Undeniably, the Constaint-led Approach (CLA) is a great strategy to coaching sports, with growing scientific evidence demonstrating its effectiveness. In order to manipulate some constraints, the use of specific tools or devices might be necessary, especially if you want to change “technique.” Things that performers wear or have in their environment that constrain their behavior.
In this post I just want to share devices that were built to manipulate constraints. My goal is to give you ideas so you can think on what or how to build relevant devices for your sport!
Constraint for power clean using agility poles. The poles serve to prevent the performer from pulling the bar too away from the body.
From: Verhoeff, W., Millar, S.K. and Oldham, T., 2018. Constraints-led approach to coaching the power clean. ISBS Proceedings Archive, 36(1), p.1036. (13).
Using a bar as a constraint to prevent the athlete from standing too tall in the first three explosive steps.
From: Renshaw, I., Davids, K., Newcombe, D., & Roberts, W. (2019). The constraints-led approach: Principles for sports coaching and practice design. Routledge.
Tennis racquet with added weight to stimulate new movement solutions.
Custom device for volleyball that prevents elbow from flexing. Forcing the athlete to perform the underhand passes with elbows extended (appropriate).Also, the athlete can squeeze a ball with the thumbs, which helps in properly holding the hands together during the execution of the movement.
Concluding Remarks
Creativity is a cornerstone of effective coaching—especially when working within the CLA framework. Designing and adapting devices to shape affordances and guide exploration isn’t just innovative; it’s transformative. Whether you’re repurposing everyday tools or inventing something entirely new, your creations can unlock deeper learning and richer movement solutions.
If you’ve built something that enhances your coaching practice, I’d love to hear about it. Share your ideas through the contact tab—let’s inspire others and grow this community of creative coaches together.
