The Adaptable Athlete Podcast

• Practice That Transfers: From Problem Solving to Game Day w/ Shawn Myszka

  Send us a textShawn Myszka  (the “Movement Miyagi” )  returns to the pod to discuss the theme he and his NFL athletes embraced this offseason: Wu Xin, or “no-mindedness.” It’s an idea that runs throughout skill acquisition — how athletes can free themselves from rigid intentions and better attune to the “what is” in front of them. From there, we dig into his new book, Enhancing Skill in American Football: Revolutionizing Practice Design for Transfer to Game Day, and the golden thread of movement behavior as problem solving. Along the way, we cover why Shawn calls it “partnering” with athletes instead of “owning” them, what Barry Sanders can teach us about adaptability, and some hot takes on the NFL Combine, traditional speed training, and preseason football.Episode ResourcesShawn Myszka’s Book: Enhancing Skill in American Football: Revolutionizing Practice Design for Transfer to Game DayEmergence: emergentmvmt.comShawn Myszka Blog Post – Wu Xin: Turning Off the Mind to Solve More Problems on the FieldBarry Sanders NFL Top 100 Segment: Barry Sanders on “just reacting” (NFL Films)Ep 86 w/ ShawnCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

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• Breaking Free from Perfect Mechanics w/ Garrett Baker

  Send us a textGarrett Baker, Skill Acquisition Specialist and pitching coach with the New York Mets, returns to the Adaptable Athlete Podcast to dive deep into the realities of skill development in baseball.In this episode we discuss:Why breaking free from “perfect mechanics” often unlocks better performanceWhy pitching velocity isn't everythingHow reframing pitchers as “out-getters” changes the way we think about trainingThe pitcher-batter relationship and its central role in pitching successThe impact of conviction and intention on the moundWhy variability and “serious play” are critical to long-term developmentIf you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @[email protected] + Mentions:Garrett Baker’s previous episode: Pitching Beyond the MetricsPOST Framework Paper Jesus Luzardo breakdown with Dallas Braden – Slab LabCertified Skill Acquisition Specialist (CSAS) InfoCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

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• 6 Minutes of Skill: How Does the Weight Room Fit within an Ecological Approach?

  Send us a textWelcome back to the Adaptable Athlete Podcast! In this episode, we dive into another edition of the 6 Minutes of Skill series — where Coach Jav breaks down a key skill acquisition concept in under 6 minutes (or close enough).This time, we’re tackling a big one:How does the weight room fit within an ecological approach?The weight room and ecological dynamics can often feel like they're pulling in different directions. But in this quick-hit episode, Coach Jav unpacks: ✅ Why the weight room isn’t the enemy ✅ How to create meaningful links between strength work and skill ✅ How variability can be a secret weapon in the weight room ✅ Why being weight room strong doesn’t necessarily mean being skillfulIf you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @[email protected] ResourcesEmergence Website Emergence Weight Room CourseCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

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• Talent is Not Linear: Rethinking Player Development in Soccer w/ Justin Ferguson

  Send us a textIn this episode of the Adaptable Athlete Podcast,  I'm joined by Justin Ferguson — Director of Player Development at Minnesota United FC and a coach who’s deeply committed to modern coaching principles.We dig into what it really means to rethink player development, why talent is not a linear process, and how coaches can better support athletes through complex, messy learning environments.Justin shares insights from his work in professional soccer, including how Minnesota United is challenging traditional development models and creating learning environments that actually prepare players for the game.Whether you're coaching elite players or youth athletes, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and give you new ways to think about growth, adaptation, and long-term development.If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @[email protected] + MentionsMinnesota United FCJustin's IGEmergence Website Check out our other episodesCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

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• Speed, Skill, and Solving Problems: A Preview of My Altis Speed Summit Session w/ Stu McMillan

  Send us a textThis episode is a special repost of my conversation with Stu McMillan on the ALTIS Podcast, originally recorded as a lead-up to the ALTIS Speed Summit where I will be presenting.  If you’re attending the Summit this weekend, this will give you a preview of what I’ll be covering in my talk on Saturday, June 7th. The session will be titled "This is Not a Drill: Developing Speed Through Problem Solving." We cover a wide range of topics—everything from designing adaptable athletes to unlearning rigid drill-based models. Whether you're new to ecological dynamics or deep into it, this conversation bridges theory and real-world coaching.The ALTIS Speed Summit kicks off on Friday, June 6th, and my presentation is on Saturday, June 7th.Key Topics Discussed:✅ Why repeatable outcomes matter more than repeatable movements ✅ How to build learning environments that guide problem solving ✅ What coaches need to unlearn to truly develop adaptable athletes ✅ The role of perception, variability, and context in speed training ✅ Transitioning from traditional  models to ecological dynamicsResources & Mentions:ALTIS Speed Summit Info: altis.worldThe Adaptable Athlete Podcast: theadaptableathlete.comEmergence Website: emergentmvmt.com“How We Learn to Move” – Rob Gray: Buy on AmazonCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

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