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Harjiv Singh, PhD Profile
Harjiv Singh, PhD

@singh_harjiv

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Sr. Performance and Development Scientist @hornets | prev: @orlandomagic & @gr_rise | Motor Control and Learning | Views are own | 💍 @raighteous

Joined April 2017
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Because tomorrow is my first day…excited to share that I’ve joined the @OrlandoMagic as a sport scientist (performance and development). Excited to finish my PhD and head down to Orlando. Tons of people to thank, but most importantly, Dr. Wulf for her guidance!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Earlier today, I successfully defended my dissertation. There are many people to thank. Specifically, Dr. Gaby Wulf, my committee members, and to Dr. Richard Magill, who each have played an integral role in this journey. Onwards! #sportscience #motorlearning
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Sport Scientists: -attend every practice -build a relationship with players, coaching, sports med, high performance, front office -build good, purposeful and communicative data models/KPIs -understand skill acquisition, biomechanics, AND mental performance. Do not silo yourself.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Four excellent books for anyone in the realm of motor learning! @ShakeyWaits @dr_jump_uk @amishijha @anniemurphypaul
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Be specific in your goal, but variable in your parameter. 2+2 = 4 but so does (6-2), (3+1), and (5+5)-6.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
Couldn't make commencement today, but I graduated! What a journey - PhD in Motor Control and Learning! p.s. If any student/professional ever wants to talk shop, I've linked my calendly below. #sportscience #motorlearning
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
Fundamental skills don’t exist. Skills are used abilities. Skills are contextual abilities. Contextual abilities are capacities. Skills don’t have ‘basics’. Skills have timescales. Efficiency is learned timescales. Motor learning 🤝 Sport science
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Couple things on verbal feedback: -Reducing feedback frequency enhances learning -Delaying feedback is beneficial (error estimation) -Concurrent feedback is not effective -Asking learners to estimate their errors is effective
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
5 years
Neuroplasticity and the Myth of Muscle Memory: An Introduction.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Every time I hear “muscle memory”
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
1 year
"He has some slightly unorthodox methods — including something coaches call differential training, which involves changing the demands, environment and equipment to add variability and destabilise players. Providing them with different problems to solve..
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
For coaches and clinicians interested in autonomy... ❌It’s not “how can I motivate others” ✅but rather, “how can I create conditions within which others will motivate themselves?”
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Journals should have podcasts where authors discuss their publications to the broad audience who may not have access to journal publications.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Sport Scientists: 📈Data should be clear, measurable, & actionable. 👀Understand what is useful vs not 🚨Evidence AND opinion, not just one 🗣 Sport Science is a conversation. So have it. 💪 Athlete management systems need to include motor learning 💯Everything can be quantified
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Excited to see this one in final print! I've always been intrigued by how words can elicit distance. Dr. Wulf has been so supportive through this process. Stay tuned for more! Also happy to get some volleyball literature out there!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
5 years
I wrote a paragraph of my manuscript and it took all day. Probably will change it tomorrow. But man, I feel good. @AcademicChatter
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
10 months
In addition to my current role, I’ve also joined the faculty at @UMKines where I’ll be part of the Human Performance and Sport Science Center. The doctoral program was recently ranked #1 in the country. 💪
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
1 year
Motor Learning friends, coaches, and other practitioners… Check out the new OPTIMAL theory website by Dr. Gabriele Wulf (my awesome advisor!)
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
8 months
If I can recommend any book to those curious about ecological psychology, it’s this one!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
“Skill” and “drill” are not the same. You never drill a skill - you drill a motor pattern. Likewise, you never engage in skill with a drill because a motor pattern within skill is never a “pattern” - (a repeated design) (1580’s). #coachdevelopment
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Sport scientists: 📝 A notebook and pen(cil) is still a piece of important technology. 📈 all collected data is not relevant data 🧠 read an article everyday (have a database and plan of what you read and how it will help you/athletes or understand your research better!)
