Nonlinear pedagogy and being skill-full: levelling up your skills through experience with Dr Alex Lascu.

In this episode of the River Tiger podcast, Dr. Alex Lascu joins me to discuss nonlinear pedagogy and its practical applications. Alex explains that nonlinear systems lack proportionality, meaning small changes can have unpredictable impacts, and emphasises the importance of understanding stability and noise in movement. We explore how these concepts challenge traditional coaching methods, advocating for adaptability and responsiveness over rigid plans. Examples include cricket coaching, where focusing on head movement rather than footwork enhances agility, and the slow development of tendon strength in climbing. The conversation highlights the need for coaches to embrace uncertainty and foster adaptable, meta-stable states in their athletes. About my guest: “Dr Alex Lascu is a learning scientist working in coach development for grassroots cricket in Western Australia. Their recent PhD in talent development and skill acquisition was all about how to design pathways and training to better support athlete development and inspire a lifelong love of learning and sport. Now, they spend their days thinking about how we can help coaches explore their learning too, by translating research and practice into real world experiences for coaches. You can find their work at skillacqlascu.com across podcasts, social media, newsletters, and consultancy services.”