Trainer's Bullpen

Summary: In this episode of the Trainer's Bullpen, host Chris Butler engages with Scott Sievewright, a leading figure in the field of skill acquisition and coaching in martial arts. They discuss the ecological dynamics approach to training, contrasting it with traditional information processing methods. Scott shares his journey from a conventional coaching background to embracing a technique-less, principles-based training philosophy. The conversation delves into the importance of guiding athletes' intentions and attention, the concept of representative learning design, and the challenges of managing diverse skill levels in training environments. They also explore the constraints-led approach, emphasizing how coaches can manipulate various constraints to optimize learning and performance in athletes. In this conversation, Scott also explores the principles of ecological dynamics and the constraints-led approach in coaching, particularly in martial arts and law enforcement training. They discuss the importance of understanding constraints, the concept of affordances, and how individual perception affects training outcomes. The conversation emphasizes the need for authentic movement, balancing safety with realism in training, and the significance of representative design even in warm-ups. Scott shares insights on creating a culture of care in training environments and the necessity of adapting training to individual capabilities. Takeaways: • Traditional coaching often relies on a prescriptive, technique-based model. • Ecological dynamics emphasizes the interaction between organisms and their environment. • Guiding intention and attention is crucial for effective coaching. • Training should start with representative learning designs from day one. • Managing diverse skill levels in training requires a generalist approach. • The constraints-led approach is synonymous with effective coaching. • Coaches can manipulate constraints to elicit desired behaviors in athletes. • Understanding the challenge point is essential for optimal learning outcomes. Coaching has always been constraint-based. • Understanding constraints can elevate coaching effectiveness. • Affordances are opportunities for action in the environment. • Authentic movement reflects the personality of the athlete. • Safety in training must balance realism and injury prevention. • Representative design should be integrated into warm-ups. • Self-organization allows the body to adapt to tasks naturally. • Game intelligence is crucial for quick decision-making in combat. • Cultivating perception-action relationships is essential for skill development. • Creating a supportive training culture enhances learning and safety. For more great info visit Scott's podcast at 'The Primal MMA Coaching Podcast'

Summary: In this conversation, Chris Butler and Dr. Nick Winkelman, author of 'The Language of Coaching: The Art and Science of Teaching Movement', explore the intersection of coaching language and motor learning, particularly in the context of law enforcement training. They discuss the importance of effective communication in coaching, the impact of language on performance, and the balance between internal and external cues. Winkelman shares his journey in coaching and the development of the Coaching Communication Loop, emphasizing the need for flexibility in coaching approaches. The discussion also highlights the significance of allowing learners to experience struggle and mistakes as part of the learning process. In this conversation, Winkelman discusses the intricacies of coaching and learning, emphasizing the importance of understanding an athlete's learning capacity and mood. He explores the role of coaches in motivating learners, setting clear expectations, and providing engaging feedback. The discussion also highlights the significance of language in performance and the balance between internal and external focus for optimal learning and execution. Takeaways: • Nick Winkelman emphasizes the importance of language in coaching and motor learning. • Effective coaching requires understanding the intersection of what a coach says and what an athlete hears. • Learning is defined as the ability to express a change without reminders or prompts. • Analogies and external cues enhance learning and performance in movement skills. • The Coaching Communication Loop consists of describe, demonstrate, cue, do, and debrief. • Internal cues focus on body mechanics, while external cues focus on outcomes. • Allowing learners to struggle is essential for developing skills and understanding. • Feedback and cues are crucial for improving performance and ensuring safety. • Flexibility in coaching approaches is necessary to meet individual learner needs. Learning capacity can plateau, requiring new cues. • Athletes have different learning moods that affect performance. • Coaches can create conditions to lower barriers to learning. • Clear expectations reduce anxiety and improve focus. • Positive reinforcement enhances learning retention. • Language used in coaching impacts athlete's mindset. • Internal cues can hinder performance by overthinking. • External cues enhance reaction time and performance. • Celebrating successes reinforces positive learning experiences. • Effective coaching involves guiding rather than dictating. For further information to enhance your understanding of the concepts talked about during this podcast, please visit Nick’s “The Language of Coaching’ YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHhoYw3yIsw&list=PLjcHdvjMxsv5a5Za57ciJBopVUeoXul4P