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Excited to teach my first college course! Prof Singh!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Stop using the word, “drill.” A drill is defined as executing prescribed movements. It comes from the early 1600s describing military exercise, but is an extension of pre-determined agreed upon procedures.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
… and three years later ‼️ that’s a wrap Las Vegas! Excited to start this journey to Orlando and be officially join the @OrlandoMagic as a Performance and Development Scientist. Stay tuned for PhD defense information later this semester!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Fun fact, I set aside some of my GA Stipend for book(s) every month. My grandfather who inspired me to pursue a PhD had a full separate library attached to their house in India that my father built. Here’s to this months order! Excited to dig in.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Started my PhD three years ago trying to understand how attention effected movement variability. Bridging together both motor learning and biomechanics is a lot of fun. Two years ago, I started my final PhD project (covid delay). I just completed all analysis. Stay tuned 😊
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
5 years
It's critical to understand several theoretical constructs (i.e., social cognitive) in order to understand motor learning as a whole. Here are some. More than happy to send papers.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
Starting year 2 in the NBA and one thing I’ve learned is that the motor learning literature is about 10% whereas building relationship is the other 90%. The latter drives the former. This perspective has challenged my own research but also should challenge the field.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
PhD students: It gets hard. At times you want to give up. Your passion for the topic goes up and down. You feel like you always need more guidance. A project takes months and a desk rejection takes seconds… It’s OK to take two steps back and three steps forward! 😉🎯 #phdchat
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
The idea of using blocked practice to enhance confidence is not well evidenced. Confidence is a product of feel and action more so than outcome. It is also different for each individual. Understanding mental skills through an ecological lens may help as well.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Nideffer (1976) quadrant of attention is another critical attribute to overall skill periodization. For example, in a game week or in general, a pre-season, season, post-season. Good video:
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
When talking about skill acquisition, learning is not something done TO the individual but something done BY the individual. This perspective is critical to HOW you coach.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Been studying coach wooden’s methodologies for some time - practice in 5-10 min segments - alternate heavy and light drills - demonstrations by veteran players - a library of all practice plans, with hours blocked off in morning to design that day’s practice.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Las Vegas ✈️ Orlando Start of something special!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
5 years
You can have technique, but no skill Technique - physical movement patterns associated with any given activity (context free, fixed action pattern). Skill - Relates to using the technique in the environment for which it is intended. Slight, but important difference!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
The more I study coaching, and more specifically the relationship between motor learning, biomechanics, and volleyball (novice to more skilled), the more I realize that: 1) Coaches are not really educated in motor learning 2) There is a lot room to grow for this sport in the US
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
1 year
Excellent paper by @JoClubbSportSci , @DrSianAllen and team. Reminds me of the shift from KPI's to KDI's (key development indicators) that I've often use within the player development space. Definitely a recommended read!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
Player development is (approximated) 10% science 90% relationship This is an emotional transaction, not just better practice design. Motor learning 🤝 Sport science
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
Development has often been considered as something in which skills are “refined” (narrowed) or “perfected.” It’s the exact opposite. Development is something in which skills are “broadened” or “amorphous” Motor learning 🤝 Player development
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
If I could teach a motor skill learning course over a semester, here are major (big rocks) topics to cover. If it’s for coach education or a clinical program, it would be over multiple semesters or more focused topics with both “what” and “how” components.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
1 year
You never actually “repeat” movement (unsure where this came from). There is always a level of variance. Whether or not this variance is enough for learning is the actual question. We don’t learn by “repetition” but the differences in repetition. #sportscience #motorlearning
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
6 years
Overheard an NBA “shooting coach” say that anyone can retrain muscle memory. True, but last time I checked, muscles didn’t have independent memory. You’re retraining the plastic nature of the CNS. How you do that is with for example, attention, variability, etc
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Feedback on the decision > feedback on the outcome
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
1 year
We often think of training load (external) with things like GPS and this is considered a way to understand injury risk. However, we fail to study things like challenge point and from a motor learning lens, there's a whole untaped area for investigation.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
I’m interested to connect with coaches to better understand how you decide what to do in practice. Please dm and RT. Big gap in the literature!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
✅ teaching motor development x 4 ✅ job accepted @OrlandoMagic ✅ PhD data collection Thankful.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
“Effective questioning depends largely upon the psychological climate established by the teacher. If pupils are afraid to participate or contradict the teacher, little reflective or critical thinking can be expected." - Hollingsworth, 1982
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
My grandfather taught me that knowing history is the only way you understand the present. It’s taken me some time to get some of these books (<1950s not pictured), alongside some original writings (not pictured).Did you know William Wundt first studied perceptual processes!?
