Trainer's Bullpen

Summary: In this episode of the Trainer's Bullpen, host Chris Butler engages with Scott Sievewright, a leading figure in the field of skill acquisition and coaching in martial arts. They discuss the ecological dynamics approach to training, contrasting it with traditional information processing methods. Scott shares his journey from a conventional coaching background to embracing a technique-less, principles-based training philosophy. The conversation delves into the importance of guiding athletes' intentions and attention, the concept of representative learning design, and the challenges of managing diverse skill levels in training environments. They also explore the constraints-led approach, emphasizing how coaches can manipulate various constraints to optimize learning and performance in athletes. In this conversation, Scott also explores the principles of ecological dynamics and the constraints-led approach in coaching, particularly in martial arts and law enforcement training. They discuss the importance of understanding constraints, the concept of affordances, and how individual perception affects training outcomes. The conversation emphasizes the need for authentic movement, balancing safety with realism in training, and the significance of representative design even in warm-ups. Scott shares insights on creating a culture of care in training environments and the necessity of adapting training to individual capabilities. Takeaways: • Traditional coaching often relies on a prescriptive, technique-based model. • Ecological dynamics emphasizes the interaction between organisms and their environment. • Guiding intention and attention is crucial for effective coaching. • Training should start with representative learning designs from day one. • Managing diverse skill levels in training requires a generalist approach. • The constraints-led approach is synonymous with effective coaching. • Coaches can manipulate constraints to elicit desired behaviors in athletes. • Understanding the challenge point is essential for optimal learning outcomes. Coaching has always been constraint-based. • Understanding constraints can elevate coaching effectiveness. • Affordances are opportunities for action in the environment. • Authentic movement reflects the personality of the athlete. • Safety in training must balance realism and injury prevention. • Representative design should be integrated into warm-ups. • Self-organization allows the body to adapt to tasks naturally. • Game intelligence is crucial for quick decision-making in combat. • Cultivating perception-action relationships is essential for skill development. • Creating a supportive training culture enhances learning and safety. For more great info visit Scott's podcast at 'The Primal MMA Coaching Podcast'

Summary: In this conversation, Chris Butler and Dr. Nick Winkelman, author of 'The Language of Coaching: The Art and Science of Teaching Movement', explore the intersection of coaching language and motor learning, particularly in the context of law enforcement training. They discuss the importance of effective communication in coaching, the impact of language on performance, and the balance between internal and external cues. Winkelman shares his journey in coaching and the development of the Coaching Communication Loop, emphasizing the need for flexibility in coaching approaches. The discussion also highlights the significance of allowing learners to experience struggle and mistakes as part of the learning process. In this conversation, Winkelman discusses the intricacies of coaching and learning, emphasizing the importance of understanding an athlete's learning capacity and mood. He explores the role of coaches in motivating learners, setting clear expectations, and providing engaging feedback. The discussion also highlights the significance of language in performance and the balance between internal and external focus for optimal learning and execution. Takeaways: • Nick Winkelman emphasizes the importance of language in coaching and motor learning. • Effective coaching requires understanding the intersection of what a coach says and what an athlete hears. • Learning is defined as the ability to express a change without reminders or prompts. • Analogies and external cues enhance learning and performance in movement skills. • The Coaching Communication Loop consists of describe, demonstrate, cue, do, and debrief. • Internal cues focus on body mechanics, while external cues focus on outcomes. • Allowing learners to struggle is essential for developing skills and understanding. • Feedback and cues are crucial for improving performance and ensuring safety. • Flexibility in coaching approaches is necessary to meet individual learner needs. Learning capacity can plateau, requiring new cues. • Athletes have different learning moods that affect performance. • Coaches can create conditions to lower barriers to learning. • Clear expectations reduce anxiety and improve focus. • Positive reinforcement enhances learning retention. • Language used in coaching impacts athlete's mindset. • Internal cues can hinder performance by overthinking. • External cues enhance reaction time and performance. • Celebrating successes reinforces positive learning experiences. • Effective coaching involves guiding rather than dictating. For further information to enhance your understanding of the concepts talked about during this podcast, please visit Nick’s “The Language of Coaching’ YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHhoYw3yIsw&list=PLjcHdvjMxsv5a5Za57ciJBopVUeoXul4P