Dr. Hunter Martaindale is the Director of Research at the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University and an Associate Research Professor within the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology. In this role, he oversees all research activities for ALERRT, including analyzing active shooter events, conducting active shooter training program evaluations through experimental design, and testing methods/interventions to improve law enforcement decision-making and overall performance. Beyond that, Hunter actively supports other researchers with applied policing projects in an effort to get actionable results to practitioners. In this podcast, Dr. Martindale discusses his research on virtual reality (VR) training in law enforcement. The purpose of the study was to determine if VR training scenarios can elicit a similar stress response as realistic scenario-based training. The study involved two phases: a scenario-based training phase and a VR training phase. Participants went through a high-fidelity scenario involving professional actors and simulated injuries. The same scenario was then recreated in VR. Salivary measures of stress were collected before and after each training phase. The results showed that VR training was able to elicit  similar physiological stress responses as realistic scenario-based, or high-fidelity training. VR can be a valuable tool for law enforcement agencies and trainers to replicate real-life scenarios and ensure consistent training for all officers. However, VR should not replace in-person training entirely and should be used as a supplement. VR technology has improved significantly, and agencies should actively investigate and incorporate VR into their training programs.   Takeaways Virtual reality (VR) training has the potential to bridge the gap between law enforcement training and academic research. VR training can supplement in-person training and help retain skills that may not come up in an officer's day-to-day job. Measuring heart rate alone is not a reliable indicator of stress response; other measures, such as salivary markers, can provide more accurate results. High-fidelity scenarios with professional actors can enhance the realism of training and elicit a stronger stress response. The study found that VR training was able to elicit a similar stress response as realistic scenario-based training. VR training elicited similar physiological stress responses as high-fidelity scenario-based training. VR can be a valuable tool for law enforcement agencies and trainers to replicate real-life scenarios and ensure consistent training. VR should be used as a supplement to in-person training and not as a replacement. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of VR training on skill development and retention. The technology has improved significantly, with better refresh rates and reduced motion sickness. Agencies should actively investigate and incorporate VR into their training programs.

Welcome to Episode 24 of the Trainer’s Bullpen, ‘Relationships Between Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Occupational Performance, and Fitness for Tactical Personnel’ with Colin Tomes. For years law enforcement trainers have sought to understand the relationship between heart rate and officer performance and have frequently, and incorrectly, applied a linear application from heart rate to performance decrements under conditions of high stress. If you are interested in refining your understanding of cardiovascular function and human performance, this interview is for you. In this interview, Colin outlines the findings of his Systematic Review that was published in Frontiers in Public Health. This interview touches on: ·     The important differences between HR and HRV and how they correlate, or don’t correlate, to human performance in tactical populations. ·     Understanding the often misunderstood ‘stress response’ and the relationship between stress arousal and performance. ·     The role that sleep plays in maintaining a healthy HRV and improving the arousal / performance relationship. ·     The important interaction between PNS and SNS as they relate to cardiovascular function and performance. ·     The relationship between ‘cognitive load’ and the adverse affect on HRV. ·     How HRV monitoring by agencies can provide an accurate indication of the stress arousal state of the performer. ·     Concepts for agencies to explore in implementing HRV monitoring in both candidate selection for specialty tactical units as well as in-training monitoring of HRV. ·     And many more important takeaways! Reminder - you can access and download a copy of the cited research paper at www.trainersbullpen.com

