Deconstructing the Impossible : The Power of Part Tasking in the Performance Lab

 Part Tasking is the fastest way to deliver performance of a complex skill. Take the lost paddle and split paddle recovery roll in dynamic water. We could break this into all it’s parts as an example:

Part 1

1. Rolling up with a split paddle in flat water
2. Moving the biomechanics of the roll from cognitive to associative to autonomous 
3. Putting the role into a gentle moving water to benefit from the upstream mandate whilst maintaining an affective domain
4. Moving the split role into the dynamic environment with psychological exposure to moving tide race conditions increasing the Cynefin domain to complex domain 

Part 2

1. Back to pool to address 2nd Part Task of retrieving the split paddle from the front deck underwater then roll up. 
2. Preparing psychologically for a ten second submersion to maintain an affective domain and the ability to focus on the transactional activity of recovering the split paddle, pausing to set up then follow through on the technique of the roll and remain un distracted by the environmental chaos. 
3. Then finally pressure testing and completing all the parts in a 5 kt dynamic environment: Throwing away the paddle, recovering the split in the chaos, check the blade angle then rolling up with the reduced leverage of the split paddle relying on a well constructed adapted roll with good body form to finally recover and complete the process. 

Remaining reasonably disciplined in the process and avoiding shortcuts or overthinking on how unobtainable the final technically complex and apparently chaotic environment may seem, is the method. Part Tasking is used across all technical sports and when climbing at my limit on a hugely overhang and sustained 8b rock climb in France, I was instructed by my friend (mentor/coach at the time) not to look across the giant unending cave roof that the climb followed and just concentrate on the lower section that I was working on. I of course sneaked a glance and felt my stomach drop but eventually with each session we began to put seemingly improbable sections together until the complete route began to take shape and become achievable. Part Tasking works. Use it!

The Invisible Architecture: Framing the Rolling Lab

In a bid to focus on the theory behind skill acquisition through a constraints led approach (CLA), the focus is on transferring my own learning and development around the kayak roll into a framework for delivery for others to support my Performance Coaching journey and evidence.

From experiences  in coaching in climbing I am aware of the paradox between the theory of maintaining a distinct margin between my own skill levels and those I am hoping to improve versus the concept of coaching a skill requires a different set of skills and approach to personal mastery of it. 

When delivering a new coaching session it can be haunted by the whispers of ‘imposter’ until your delivery beds down. Establishing a clear method usually works well for me leaving enough room or gaps for individual diagnostics and a bespoke coaching response. Without a coaching framework your reducing the opportunity, conversely, with too much application of theory you are just talking and reducing the  opportunity. Too much rigidity in the framework stifles learning or coaching opportunities and too little can produce woolly disconnected outcomes. 

A well designed framework is generally not obvious to the student and guides the session without being seen. The intentionality of this invisible design is to reduce cognitive clutter for the student: yet as a coach: I must remain critically aware of when to reveal the blueprint. For a Sea Kayak Leader or Coach: understanding the 'why' behind a technical adjustment is eventually as important as the 'how': as it builds the foundational knowledge they will one day use to lead others.

#SkillAcquisitionTheory #ConstraintsLedApproach #CoachingFramework