Playing with Coordination

I love games and have a pretty strong competitive streak, even with myself. So when I learned about a way of training that involves more of a game-like approach, I knew I would enjoy it!

The typical pattern of strength or skill training is a lot of consecutive repetition, with a certain number of reps and sets on each side. While this allows for a lot of focus on all of the elements of the particular skill being trained, adding a coordination chart/game requires more visual skills, rhythm, eye-body coordination, and frontal lobe activation (decision-making). Here’s how it works:

• Download the chart offered here by Z-Health® Performance (and for more information on using the chart, read their blog post here) and attach it to the wall at eye level

• Choose a physical skill that you can do one side at a time. For example, a simple version could be tapping your thigh with your hand.

• Then, as you read the rows of the chart, if the star is on the right side of the line, do your skill on the right, if it is on the left side of the line, do your skill on the left, and if the star is on the line, do both sides at the same time.

• It is important to keep going if you make a mistake, and try to have a nice consistent rhythm. With practice, your speed should improve.

As a competitive person, I try to (a) not make any mistakes, and (b) go faster than I did before :) As a dancer, there are numerous ways to apply this to skill practice. I had some time the other day and explored a few versions, two of which are below. What versions can you come up with? Let me know in the comments below.