With thousands of policing agencies scrambling in recent years to change use of force policies and provide 'deescalation' training to their officers and millions if not billions of dollars being spent to provide this training, do we know if it is even making a difference to impact officer performance on the street? Interestingly, despite widespread promotion and proliferation of deescalation training, no research has empirically demonstrated that this training is reducing use of force frequency or severity in the field. In addition, it is unknown if these policy reactions and unproven deescalation training programs are having unintended negative consequences that may increase injuries to officers or citizens. In this fascinating and instructive interview, we speak with Dr. Robin Engel who led a research project with the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) to evaluate the impact of their agency's deescalation program. This study,  'Assessing the Impact of Deescalation Training on Police Behavior: Reducing Police Use of Force in the Louisville Metro Police Department' (published in Criminology & Public Policy) determined that the LMPD deescalation program significantly reduced the frequency of use of force incidents as well as led to reductions in citizen and officer injury rates and severity. This interview contains very important policy and training implications for agencies implementing deescalation or seeking to evaluate the effectiveness of their existing deescalation program. Dr. Engel serves as Senior Vice President at the National Policing Institute, following over 25 years in academic positions within higher education institutions. As an award-winning researcher, she has partnered with dozens of police agencies in the U.S. and internationally, served as Principal Investigator for over a hundred research studies and projects, and ranked among the top academics nationally in criminal justice/criminology. From 2015 – 2019, she served as Vice President for Safety and Reform at the University of Cincinnati, where her executive duties included oversight of daily operations and successful implementation of comprehensive police reforms in the aftermath of a fatal police shooting of an unarmed motorist. As a top scholar and trusted leading authority in police science, Dr. Engel oversees the Institute’s vast scientific investments designed to translate and integrate research into practice.

In this insightful interview, human factors expert Gareth Lock discusses the critical aspects of how we should understand sense-making and decision making especially in ambiguous and high-consequence environments. The research shows that if performers have 'successful' outcome following a near-miss, then our perception of the risk is lowered and therefore we are more likely to erode vital safety margins (training, equipment, standards and policy). Gareth explores the importance of distinguishing 'could happen' events from 'almost happened' events, understanding levels of uncertainty, mental models, and avoiding the normalization of deviance. What can law enforcement trainers and supervisors do about this? Gareth explains how we can develop counter-factual thinking to raise understanding of how our perception of risk can shift and how to make probabilities more visible. Finally, Gareth explains his DEBrIEF model of how we can strategically guide our people to build important self-reflection skills to improve decision-making and deeply learn from all incidents and near misses. Gareth Lock is the founder of The Human Diver, an organization set up to deliver education and research into the role and benefit of applying human factors, non-technical skills, psychological safety, and ‘just culture’ in sports, military, and scientific diving. He has published the book ‘Under Pressure’ and produced the documentary ‘If only…,’ both focused on improving safety and performance by looking at incidents through the lens of human factors. Show Notes from Gareth Lock:  www.thehumandiver.com - where everything I do in the world of diving sits!  www.humaninthesystem.com - this is where I put my non-diving programmes! DEBrIEF framework - www.thehumandiver.com/debrief  Under Pressure: Diving Deeper with Human Factors - Gareth Lock - www.thehumandiver.com/underpre 

Shawn Myszka is a Movement Skill Acquisition Coach for NFL players, having worked with numerous All-Pro and Pro Bowl team members. He is also the Founder of the Sport Movement Skill Conference and author of articles and educational materials on mastering movement in sports. Shawn discusses the relevance and value of Bruce Lee's coaching philosophy in movement skill acquisition for law enforcement, as explored in the research paper 'Being Water: how key ideas from the practice of Bruce Lee align with contemporary theorizing in movement skill acquisition' authored by Myszka, Yearby and Davids and published in Sport, Education and Society (2023).  Topics covered in this podcast are the ecological dynamics framework and its differences from traditional linear movement training in law enforcement, the importance of representativeness in learning design. As well as the background, art, style, coaching style, and philosophy of Bruce Lee. The concept of becoming “formless” is also mentioned and its relationship to current ecological dynamics pedagogy.  This interview contains practical insights on how law enforcement training officers should teach, specifically in terms of building emotional intelligence, increasing self-awareness, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within law enforcement agencies. In addition, Listeners will gain practical insights on how law enforcement trainers can use Bruce Lee's philosophy and ecological dynamics to help their students acquire skillful movement, adapt to dynamic and unpredictable violent encounters, and become more efficient and powerful in their movements. Listeners interested in finding out more about the incredible services and training offered by Shawn and his colleagues as well as information on the highly anticipated 'Sport Movement Skill Conference' can get all the information at Emergence https://emergentmvmt.com/

