Integrated Approach

An integrated approach to coaching recognizes that there are 4 main components or skill groups that are required to develop a complete player.

These are called the 4 Performance Factors:

• Psychological

• Physical

• Tactical

• Technical

A player will possess varying levels of competency in these 4 areas. These performance factors are interconnected for all players at all levels of competition. The outcome of matches and one’s ability to perform in competition is influenced by the level of competency an athlete has in all 4 skill groups. For instance, a player with “nice looking” technique who doesn’t move well (physical), is easily distracted (psychological), or lacks sound decision-making skills (tactical), will not be an effective performer. We have all seen examples of players who have “nice looking” technique, but who struggle to perform in competition. Conversely, we also see many players who might have what is considered “ugly” technique but perform at a very high level because they “know how to compete” and possess the necessary tactical, physical, and psychological skills to compete at a high level.

An integrated approach recognizes that these 4 performance factors must be trained in a cohesive and systematic way if we truly want to improve a player’s ability to perform in competition. An experienced and well- trained coach can help identify which skills need to be prioritized and trained at any given time based on the level of the player they are coaching and the player’s own goals and objectives.