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Thanks for all the love. Excited to bring motor learning to the forefront of professional sport all while engaging in more research with some of the best athletes in the world.
@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Because tomorrow is my first day…excited to share that I’ve joined the @OrlandoMagic as a sport scientist (performance and development). Excited to finish my PhD and head down to Orlando. Tons of people to thank, but most importantly, Dr. Wulf for her guidance!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Effective Feedback: ✅focuses on critical aspects of the task( similar to intrinsic) ✅informational or motivational ✅transitional ✅results in an external focus ✅provides autonomy ✅short ✅low frequency ✅highlights success more ✅considers body language/tone
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Recommended book for all coaches and clinicians.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
9 months
First day of class! Excited to teach at the home of the college football national champs! We’ve got some great students. Please inquire if you’re looking for interns.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Our recent publication is now available in ahead of print!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
Coach education needs to start with the questions, “what is practice?” “why practice?” rather than start by providing tools or rationales to enhance/optimize practice.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
I’m glad this paper was published. This is the new high performance model if not already. Motor control 🤝 Sport science Motor Control: A Conceptual Framework for Rehabilitation
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Every sport scientist should read this book. What great insight on probability and more. #motorlearning #sportscience #datascience
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
In my personal opinion, all coaches and clinicians should be familiar with the constraints led approach as well as the optimal theory. Designing practice with the environment in mind while satisfying ones psychological and attentional needs is what we need to shift too.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
6 years
Feedback is instructive. 1. “Nice serve” - no information Player, “thanks” 2. “Nice serve, loved the way you pushed the ball to the end line.” (Action verb) Player, “hmm, I focused on the end line on my third step, speed felt comfortable and I contacted the ball faster.”
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
You don't 'train the brain' or do "cognitive training." You acquire "skill" which by definition is the power to discern, which again by definition is to perceive or recognize something. By acquiring skill, you develop aspects of cognition.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Excited to put this together for our community and others interested in career paths within Kinesiology. More information later this week! Save the date!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
If you're an instructor for motor learning, we've put together some resources for you. Great virtual labs courtesy of Dr. Carlsen and Dr. Maslovat, the P/A podcast by @ShakeyWaits , the skill acquisition blog by @TimBuszard and team, and more!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Just because one is proficient in the skill doesn’t mean they are proficient in the technique. Just because one is proficient in the technique, doesn’t mean they are proficient in the skill. Technique doesn’t drive skill. Skill drives technique.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Pretty cool being on “TV” and talking about my dissertation work on attention and expertise !
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Achieving higher levels of skill is less to do with an optimal technique but more to do with developing control over the body’s abundant degrees of freedom. An optimal technique may paradoxically constrain the motor system more.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
Skill learning can learn a lot from strength and conditioning. Can we periodize contextual interference? (Paper on the way 👀) Can we quantify drill duration/reps/rest? Can we have activation and cool down “sessions”?
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
I use my Twitter specifically for academic reasons but I’m sorry, don’t EVER compare my turban to that of wearing a mask. You inconsiderate asshole.
@PeggiesTeeth
Peggie’s Teeth
4 years
According to Peggy, wearing a mask is akin to wearing a turban in the Sikh religion. @sikh_coalition @SikhProf Care to let her know why it’s not the same?
