The Difference between Error Recognition & Awareness for Athletes & Coaches
Jason Price, MS, CSCS, ATC, CPT, USAW Club Coach
When Coaching Athletes in drills and lifts one key point that I try to get the individual to understand is the difference between just recognizing their technical error and truly becoming aware of the error. In his book “The Inner Athlete” Dan Millman describes this difference very eloquently.
“There is a great difference between recognizing and error, which come after a simple explanation, and accepting an error as an error – an acceptance that implies full responsibility for correcting that error. Full awareness implies willingness to change, and we may not be ready to do that.”
As a coach I can’t make an athlete correct an error. I can only direct them towards making the correction. It is easy for an athlete to say they understand or recognize an error taking place. But, it isn’t until they fully are aware of the error that they can correct it.
So, why is understanding this difference between recognizing errors and becoming aware of errors important for coaches and athletes? It is because ultimately it is up to the athlete to make the correction with their error and not the coach. The coach can only teach proper technique or how to do a skill; they can not “make” the athlete do it correctly. Making errors and mistakes is what athletes must do to learn, grow and improve. The athlete must want to understand their body and what they are asking it to do. An example of this is one of the simplest drills in the weight room. The Romanian Deadlift or Stiff legged deadlift is a simple exercise which requires only movement at the hip and stabilizing the other joints involved. Seems simple….But, wait it is one of the more difficult exercises to coach. Simply because many individuals are not aware what their body is doing. They think they are doing one thing and then they do something completely different.
This is where understanding the difference between error recognition and awareness comes into play. Coaches mostly recognize error and flaws in what is being asked of the individual. That is what we do. But, how many coaches try to teach awareness. Now this may not be appropriate for all levels of coaching. For the personal trainer, strength coach, athletic trainer, physical therapist and some sport coaches this is exactly what is missing from their instruction on some drills. If an athlete just doesn’t seem to get it and you are hammering home the same points change it up. Put it on their shoulders to truly become aware of what they are doing. If the athlete or individual doesn’t understand they are making an error they can’t become aware. Again using the Romanian Deadlift example, my goal as a coach is to try and make the person aware when they don’t move at the hip or don’t fully stabilize. I can tell them all I want what they did wrong. Unless they are aware they won’t make the correction.
So next time you are coaching a drill or exercise instead of focusing on telling individuals what they are doing wrong and how to correct it. Ask them what they are aware of that they are doing. Ask them how it feels to them try to get them to make the correction without you having to tell them or position them over and over. Yes, this may take a little longer at first but it will save you time in the long run as when the trainee or athlete learns this skill of becoming fully aware then when you instruct new exercises or drills they will be ready to be aware of what they are doing as they are learning the new skill.
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