Law enforcement officers know that their mental toughness is of critical importance on the job. The ability to remain focussed and maintain emotional regulation, to overcome adversity and conflict, and even injury and pain, in order to professionally and effectively manage situations is extremely important. But how do we understand effective ways in which to intentionally and strategically incorporate mental imagery into the law enforcement training paradigm? In this interview, the third in our series on the use of mental imagery in training, Brian Willis from Winning Mind Training will talk about his extensive experience in over 33 years of law enforcement training, in using performance enhancement imagery in law enforcement training, as well as in other domains such has elite level athletic performance, overcoming anxiety, and recovery from serious injury and illness. Topics covered in this interview include what imagery is, how it is different from ‘visualization’, the use of imagery to enhance physical performance as well as mental cognitive skills, the different types of imagery and where and when to use them, how to use language effectively in imagery,  and keys to using imagery to enhance learning and make it ‘stick. In addition, Brian will discuss lessons learned from years of using and reforming performance enhancement imagery as a method of effecting powerful change in officers and athletes performance.

This is the second episode in our exciting three-part series on the use of performance enhancement imagery to improve officers skill aquisition, decision making and mental resilience. Dr. Arne Nieuwenhuys is Senior Lecturer in Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology. He obtained his PhD from VU University Amsterdam. Dr Nieuwenhuys and colleagues published the study “Positive Effects of Police Officer Shooting Performance Under Threat in the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology.  In this interview, Dr. Nieuwenhuys explains strategies to consider in order to develop evidence-based interventions that help law enforcement officers improve their performance in those rapidly unfolding, ambiguous and extremely high-pressure situations where it counts the most. Topics reviewed in this podcast are the positive effects of performance enhancement imagery on police offer shooting capability under stress, and how the research supported PETTLEP imagery model effectively achieves functional equivalence. In addition, he discusses the importance of task representativeness in training and how it correlates with the Constraints Led Approach or CLA training method. This interview contains practical insights on the importance of law enforcement trainers using evidence-based interventions such as imagery, PETTLEP model, and task representativeness, to enhance police officers' performance and shooter capability under stress, ultimately improving their ability to handle high-pressure situations on the job.

This part 1 of an exciting 3-part series in which we explore the effective use of performance enhancement imagery. In law enforcement it is generally accepted that officer mental toughness and mental focus is critical for great decision making and performance. Despite this, very few trainers utilize any type of formalized mental training program. In multiple other domains, the use of mental imagery instruction to increase learning, enhance performance and improve adaptive decision-making has been used for years with proven positive effects. In this interview, Dr Adam Nicholls discusses the research findings of the effectiveness of using mental imagery training in sport. He discusses the proven benefits of mental imagery, the content of effective mental imagery, internal vs external perspectives, the imagery ability of the performer and how it can be enhanced. In addition, Adam discusses the PETTLEP imagery model and considerations for applying it in your training and coaching. Dr Adam Nicholls is a professor of psychology at the University of Hull, UK. Adam’s main focus of research is on psychosocial support to athletes and coaches ranging from grassroots to elite level. Adam is also an accomplished BJJ competitor and in 2021 he won silver at the British Open in gi and bronze at the 2022 no-gi British Open. Dr Nicholls is the author of the textbook ‘Psychology in Sports Coaching’ published by Routledge press. In this important book, Dr Nicholls devotes an entire chapter to the effective use of mental imagery.

