Part-Part-Whole vs. Whole-Part-Whole Coaching
When it comes to learning/coaching a new movement pattern, or in the case of team sports a skills development activity, in the gym or on the field there is more than one way to get there. Two useful strageties for the coaching process are Part-Part-Whole (PPW) and Whole-Part-Whole (WPW). Now while the two methods both use the DDCDD ( DESCRIBE it, DEMONSTRATE it, and CUE it; athletes will DO it; and both will DEBRIEF it) Coaching Loop found in Language of Coaching (https://humankinetics.me/2021/02/10/what-is-the-coaching-communication-loop-and-how-can-you-use-it/). PPW coaching takes the movement you are looking to correct and breaks it up into its base parts before returning to the whole. For this discussion we will use the example of a Lateral Med Ball Throw. The big benefit of this method is that you allow the athlete to find the feelings they need to have without the distraction of the Med Ball. If the athlete has issues with more than one component of the movement ...