, catching, kicking or hitting…….. ……at optimum speed with precision, style and grace in the context of the sport (Gambetta 2007)

Performance Continuum (Giles) Physical literacy, Movement vocabulary physical competence. Multi joint multiplane multidirectional MJ, MP, MD, Force production, force reduction, stabilisation specific to the sport Skill acquisition – arena skill development Injury prevention Technique under fatigue, decision making under fatigue, speed under fatigue, power under fatigue.

Building Blocks (Elphinston, 2008) Stability, Mobility, Posture, Body Awareness, Symmetry and Balance provide the foundation for sporting movement development and injury resistance

Why is it important?

World Class Performance (Elphinston,2008) Issues in technical efficiency can be compensated with outstanding physiology, mental toughness and determination. How much better could these athletes be, and how much longer could they perform at world class level with all systems fully optimised?

You must have the physical competence to do the technical stuff, and the technical qualities to do the tactical stuff…..in that order. (Giles 2005)

Adapted from Giles, 2008 Physical Literacy Physical Competency Performance Enhancement Injury PreventionSkill Acquisition

Hypothesis: FS can be used as foundation for A&D FMS Functional stability is a key component for teaching FMBS. One does not necessarily have to have FS as a pre requisite for acquiring a FMS and SMS. This process is not linear. FS is not purely a vehicle for conditioning the athlete, injury prevention or rehabilitation (Although these are important). Athletes should learn, feel and be aware of being functionally stable as an integral part of the process of acquiring and developing FMS and SMS.

Fundamental Movement Skills Locomotor (L) Skills/ Travel Manipulative (M) Skills/ Ball control Non-Locomotor (NL) Skills RunThrowTwist HopKickTurn SkipControlBalance JumpBouncePivot GallopCatchStretch Taxonomy of Movement Skills (adapted from Burton & Miller, 1998)

Specialised Movement Skills (adapted from Burton & Miller,1998) LMNLL Run, send and receiveTurn and throw / kick/ receive/ control Zig-zag run DribblingTwist and throw/ receive/ control Shuttle run Run and bounceThrow and receive on one leg Agility ladder / spot tasks Run and throw / kick/ receive/ control Bounce and pivot / turn Footwork patterns (dance mat activities) LMNL Field and Throw in Cricket Feed and Receive in Hockey Side Step Send and Receive in Football Rebound Catch in Netball

Macfarlane and McKeown Physical Competence/ Functional Stability/ Skill Acquisition Performance Enhancement Injury PreventionSelf Advocacy

What should an athlete learn, feel and understand on their skill acquisition journey?

Efficient: Transfer of Body Weight Use of balance Use of gravity to initiate movements and generate momentum/power Use of posture related to base to enable MJ, MP and MD actions Management of acceleration and deceleration Use of rhythm, fluency and timing Use of kinetic chains Sequencing Proprioception

Management Philosophy In order to optimize the function of the body we must recognize muscle synergies and train movements not muscles. We must recognize that we are training connectivity through unity in movement that is integrated not isolated. (Gambetta, 2007)

Skill Analysis Observe the following skill. Discuss with a colleague what key components of functional stability need to be applied in order for the skill to be performed successfully How well is the skill being performed from a functional perspective?

Conventional Performance Criteria Eyes Focussed on target Lift throwing arm high and back Step towards target with opposite leg Rotate body towards target Bring throwing arm across and down to follow through

Using FS to refine the Performance Criteria Movement initiated by impulse which creates chain through hips to shoulders Use of hip to initiate arm preparation and throw (sequence) Upright relaxed posture allows trunk rotation and arm action with flow Transfer of body weight through the centre with a natural unconscious follow through towards the target Whole action is rhythmic and fluent

Let’s Get Practical How can one coach FMS and SMS functionally? Volunteers Please!

Specialised Movement Skills with Functional Stability An Example

Volleyball and Functional Stability

Conclusion Learning efficient effective movement is not a linear progression It should incorporate an integrated approach that allows the learner to understand, feel and be functionally stable as a means to acquire movement skills Functional stability is a pre requisite for optimal and sustained high performance

Bibliography Burton, A.W., Miller, D.E.(1998) Movement Skill Assessment. Human Kinetics Publishers, Champaign, Illinois. Cook, G.(2003) Athletic Body in Balance. Human Kinetics, Publishers, Champaign, Illinois. Elphinston, J.(2008) Stability Sport and Performance Movement. Lotus Publishing. Gambetta,V.(2007) Athletic Development, The Art and Science of Functional Sports Conditioning. Human Kinetics Publishers, Champaign, Illinois. Giles,K.(2005) Developing Physical competence a cornerstone of LTAD, Movement Dynamics Hippolyte,R.(1993) Volleyball: A Movement Education [Video] British Volleyball Federation. Morely,D., Bailey,R.(2007) Talent Development in Physical Education. National CPD Module.[Video] Youth Sport Trust.

Further Reading Behm,D.G.(2009) The use of instability training to train the core musculature. Appl.Physiol.Nutr.Metab.Vol 35. Borghuis,J.et al(2008) The Importance of Sensory-Motor Control in Providing Core Stability. Sports Med. 38(11) Chek, P, (2000) Movement That Matters. C.H.E.K Institution. Keogh,J.(2010) Can Common Measures of Core Stability Distinguish Performance in a Shoulder Pressing Task Under Stable and Unstable Conditions? Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 24 (2). Knudson, D.V., Morrison, C.S., (1997) Qualitative Analysis of Human Movement. Human Kinetics Publishers, Champaign, IL. Leetun,D.(2004) Core Stability Measures as Risk Factors for Lower Extremity Injury in Athletes. Medicine & Science in Sport & Exercise 36(6). Okada,T (2010) Relationship Between Core Stability, Functional Movement and Performance. Journal of Strength and Research.0 (0). Pilakowski,L.(2008) Volleyball Balance Drills. Nov. Stanton,R.(2004)The Effect of Short-Term Swiss Ball Training on Core Stability and Running Economy. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 18(3) Strattan, G.,Ward, P. and Smeeton, N. (2002). Foundation sport skills. Top Line Report, Sport England. Yaggie,J.(2006) Effects of Balance Training on Selected Skills. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 20 (2).