93415 GBH Pathway Digital Document 93415 GBH Pathway Digital Document7 - Page 30

Coaching Talent –
How to deliver great
experiences
For many generations,
coaching within hockey
has separated out what we
see or ‘reading the game’
(perception) from technique
(action) and the ever-changing
and variable context in which it
occurs (the game).
The most common presentation
of this is in closed skill,
drill-based exercises focusing
on discrete skills. However, in
highly interactive, invasion
games like hockey, research* is
now unequivocal in supporting
a contextually appropriate
learning environment where
perception and action are
coupled.
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The ‘Golden Thread’ is offered
as a guide to help coaches
design effective practices within
their learning environment.
Whilst the Golden Thread is a
guide, there are a number of
elements that are important for
coaches to create effective
learning environments. Key
aspects of developing highly
skilled players are motivational
climate, questioning and
practice design, which
is through the more fun,
decison-rich activities that are
representative of the game,
and less repetitive drills.
Games or game-like activity
should be an essential focus
* Great

Britain Hockey working in partnership with England Hockey, Hockey Wales and Scottish Hockey
 For an introduction see Chow, J. Y., Davids, K., Button, C. and Renshaw, I. (2015) Non-linear Pedagogy in Skill
Acquisition: An Introduction. Abingdon: Routledge.