David Hodges

People Geek, Grassroots Coach, Behavioural Science student and fascinated by human performance. Lover of anything non-linear….

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@ftbl_jack2 @PalaceReport How statistically significant is the data on this? I think this feels more like a narrative and when compared to his on the ball work.

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@LaceUpSoccer I think it depends on how “structured” the work is. Street games have the highest level of transfer, but are a socio-cultural phenomena. I don’t believe they are linear unless in very early pedagogical developmental phases.

Have you read the 👇

https://t.co/NVfsybB9Y4

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@Sam_Dumitriu @DanNeidle But it also employs disproportionately working class people. We need to find a way for the hospitality sector to grow, not slowly die.

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@franciscoftbl The problem is people will take this out of context and apply it to kids training once a week, and not as part of an elite footballs 7 day a week, 52 weeks of the year routine

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@franciscoftbl Specificity is not binary. I’m no S&C expert, but this is arguably sufficiently specific to create loads through the relevant muscles/tendons etc. This likely forms some form of periodised training. Off season is about aerobic base, reducing injury risks etc.

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@PalaceReport It’s his value to us as much as anything. We may not be able to upgrade our squad for 50-60m, so why sell.

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@drhingram I think Reform picked him because he is just a plumber. Reform think Hannah was picked and won just because she is a plumber. But she’s an informed citizen with views and values which she has lived by. Robert’s views and values that he has lived by are clear.

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@LaceUpSoccer Not that it’s a bad report, but that at best it is an under-grad summary of the vast difference in research and how you train is socio-culturally linked.

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@LaceUpSoccer What this report shows, is there are many routes to elite football. This report cherry picks names to fit with evidence, and seems to contradict itself throughout. More structured Technical coaching is needed then a page later more free play in concrete courts are needed.

[Philip O'Callaghan 🎾 @Mr_Tennis_Coach]

One of the most overlooked ideas in skill acquisition is the impact of sociocultural constraints.

These are the cultural, social, and historical influences that shape how players and coaches behave, learn, and develop skill. Over time, they influence what players value, how they solve problems and even the types of movement solutions they develop.

The interesting thing is that many of these influences can feel “normal” because they are so deeply embedded in the environment.

For example:
• Street basketball often encourages creativity and 1v1 problem-solving
• Brazilian football culture is often associated with flair and improvisation
• Informal backyard games encourage exploration without constant instruction

While designing practice tasks and manipulating constraints effectively are going to be crucial, the effect of sociocultrual constraints is something that I’m thinking about more and more in my sessions.

As coaches, I think there are so important things that we need to ask ourselves.
•What sociocultural constraints are present in the environment you coach in?
•What behaviours and playing styles do they encourage?
•How might they influence how players learn and interact with the environment?
•Are there aspects of the culture that may be helping or limiting development?

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

I can’t speak for the credibility of the source- but as a coach the biggest thing I talk to parents about is not burning out their kid through excessive structured practice. At points in their development- less is more. Treat sport like food nutrition- diverse groups of sport.

[Jason Collinsworth @IHateSoccerPod]

We’ve heard how Christian Pulisics parents parented him from, well, his parents. But is that actually how it was?

Here’s one of his old coaches that had Christian at his club for three years describes them.

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@OptaJoe @ManCity Which single team accounts the most for the .72?

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@statsbet @bigpicsoccer @PicklesJacob @GeirJordet Play with your friends in the street, beach, park, garden. Dribble a ball through a busy street, bounce it off a wall into space to receive on that busy street.

[Harry Brooks @hbrooks_coach]

Get rid of VAR immediately.

No one can give a coherent argument as to why it’s better because 99% of decisions needed to be made aren’t objective, they’re subjective so now you’re just killing the soul of the game just for another set of subjective eyes to see it.

And you end up making refereeing worse because they’re human and naturally they will want to avoid certain calls because of VAR behind them.

Even if VAR wasn’t as much of a shambles, you still get rid of it for the good of the game.

In terms of refereeing, you have a huge rewrite of the rules, and you release statements at the start of each season explaining how the game will be reffed this season.

Eg, I’d be saying “people call for consistency but it’s impossible because the game is so quick and every situation is different. These are what we believe the objective thresholds are now in terms of dangerous play etc, and we leave it down to refs interpretation, but appreciate it’s a human sport, human error, like anyone.”

Now everyone knows where they stand, people stop bitching and we can hold officials accountable for their own standards , like any other job. If they continuously underperform, then they’re not the level and they get let go, or go and improve themselves and work back up again.

Then, we can just focus on bloody football.

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@bigpicsoccer Agreed, we have extra time. This allows referee discretion on what is time wasting. We cannot have more time added to games, we have travelling fans on a Tuesday night getting trains across the country.

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@fahdahmed987 @Jon_Mackenzie I mean this image is just trolling the ecological dynamic informed coaches. Descartes and a top down processing view of football 🤣

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@Boba_Ball_ Not true

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@utrolignerd @stirling_j The constraint of algorithms. Jon tried his own format and evidently this was not popular enough and the standard format came back. Personally I like the accessibility of Tifo and the fun they have. I go elsewhere for heterogeneity.

[David Hodges @TelcoDavid]

@Jon_Mackenzie @tZero19e @scoutedftbl Thanks Jon. Appreciate you putting your views out for dialogue. I do agree, positional is not solely Pep’s interpretation of it. I look forward to the book and seeing how this idea of relationism being nested in positionism plays out. It needs more discussion on a better medium.