What are Technique Drills?

Technique drills are specific patterns used to improve specific aspects of technique or to correct faults. Whichever drills are used they must be correct for the required action and should be the result of careful analysis and accurate observation. Drills should not be copied slavishly but should be selected to produce a specific effect, e.g., Running Drills are used to develop important components of proper and economical running technique. Faults can be caused by

1. Incorrect understanding of the movement by the athlete.

2. Poor physical abilities.

3. Poor co-ordination of movement.

4. Incorrect application of power.

5. Lack of concentration

6. Inappropriate clothing or footwear.

7. External factors, e.g., weather conditions.

Assessment of Performance

Assessment or measurement is a most important step in all kinds of activities for improvements. It shows how much the desired objectives have been achieved. In the process of assessment, initially, visual feedback from the athlete’s movement is compared with the technical model to be achieved. Athletes should be encouraged to evaluate their own performance. In assessing the performance of an athlete following points are to be considered:

1. Whether the basics are correct or not.

2. Whether the direction of the movement is correct or not.

3. Whether the rhythm is correct or not.

It is important to ask athletes to remember how it felt when correct examples of movement are demonstrated (kinesthetic feedback).

Appropriate checklists/notes can be used to assist the coach in the assessment of an athlete’s technique.

The following are some examples:

Sprint Technique.

Running Technique for the Middle Distance runner.