What should coaches evaluate before teaching a new movement?

Before teaching a new movement, it is crucial for coaches to evaluate athlete readiness and understanding of foundational movements. This assessment ensures that athletes possess the necessary skills, strength, and coordination to safely and effectively learn the new skill. Foundational movements provide a building block for more complex movements, and understanding these is vital for optimizing performance and reducing the risk of injury.

By assessing an athlete's readiness, coaches can determine if the athlete is physically and mentally prepared to progress. This includes checking their range of motion, mobility, and overall fitness level, which are essential for executing new movements correctly. Additionally, an understanding of foundational techniques means the athlete is likely to have the right body mechanics and movement patterns already in place, facilitating the learning process and translating into better performance when attempting more complex variations.

Evaluating other aspects, such as workout preferences or competitive history, while beneficial in certain contexts, does not directly address the critical components that lead to safe and effective movement learning. Factors like gym location and weather conditions are also unrelated to an athlete's capacity to learn new skills or movements.