Activate

How can coaches help their players to complete the Activate exercises properly?

When delivering the Activate exercises to players, it is key that players complete the Activate exercises with the following features to access the benefits of using the programme:

  • Good control
  • Good balance 
  • Good technique

Coaches play an important part here in monitoring their players while they perform the exercises, offering instruction on key coaching points and intervening to correct form or technique.

 

The “Key Activate 8” Coaching Cues

Each individual exercise has some unique points that coaches should use to instruct their players, but there are also some generic cues coaches can also use that are common across many exercises. These cues are useful as they guide coaches in what to look for when monitoring the players performing the exercises and when to intervene to correct a player’s posture and/ or movement. These cues are known as the “Key Activate 8” and include:

 

1) Look to the horizon (head positioning)

2) Chest to the sky

3) Pinch the shoulder blades together

 

   

4) Tabletop (keeping shoulders level with hips)

5) Tree trunk (keeping a rigid posture through the trunk)

 

6) Keep your knee in line with your toes

 

7) Land like a Ninja (landing softly with slightly bent knee(s))

8) Hip, knee, ankle in line

 

Each exercise in the Activate programme typically includes two or three associated Key Activate 8 cues.

Once players are familiar with the exercises within a level, coaches should begin to emphasise the following:

  • Use a selected number of key cue points relevant to each exercise.
  • Prioritise quality over quantity when completing the exercises. This means lowering the number of repetitions or duration but encouraging players to complete the exercises to the best of their ability.
  • In older age groups and adults, encourage players to coach each other if working in pairs or small groups.
  • Watch players completing the exercises and providing constructive feedback to correct technique if required.
  • Publicly praise players that complete the exercises with good control, balance, and technique.

 

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