In July, we launched the How We Move newsletter with a simple idea: to go deeper into “how we move.” Each week, we’ve explored themes that shape the way we think about movement, coaching, and performance. From biomechanics and variability to systems thinking and sprint mechanics, the goal has been to challenge ourselves, refine our craft, and connect purpose to practice.
Now, at year’s end, we thought it would be a good time to reflect.
Over the past six months, we’ve covered some powerful ideas—threads that connect into a bigger picture about what it means to coach movement with intention.
So, here’s a review of the nine themes that have emerged, each one a piece of the architecture we’re building together.
1. The Coach as a Systems Architect
At the foundation of every athlete’s success is a purpose-driven system. As architects, we map out the relationships between the parts—the training, recovery, fueling, mental strategies, and more—and ensure they serve a clear and cohesive goal. This process requires iteration and refinement, adapting to feedback as the system evolves. Our role is to construct something enduring, a framework that supports not just performance but growth. Great coaching isn’t about assembling isolated pieces; it’s about building an integrated masterpiece.
Take-home: optimizing single parts of a system will always come at the expense of the health of the system as a whole. Instad, aim for “good enough” [8-9/10] on all component parts.
2. Movement as Poetry in Motion
Movement is the craft of the human body—measured not just by quantitative factors [force, velocity, endurance, etc.] but by its quality. Effective, efficient, stable, and adaptable movement is both a science and an art. Like a well-designed structure, every part must work in harmony to serve a larger purpose. Coaches must refine movement patterns, ensuring they are not only functional but expressive, allowing athletes to reach their full potential. Movement is not just motion—it’s poetry, written in biomechanics and rhythm.
Take-home: The goal isn’t perfection in movement—it’s purpose. Train athletes to move effectively in their unique contexts, balancing precision with adaptability.
3. The Power of Hip Extension: Driving Athletic Potential
The hip extension pattern is the keystone of human locomotion. Without the ability to extend the hip effectively—with force and velocity, through range and control, and repeated over time—athletic performance is limited. This pattern underpins everything from acceleration to jumping and even directional changes. Training this pattern requires precision, targeting the specific demands. This “knee behind butt” position is the foundation of speed, power, and agility.
Take-home: Master the hip extension pattern—train it fast, train it strong, and train it often. It’s the engine of almost every athletic movement.
4. The Dance of Complexity and Simplicity
Coaching is a constant balancing act—embracing the complexity of human movement while striving for simplicity in execution. Simplicity doesn’t mean oversimplifying; it means distilling the complex into actionable insights that athletes can execute under pressure. Complexity inspires, but simplicity wins on the field.
Take-home: Simplify for clarity, not for ease. Your athletes should understand and execute without needing to overthink.
5. Categorization and Individualization: The Art of Balance
Athletes are unique, yet patterns emerge across groups. Categorizing athletes based on their strengths and tendencies allows us to tailor coaching to their specific needs without overcomplicating the system. Personalization comes from knowing the individual. The art of coaching is in balancing the general with the specific, the system with the person.
Take-home: Use categories as a starting point, but coach the person in front of you. Balance structure with flexibility.
6. Movement Variability: Building Resilience
In movement, variability is often seen as noise, but it’s actually the foundation of adaptability. A system with too little variability is brittle; one with too much lacks control. Training that enhances adaptability builds resilience. Variability isn’t a flaw—it’s the hallmark of a robust system.
Take-home: Embrace variability and adaptability. Train athletes to handle complexity, not just repeat predictable patterns.
7. Sprint Mechanics: A Systems Approach
Sprinting is the ultimate expression of the systems we build. It’s not just about the parts—step length, frequency, ground contact time, flight time—but how they interact to achieve speed. Viewing sprint mechanics as a system reveals the interplay of forces, patterns, and timing that drive performance.
Take-home: The parts of a system are important, but how they interact will determine the overall success. Don’t chase isolated metrics—focus on how they combine to serve the athlete’s purpose: moving faster.
8. Iterative Refinement: Building Better Systems
No system is perfect, but every system can evolve. Iterative refinement ensures that coaching systems remain dynamic, responsive to the athlete’s growth and the demands of sport. Like an architect refining their design, coaches must embrace experimentation and evolution.
Take-home: Treat every session as an experiment. Review, adjust, and improve based on what you observe.
These eight themes form the architecture of coaching, each one a pillar in the structure we build. Together, they guide us in creating systems that elevate athletes—not just for today, but for the future.
Thanks for being part of this journey. If you want to join me on a weekly dive into more topics like this moving forward, you can sign up below - absolutely free.
Stu.
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