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What most commonly prohibits an effective lead leg block?
I'll tell you what doesn't: lead leg strength.
Unfortunately, this is the easy explanation that many coaches run with.
Here's a 1 day before/after where the goal was to impact lead leg block with minimal coaching.
I'll tell you what doesn't: lead leg strength.
Unfortunately, this is the easy explanation that many coaches run with.
Here's a 1 day before/after where the goal was to impact lead leg block with minimal coaching.
Understanding the pawback mechanism tells us that lead leg blocking has more to with:
1) Creating pelvic rotation vs. rear leg extension
2) Adjusting posture/center of mass during torso rotation (staying stacked/behind the lead leg)
Notice early extension / CoM leaking forward
1) Creating pelvic rotation vs. rear leg extension
2) Adjusting posture/center of mass during torso rotation (staying stacked/behind the lead leg)
Notice early extension / CoM leaking forward
Understanding the flaw, there are a couple options.
- Verbal cues to reinforce rotation and CoM
- Creating a constraint that is specific to the pattern while respecting the rest of the sequence
With a hurdle constraint (no cues), the pattern began to change immediately.
- Verbal cues to reinforce rotation and CoM
- Creating a constraint that is specific to the pattern while respecting the rest of the sequence
With a hurdle constraint (no cues), the pattern began to change immediately.
While this was a big change, you can see he still cheats the move with some extension, and leaks his upper half forward.
The next day we added one cue: "stay behind the front leg"
Here's one where he stayed a bit too far back and got stuck - you can see the pawback in action.
The next day we added one cue: "stay behind the front leg"
Here's one where he stayed a bit too far back and got stuck - you can see the pawback in action.
Addressing the issue in a constraint drill is very different from blending it to the mound. As we backwards chain in other segments, we'll need to watch for signs of pattern breakdown as they arise.
As you can see, we as coaches attempt to understand the underlying mechanisms, then distill that down to a simple constraint and/or singular cue and evaluate the effect on the athlete.
If positive, backwards chain one variable at a time until that change sticks.
If positive, backwards chain one variable at a time until that change sticks.
What does progressing 1 variable at a time look like?
Torso rotation (10 toes drill)
+ Lead leg block (lasso drill)
+ Pelvic load/unload (rhythm rocker)
+ Linear move (step back slide step, etc.)
+ Leg lift/drift (Step back, WW, delivery, etc.)
Example: https://twitter.com/TreadAthletics/status/1338994155981312004?s=20
Torso rotation (10 toes drill)
+ Lead leg block (lasso drill)
+ Pelvic load/unload (rhythm rocker)
+ Linear move (step back slide step, etc.)
+ Leg lift/drift (Step back, WW, delivery, etc.)
Example: https://twitter.com/TreadAthletics/status/1338994155981312004?s=20