Improve your turning

Probably a third to half of twelve year olds have very easily correctable errors in “obvious” movement patterns. But you have to know what to look for and you have to know the right movement. Even adults make movements that are “wrong” and can be corrected with just a little coaching.

I’ve also seen videos (that were very useful) on how to teach young people how to run, or how to go from stop to sprint. This is one of those things where having the mechanics broken down to small steps is very helpful for an amateur coach so that we can help children improve their movements. With that said it’s also hard for an amateur to be able to distinguish between good advice and bad.

But I never imagined it to be merely about turning as you walk.

Wouldn't it just be better to play a sport or do an activity that required turning? Cutting in basketball, soccer, or ultimate. Chasing a hit in tennis or other racquet sports. Etc.

I am not a biomechanics expert, or a football coach. But I still remember this explanation from when I played as a kid, and this drill. I'm 41 now, and still use the cut turn when I play pickup soccer occasionally (though not as well as I did as a young man).

Planting with the outside foot allows for more lateral movement at higher speeds, less risk of slippage, and requires less balance than planting with your inside foot. It also allows you to fake the turn via a fake plant (deadleg) and execute a more advanced jump cut (instead of pushing to land, you plant the other foot beside the lead leg, shift your weight to your toes, transfer weight to one foot, and push off that foot for even faster forward deceleration and more lateral acceleration in the chosen direction).

The natural way to make a turn at high speed involves many short choppy steps to slow enough to make the turn. This is inefficient, and alerts a defender the turn is imminent.

Turning this way is a basic fundamental that leads to more advanced concepts. We drilled with a coach, cones marking a space one to two yards in front of and a half yard on either side of a tackling dummy. It's also drilled as a series of alternating cones or bags in a stairstep pattern in a particular direction.

In our old drill, the player sprints directly at the dummy and the coach indicates left or right once the player reaches the cones. The player must plant with the correct foot, miss the dummy, and move at least as far laterally as the cone is from the dummy with enough balance to accelerate upfield after the turn is complete. Usually, it's accompanied by changing hands with the ball away from the dummy to prevent fumbles.

It is not an innate talent that cannot be taught. It is not natural to change direction in a full sprint in this manner. It does require great lower body strength, balance, and reaction time. And drilling this at a young age helps to develop the necessary skills and strength until it seems innate.

1: https://youtu.be/g9V6Rf6xPNg

Why not just show the move at full speed and then slow it down for explanations. From what I know, the human brain in very good at visually understanding motion.

Also: As long as it's not shown in full action, I don't quite buy it. Is it really an improvement?

This reminds me of me as a little kid, trying to win soccer games by incorporating "ninja kicks".

So in short: Not sure if this is legit...

For example, for multiple flights of stairs, where the path would suggest repeated 180 degree turns in the same direction, I like to replace every second one with a turn in the other direction combined with some sideways movement component.

Especially important benefit

Having seen how bots and spam taken over things with time, I think it'll be a struggle for HN to stay on topic.

HN a few years ago was amazing. Today it's still good, but I feel like I'm at a party and a lot of loud people that weren't invited have showed up.