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Isolated Technique Training?

Writer's picture: Chris BentleyChris Bentley

The view of the learning-process in which the learner must learn a skill (passing, dribbling, etc.) in isolation and then be able to call on that skill and manipulate it to fit the game-context is outdated, and quite frankly, flawed. If our brains just reacted to the world, we'd be too slow to play soccer. In actual fact, proper learning requires the brain to go through a process where it constructs a concept from which predictions about the outer world can be drawn. Yes, that sounds complicated...

To simplify, the more a coach places players in a learning environment where consistent game situations take place, the more players start to construct concepts of those situations, from which more consistent predictions can be drawn, thus the quicker actions can be executed. By doing this, coaches guide forward thinking as opposed to reactive thought processes.

Analogous to soccer, imagine if we used isolated technique training to teach people how to drive... we would have a drill learning how to turn the steering wheel, another learning how to push the break, another to push the gas, etc. All of these drills would be executed without a road, stop signs, traffic lights, other cars to avoid, etc. Then after a few weeks of this, learners are given an opportunity apply those skills on the road by partaking in a drivers test.

This is obviously not how we learn to drive, but we do simplify driving for learners initially by placing them in different situations with less congestion, and progressively place them in more and more challenging situations until they are ready to pass a drivers test.

Whether it's learning to drive in traffic or to play soccer, context is essential for optimal learning! To summarize, learning to pass in isolation is not learning to pass in games. Without game-context, re-learning is required... obviously this is not ideal. As you plan your next session, I would highly recommend you keep this in mind!

Interested in learning more about this? Here are a couple of great sources:

  • Barrett, L. F. (2017). How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain. London: MACMILLAN.

  • Williams, A. M. (2013). Science and Soccer: Developing Elite Performers. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.




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