The Adaptable Athlete Podcast

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In this episode, Coach Jav sits down with Steve Whalen to explore his journey into coaching, his shift toward ecological dynamics, and what it means to truly design learning environments that transfer to competition.
Steve shares how he entered tennis coaching from a non-traditional background, the tensions he experienced within traditional coach education, and the turning points that led him toward a constraints-led approach. The conversation unpacks why players who look sharp in practice often struggle in matches, how coaches can better understand learning and performance, and what it takes to bridge the gap between research and real-world coaching.
They also discuss Steve’s work mentoring coaches globally, his upcoming research in ecological dynamics, and the broader direction of modern coach education.
The upcoming Sport Movement Skill Conference (June 5–6) is also discussed  you can learn more and register here
If you’re looking for a practical starting point for designing more effective sessions, download the Modern Coach’s Practice Checklist and check out thecoachjav.com for more resources!


Episode Resources
Steve's website
Steve on Instagram 
2026 Sport Movement Skill Conference (SMSC)
 Modern Coach’s Practice Checklist - Free coaching guide 
The Adaptable Athlete Podcast
Emergence
Support & Contact
If you enjoyed today’s episode, leave a review and share it with another coach or athlete who’d appreciate it.
 You can reach Coach Jav on social media at @thecoachjav
or by email at [email protected]

Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io

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Twitter: @thecoachjav
IG: @thecoachjav

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In this episode, Coach Jav sits down with Emergence co-founder Shawn Myszka to preview the 2026 Sport Movement Skill Conference (SMSC). They unpack this year’s theme — “Challenge Point” — and explain why the conference will feature debate-style matchups between leading voices from differing theoretical foundations.
The conversation explores why now is the right time to bring contrasting coaching philosophies back to the table, how intellectual sparring can sharpen clarity, and what attendees can expect from both the debates and hands-on practical sessions.
From matchups like Shawn Myszka vs. Tony Villani , Tyler Yearby vs. Jeff Moyer and Jav vs. Tony Holler, to practical sessions spanning MMA, baseball, team sport environments, and Olympic preparation, this year’s SMSC aims to challenge assumptions while fostering connection.
The 9th Annual Sport Movement Skill Conference takes place June 5–6 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Don’t forget: The Modern Coach's Planner is now back in stock!!  Get it here  
 
Resources
Sport Movement Skill Conference 2026
Certified Skill Acquisition Specialist (CSAS) Information
Podcast Website
Ep. 110 with Shawn

Support & Contact
If you enjoyed today’s episode, leave a review and share it with another coach or athlete who’d appreciate it.
 You can reach Coach Jav on social media at @thecoachjav
or by email at [email protected]

Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io

Let's Chat!
Twitter: @thecoachjav
IG: @thecoachjav

Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of The Adaptable Athlete Podcast, Coach Jav breaks down three mistakes he made while applying ecological dynamics and the constraints-led approach in his coaching.
From prioritizing drills over principles, to progressing athletes from decontextualized work instead of designing representative learning environments, to failing to give athletes ownership in the skill acquisition process, Coach Jav reflects on what changed — and why it matters for modern coaching.
If you’re a coach exploring ecological dynamics, skill acquisition, or looking to move beyond traditional drill-based training, this episode offers a practical and honest look at what applying these concepts actually requires in real-world settings.
This conversation touches on principles vs drills, contextual training design, scaling complexity, athlete feedback, and how to build adaptable performers.
Resources & Links:
The Modern Coach Planner
Sport Movement Skill Conference 2026
More Pod Episodes
Watch the show on Youtube 
Support & Contact
If you enjoyed today’s episode, leave a review and share it with another coach or athlete who’d appreciate it.
 You can reach Coach Jav on social media at @thecoachjav
or by email at [email protected]

Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io

Let's Chat!
Twitter: @thecoachjav
IG: @thecoachjav

Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, coach Jav breaks down the most common mistakes coaches make in agility training—and why many popular drills fail to transfer to sport.
Inspired by a recent Six of the Best contribution with Sportsmith (Emergence Co-founder Shawn, Myszka was also featured), the the episode centers on a core problem: coaches often give athletes the answers instead of setting real problems to solve.
Jav explains why repetition without context limits adaptability, why randomness alone isn’t enough, and how poor information sources—like verbal cues, lights, or inanimate objects—can disconnect training from competition. He closes with three practical shifts coaches can make immediately to design more effective, sport-relevant agility environments.
This episode is for coaches who want to move beyond scripted drills and develop truly adaptable athletes.
Don’t forget: The Modern Coach's Planner is now back in stock!!  https://thecoachjav.com/products/modern-coach-planner

Support & Contact
If you enjoyed today’s episode, leave a review and share it with another coach or athlete who’d appreciate it.
 You can reach Coach Jav on social media at @thecoachjav
or by email at [email protected]

Resources & Links
The podcast on YouTube
Sportsmith 
The Adaptable Athlete Podcast:
Emergence
Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io

Let's Chat!
Twitter: @thecoachjav
IG: @thecoachjav

Send us Fan Mail
The Modern Coach's Planner — built for coaches who think differently — Back!

Order yours today at: https://thecoachjav.com/products/modern-coach-planner

In this episode, coach Jav sits down with Rob Gray to explore what comes after the basics of ecological dynamics and the constraints-led approach.
They discuss why “fundamentals first” thinking continues to persist in sport, how constraints can lose their effectiveness over time, and the difference between developing skill and maintaining it at higher levels of performance. Rob also shares practical insights from his work across multiple sports, including how to scale difficulty, design more representative practice environments, and avoid turning data into rigid technique prescriptions.
This conversation is for coaches who are already experimenting with modern approaches and want to go deeper into how athletes actually adapt, learn, and perform.
Don’t forget: The Modern Coach's Planner is now available for pre-order at https://thecoachjav.com/products/modern-coach-planner

Support & Contact
If you enjoyed today’s episode, leave a review and share it with another coach or athlete who’d appreciate it.
 You can reach Coach Jav on social media at @thecoachjav
or by email at [email protected]

Resources & Links
Rob Gray – The Advanced Ecological Approach
Rob Gray’s website
The Adaptable Athlete Podcast:
Emergence

Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io

Let's Chat!
Twitter: @thecoachjav
IG: @thecoachjav