Chow, Jia Yi

The purpose of this study is to compare the balance control of participants with and without HI and also to investigate the effect of a Balance Programme (BP) on their balance control (HI; n = 2, M age = 7 years old). The BP consisted of six practice sessions of 45 minutes each. The Balance Tasks used to assess balance control were static Balance Tasks: two-leg stand, one-leg stand and dynamic Balance Tasks: in-place jump and in-place hop. Kinetic data such as the Centre of Pressure (COP) and the Ground Reaction Force (GRF) was captured using a force plate. The results revealed differences in Balance Tasks involving static and dynamic balance control between participants with HI and without HI. Improvement in balance control of the participants is observed for some of the Balance Tasks after the introduction of the BP which indicates the inconclusive effectiveness of the BP. The authors suggest that the instructional approach and number of practice sessions may be the contributing factors affecting the effectiveness of the BP. A new BP with an alternative instructional approach together with more practice sessions is warranted to benefit both children with and without HI so as to make inclusion possible.

Although previous work in nonlinear dynamics on neurobiological coordination and control has provided valuable insights from studies of single joint movements in humans, researchers have shown increasing interest in coordination of multi-articular actions. Multi-articular movement models have provided valuable insights on neurobiological systems conceptualised as degenerate, adaptive complex systems satisfying the constraints of dynamic environments. In this paper, we overview empirical evidence illustrating the dynamics of adaptive movement behavior in a range of multi-articular actions including kicking, throwing, hitting and balancing. We model the emergence of creativity and the diversity of neurobiological action in the meta-stable region of self organising criticality. We examine the influence on multi-articular actions of decaying and emerging constraints in the context of skill acquisition. We demonstrate how, in this context, transitions between preferred movement patterns exemplify the search for and adaptation of attractor states within the perceptual motor workspace as a function of practice. We conclude by showing how empirical analyses of neurobiological coordination and control have been used to establish a nonlinear pedagogical framework for enhancing acquisition of multi-articular actions.

This study investigated how developmental ten-pin bowlers can better transit to a heavier ball by comparing differences in performance outcomes and movement execution between two ball weights. Eight pre-transited bowlers bowled 10 first-frame trials each in two ball weight conditions: normal (NB) and heavy (HB); of which 3 trials were analysed. Full body joint kinematics were recorded via a 3D motion capture system. Paired sample t-test on performance outcome, joint kinematics and kinetics was conducted. No differences in performance outcome and peak joint velocities were found (p>0.05). Bowling with the HB resulted in higher peak elbow extension moment and quicker third step, with differences in left shoulder rotation and ankles abduction during the movement (p<0.05). Results suggest strengthening of the musculature around the shoulder and arm to prepare for the transition.

There were three objectives to this proposal: (i) to develop an ecologically valid match­fitness test for badminton players -the badminton intermittent shuttle test (BIST); (ii) to determine the reliability and physiological validity of the test; and (iii) to examine the influence of fatigue, induced by the BIST, on badminton performance.

This study investigated how motor system degrees of freedom were organized as skilled players performed a soccer chipping task. Using an intra-participant analysis, inter-individual kinematics and performance differences were investigated to determine the features governing coordination of skilled chipping actions. Five skilled participants were studied as they performed 10 soccer chips to one target position and another 15 soccer chips to three positions, all with different specific height and accuracy task constraints. Although a 'global coordination pattern' was identified for skilled soccer chipping, subtle inter-individual differences in coordination, displacement of center of mass (COM), selected kinematic variables for the kicking limb and the role of the non-kicking limb were also observed. It was noted that participants were able to adapt foot velocity to different target positions in successfully meeting the task goal. Results highlighted advantages of examining intra-participant data for understanding how skilled performers re-organize motor system degrees of freedom in achieving functional movement behaviors.

Increasingly, school teachers see the need to recognize the complex and dynamic interactions that occur between the individual, task and environmental constraints during learning. Nonlinear Pedagogy (NP), underpinned by Ecological Dynamics, provides a suitable pedagogical approach to encourage exploratory learning amongst children that is learner-centred and exploratory in nature. This approach is in contrast to a more traditional form of Linear Pedagogy (LP) that is teacher-centred and emphasises repetition in practices to promote movement form consistency in enhancing the acquisition of movement skills. Primarily, NP involves teachers identifying and manipulating constraints on learning to facilitate the emergence of goal-directed behaviours in children (Chow et al., 2016; Davids et al., 2008). Other key pedagogical principles relating to representativeness, awareness of focus of attention instructions, task simplification and the functional role of noise can help learners to develop 21st century competencies (Chow et al., 2016). Given growing concerns that physical inactivity could represent the biggest threat to global health in the 21st century, it is vital that children receive a high quality of education to develop their health and wellbeing.

The aim of this paper is to show how principles of ecological psychology and dynamical systems theory can underpin a philosophy of coaching practice in a non-llnear pedagogy. Nonlinear pedagogy is based on a view of the human movement system as a nonlinear dynamical system and has been basically defined as the application of concepts and tools of nonlinear dynamics to coaching practice. A systems orientation is adopted to show how nonlinear dynamical movement systems demonstrate an openness to environmental information flows, use inherent degeneracy to adapt movements to dynamic environments, show capacity for self-organisation, and fluctuate between stability and instability as changes in constraints on performance shape transitions in system organisation. We demonstrate how this perspective of the human movement system can aid understanding of motor learning processes and underpin practice /or sports coaches. We provide a description of nonlinear pedagogy followed by a consideration of some of the fundamental principles of ecological psychology and dynamical systems theory that underpin it as a coaching philosophy. We illustrate how each principle impacts on nonlinear pedagogical coaching practice, demonstrating how they can substantiate a framework for the coaching process.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using the nonlinear pedagogy (NP) in the teaching of fundamental movement skills (FMS) in children. In the first phase, a total of 26 Primary 2 students went through 7 intervention lessons consisting of activities related to catching and overhand throwing. The Test of Gross Motor Skills – 2nd edition (TGMD-2) and a checklist of 3 developmental stages were used as the assessment tools in the second phase, which involved the students being assessed on 6 object control skills that included catching and overhand throwing. Results for the group’s total average raw score of catching and overhand throwing increased by 28.57% from pre- to post-intervention. Positive impacts of NP approach were seen with the students performing better in the post-intervention, as well as the achievement of successful outcomes without conformity of the TGMD-2 criteria.