The Adaptable Athlete Podcast

• 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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• 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 I’ll be delivering both a presentation and a practical session 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:SMSC 2025 tickets 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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• SMSC 25' Speaker Spotlight: Michael Zweifel

  Send us a textThis episode of the Adaptable Athlete Podcast is part of our special SMSC 25’ Speaker Spotlight Series, highlighting some of the world-class minds presenting at the 2025 Sport Movement Skill Conference, June 26–27 in St. Paul, Minnesota.We're bringing back a classic: Episode 8 with Michael Zwiefel, an impactful voice in our field and a longtime influence on how we approach athlete development. Formerly the founder of Building Better Athletes, Michael now serves as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Wisconsin–La Crosse, where he applies ecological principles in a team setting.Key Topics Discussed:✅ Making warmups representative and engaging ✅ Transitioning from coaching with instructions to guiding with environment ✅ Working with youth athletes in a way that ignites passion, not burnout ✅ Progressing from 1v1 to more complex and chaotic movement problems ✅ Why strength coaches must understand tactical demands of sport ✅ Finding “aliveness” in warmups—starting sessions with real movement problemsf you work with athletes in any context—private or team, youth or elite—this one is packed with insight.Register for SMSC 2025 Come see Michael live at this year’s in-person Sport Movement Skill Conference: 🔗 Register hereResources + Mentions:Warm-Up Course: Reconceptualizing the Warm-Up “Change of Direction vs. Agility” (Young et al., 2002)Origins CourseMichael on XEmergence WebsiteCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

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• SMSC 25' Speaker Spotlight: Scott Sievewright

  Send us a textIn this repost episode of the podcast, we revisit one of our most favorite conversations — a deep dive into combat sport skill acquisition with Scott Sievewright, founder of Primal MMA and host of the Primal MMA Coaching Podcast.Scott brings an athlete-centered and constraints-led approach to his work with MMA athletes. In this conversation, we discuss how to design representative practice without traditional drills, how to keep intensity high while still respecting athlete safety, and why coaches should shift from cueing movement to shaping it through context.Scott will be one of our featured presenters at the 2025 Sport Movement Skill Conference happening June 26–27 in St. Paul, MN. Get your ticket at:🔹 Key Topics Discussed:✅ What a live, constraints-led approach looks like in MMA ✅ Why Scott eliminated drilling entirely from his practice ✅ Managing contact, safety, and intensity in striking and grappling ✅ How ecological dynamics helps simplify coaching ✅ Why Scott avoids over-coaching and embraces organized chaos ✅ What it means to train perception and action together📌 Resources & Mentions: Primal MMA Coaching Podcast Primal MMA Website Scott’s Coaching Philosophy & Framework SMSC 2025 Tickets & Info💡Like what you hear? Then you’ll love what Scott brings in person at this year’s conference.Register now and join us in St. Paul, MN – June 26–27, 2025.Stay connected at The Adaptable Athlete for more great conversations.Want to take your coaching to the next level?...check our our courses at Emergence.Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

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