Functional Stability
A Tool for Skill Acquisition. A Coaches’ PerspectiveStephen 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 Physical competence (Gambetta 2007)2007)
The ability to express force production, The ability to express force production, force reduction and force stabilisation in force reduction and force stabilisation in general movement.general movement.
Walking, running, lunging, bending, Walking, running, lunging, bending, pushing, pulling, rotating, reaching, pushing, pulling, rotating, reaching, bracing.bracing.
………………and combinations of these in multi- and combinations of these in multi- joint ,multi-directional, multi-plane joint ,multi-directional, multi-plane environmentenvironment
To execute sports specific movements or To execute sports specific movements or actions whether running, jumping ,throwing, actions whether running, jumping ,throwing, catching, kicking or hitting……..catching, kicking or hitting……..
…………at optimum speed with precision, style and at optimum speed with precision, style and grace in the context of the sport (Gambetta grace in the context of the sport (Gambetta 2007)2007)
Performance Continuum (Giles)Performance Continuum (Giles)
Physical literacy, Movement vocabulary physical Physical literacy, Movement vocabulary physical competence. Multi joint multiplane multidirectionalcompetence. Multi joint multiplane multidirectional
MJ, MP, MD, Force production, force reduction, MJ, MP, MD, Force production, force reduction, stabilisation specific to the sportstabilisation specific to the sport
Skill acquisition – arena skill developmentSkill acquisition – arena skill developmentInjury preventionInjury prevention
Technique under fatigue, decision making under fatigue, Technique under fatigue, decision making under fatigue, speed under fatigue, power 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 Prevention Skill 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
Run Throw Twist
Hop Kick Turn
Skip Control Balance
Jump Bounce Pivot
Gallop Catch Stretch
Taxonomy of Movement Skills (adapted from Burton & Miller, 1998)
Specialised Movement Skills (adapted from Burton & Miller,1998)
L M NL L
Run, send and receive
Turn and throw / kick/ receive/ control
Zig-zag run
Dribbling Twist and throw/ receive/ control
Shuttle run
Run and bounce Throw and receive on one leg
Agility ladder / spot tasks
Run and throw / kick/ receive/ control
Bounce and pivot / turn
Footwork patterns (dance mat activities)
L M NL
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 Prevention Self 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 targetLift throwing arm high and backStep towards target with opposite
legRotate body towards targetBring 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) 893-916.
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. www.volleyballmag.com 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) 522-528. 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).