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
Something to consider when discussing challenge point is not just the design of practice or the psychological underpinning, but from a sport science perspective, functional task difficulty is a correlate of strain and load magnitude (force/energy storage) as well.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Really nice article on the art vs. science of coaching. Another reason why understanding motor behavior through a social-cognitive-affective lens is key!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
Systems approach is really insightful in the realm of player development. Really enjoyed this book! If anyone in pro sport likes to chat player development in systems thinking, DM is open! So much to still learn in this space.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
Small sided games are so powerful. However the implementation of them is often misinterpreted. Their integration in sport science is critical! How small-sided and conditioned games enhance acquisition of movement and decision-making skills
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
I think it’s time to shift to utilizing movement variability (differential learning in my opinion) for high performance/injury risk. Injury risk is a systems based issue not just a mechanical one. Really hope PTs/ATs etc get exposed to this science!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Wise words!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
Here's our latest work on attentional focus and functional variability in highly skilled (volleyball) athletes using the UCM methodology in @JSportsSci . Big thanks to this great team! Feel free to DM for a PDF copy. 50 free copies -
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Contrary to popular belief, it is sometimes ok to do blocked practice. Nonetheless, an important factor is to distinguish between learning and performance.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
6 years
Don’t constrain a drill so a player has to do something, that makes it predetermined. That isn’t sport.That defeats the purpose. Constrain the drill so the player has options to do this or that depending on some stimuli. That’s sport and learning. That’s transferable.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
If you're interested in conscious control and how it can affect motor performance - Theory of reinvestment (Masters and Maxwell, 2008) Constrained Action (Wulf, 2013) Goal-Action Coupling (Wulf and Lewthwaite, 2016) Explicit monitoring theory (Beilock and Carr, 2001)
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
2 years
“Coaching Philosophy” is just a race towards exclusivity. Often times, it’s the combination of several different methodologies that make philosophies thrive. Coach education should likely get away from this ill defined concept of having a coaching philosophy.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Skill acquisition/ Motor learning friends! What’s one paper that has influenced your research/practice the most? This can be of any type (theory, review, meta, experimental, etc) Yes, you can only post one!!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Excited to get this one out there! Thanks to Dr. Wulf for her support! Glad we were able to chat volleyball a little bit here 🤗
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Talent development, long-term athlete development, and player development are not the same thing. However the integration of all three in a systematic way (decades of research in all three areas to support) will aid in developing a robust player development initiative.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
What feedback actually makes a difference? (Thread) ❌Avoid the feedback sandwich (positive, negative, positive) Ex. “I really like how you’re staying ready on defense. But you’re still a second late on getting to the spot. Keep working, I think you can be great.”
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Here’s another coaching myth: You need to develop the fundamentals before getting sport specific.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
“Biomechanics is for the instructor’s brain, not the player’s. Motor control and learning is your translator” -Dr. Will Wu
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Excited to hear I was awarded a graduate student research award to do some on court volleyball research related to motor learning using some cool technology! Stay tuned! ...my first funding award! Definitely worth all the time spent on writing that grant!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
4 years
Comprehensive exams passed! Officially a candidate! Thanks to my awesome committee!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Proofs are exciting! Really enjoyed putting this together with two great individuals. Utilizing an external focus is hard, especially after injury. We tried to clarify some things. Stay tuned!
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Boom 👊
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
As I write my dissertation on attention and the development of skilled performance, I find myself going back to basic biological systems. Differential learning seems to be the only thing that makes sense at this point…it is the future of learning and performance.
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
5 years
Being the only PhD student under the advisor, how to handle multiple projects (3); manuscripts, teaching load, and classes? All the while balancing life and hobbies? What’s worked for you? @AcademicChatter
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@singh_harjiv
Harjiv Singh, PhD
3 years
Skill acquisition tip if you’re working in applied sport - start with why. Why you’re doing specific “drills” How can those activities scale in terms of periodization (when)? What can make them more representative? What is measurable for learning? …more!
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