Summary In this episode of the Trainers Bullpen, host Chris Butler interviews Dr. William Bozeman, a leading expert in law enforcement use of force and injury epidemiology. They discuss the findings of Dr. Bozeman's research on police use of force, particularly focusing on Taser use and Vascular Neck Restraint (VNR). The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the actual rates of injury associated with various use of force modalities, the methodology behind the research, and the implications for law enforcement training and public safety. Dr. Bozeman emphasizes the need for evidence-based practices in policing and the significance of high-quality research in shaping policies and training programs. The research strongly contradicts the popular narrative that police use of force is climbing or ‘out of control’. Takeaways • Dr. Bozeman's research focuses on injury epidemiology related to police use of force. • Taser use has been shown to rarely cause significant injuries. • 98% of subjects involved in use of force incidents had no or mild injuries. • Vascular Neck Restraint (VNR) has a remarkably high success rate with no fatalities in the study. • Police do not use force very often, with less than 1% of interactions resulting in force. • High-quality research is essential for informing law enforcement policies and training. • Courageous conversations about the effectiveness and necessity of certain tools, like batons, are needed as agencies continue to modernize their policing practices.

Dr. Hunter Martaindale is the Director of Research at the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University and an Associate Research Professor within the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology. In this role, he oversees all research activities for ALERRT, including analyzing active shooter events, conducting active shooter training program evaluations through experimental design, and testing methods/interventions to improve law enforcement decision-making and overall performance. Beyond that, Hunter actively supports other researchers with applied policing projects in an effort to get actionable results to practitioners. In this podcast, Dr. Martindale discusses his research on virtual reality (VR) training in law enforcement. The purpose of the study was to determine if VR training scenarios can elicit a similar stress response as realistic scenario-based training. The study involved two phases: a scenario-based training phase and a VR training phase. Participants went through a high-fidelity scenario involving professional actors and simulated injuries. The same scenario was then recreated in VR. Salivary measures of stress were collected before and after each training phase. The results showed that VR training was able to elicit  similar physiological stress responses as realistic scenario-based, or high-fidelity training. VR can be a valuable tool for law enforcement agencies and trainers to replicate real-life scenarios and ensure consistent training for all officers. However, VR should not replace in-person training entirely and should be used as a supplement. VR technology has improved significantly, and agencies should actively investigate and incorporate VR into their training programs.   Takeaways Virtual reality (VR) training has the potential to bridge the gap between law enforcement training and academic research. VR training can supplement in-person training and help retain skills that may not come up in an officer's day-to-day job. Measuring heart rate alone is not a reliable indicator of stress response; other measures, such as salivary markers, can provide more accurate results. High-fidelity scenarios with professional actors can enhance the realism of training and elicit a stronger stress response. The study found that VR training was able to elicit a similar stress response as realistic scenario-based training. VR training elicited similar physiological stress responses as high-fidelity scenario-based training. VR can be a valuable tool for law enforcement agencies and trainers to replicate real-life scenarios and ensure consistent training. VR should be used as a supplement to in-person training and not as a replacement. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of VR training on skill development and retention. The technology has improved significantly, with better refresh rates and reduced motion sickness. Agencies should actively investigate and incorporate VR into their training programs.

Summary Bryce Jenkins, a PhD student in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University, discusses his research on the deployment of SWAT or tactical teams and the associated risks. He challenges the notion of the militarization of police and the belief that the deployment of tactical teams increases the risk to the public. Bryce's research focuses on understanding the context and nature of calls that tactical officers respond to, and he found that the primary response of tactical officers is to high-risk calls. He also highlights the importance of considering relevant environmental factors and the limitations of relying solely on the initial call type to assess risk. The conversation explores the use of tactical officers in law enforcement and their potential impact on public safety. The guest, Bryce Jenkins, discusses the effectiveness of using tactical officers to augment patrol and the value of their specialized resources. He also addresses the concern that tactical officers are predisposed to use force, highlighting research that shows they actually reduce the likelihood and severity of force. The conversation delves into the concept of naturalistic decision making and how the expertise and training of tactical officers contribute to their superior decision-making abilities. The importance of debriefing and continuous learning in improving decision making is emphasized. Overall, the conversation challenges the notion that tactical officers pose an increased risk to the public and highlights the benefits they bring to law enforcement. Takeaways There is no evidence that the deployment of SWAT or tactical teams increases the risk to the public. Tactical officers primarily respond to high-risk calls, but they also provide support and backup to frontline officers in lower-risk situations. The initial call type alone is not sufficient to assess the level of risk in an incident; relevant context and environmental factors must be considered. Policy and operational practices should be informed by research findings to ensure effective and appropriate deployment of tactical teams. Using tactical officers to augment patrol can be an effective use of specialized resources. Research shows that tactical officers actually reduce the likelihood and severity of force. Tactical officers' expertise and training contribute to their superior decision-making abilities. Debriefing and continuous learning are critical for improving decision making in law enforcement. The notion that tactical officers pose an increased risk to the public is challenged.