Law enforcement officers are often faced with having to make critical shoot or no shoot decisions in rapidly occurring, ambiguous and high-consequence environments. The potential consequences of a decision-making error involving the use of lethal force carries serious implications. What rolecan training play in helping to develop more accurate decision making? In this interview Dr. Taylor explains that his study,  ‘Engineering Resilience into Split-Second Shoot / No Shoot Decision Making’ which was published in Police Quarterly, was driven by the need to improve decision-making in the split-second environments that police officers face during potential deadly force encounters. He discusses how the study examined the impact of muzzle position on officer response time to legitimate threats and the likelihood of misdiagnosis shooting errors when no threat was present. Topics discussed in this podcast include the importance of accurate decision-making skills in law enforcement, the role of improved judgment and tactical capability among officers, and how does an officers muzzle position impact the accuracy of decision making This interview contains practical insights on how engineering resilience into split-second decision-making environments through factors like muzzle position, officers can improve their decision-making and reduce the likelihood of misdiagnosis shooting errors. Additionally, Paul discusses how continued research into other factors that may affect officer decision-making in these environments is necessary to improve law enforcement training.

The use of the vascular neck restraint by law enforcement officers has been the topic of recent, intense, debate. Special interest groups have equated the use of the vascular neck restraint with ‘near-death’ experiences and have called for outright bans. Policy makers have been very critical of agencies that train and permit the use of the VNR, and some agencies have been influenced by heavy political pressure to discontinue its use. All of this debate has taken place in the absence or ignorance of what the research actually says about the safety of the VNR when applied by officers in the operational setting. In this interview, Dr. Craig Bennell, professor of Psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, where he also serves as Director of Carleton’s Police Research Laboratory, talks about the important findings from research conducted by an incredibly talented cast of international researchers. The paper is titled ‘Safety of Vascular Neck Restraint Applied by Law Enforcement Officers’ and was published in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. Topics covered in this interview regarding the VNR research findings include, the significance and frequency of use of force, the application and consequences of the Vascular Neck Restraint, how many agencies teach the proper use of it, the methodology of the VNR, the effectiveness of its technique, and, of course, the actual empirical safety of the technique. This interview contains practical insights on how agency administrators and trainers should consider the technical, training and political implications of the VNR method and its impact on police training and policy. In addition, in this interview, Dr Bennell strongly exhorts police leaders to use an evidence-based approach to critical decisions that broadly impact officer and public safety. A copy of the paper can be accessed and downloaded at www.trainersbullpen.com

It is important to recognize the value of highly contextual training to equip law enforcement officers to be professional and adaptive decision-makers. However, the majority of current training practices often develop officers who lack the ability to transfer static skills into the highly dynamic operational demands that they face.   In this interview, Dr. Mario Staller, professor at the University of Applied Sciences of Police and Public Administration North-Rhine Westphalia in Aachen, Germany, talks about the importance of officer adaptability towards the context of  highly realistic use of force scenarios and why it is important to not strip the solution space from the problem in the training context. Topics covered in this interview include the definition and application of the Constraints Led Approach, how best to implement the CLA into a learning environment while considering appropriate design methodology. In addition, the critical importance of including aspects of high context relevance from the criterion environment into the training will be discussed. This interview contains helpful practical insights on how trainers should design effective training and communicate with their students for optimal retention and transfer of skills.  This is a call to action for law enforcement trainers to change curriculum and design into a CLA oriented training program.

For many years, law enforcement trainers and tactical professionals have been somewhat familiar with the importance of how intentional breathing techniques can help lower physiological arousal. This is a critical concept because physiological state directly impacts emotional regulation, attention and quality of decision making. However, there has been little in the form of evidence-based research as to which types of breathing techniques are more (or less) effective in quickly reducing physiological arousal. In this interview, we talk with Harvard trained neuroscientist, with expertise in neurobiology of stress and stress interventions, Dr. Melis Yilmaz Balban about incredibly important research that compared the effectiveness of Cyclic Hyperventilation, Box Breathing and the Cyclic Sigh. This research study, ‘Brief Structured Respiration Practices Enhance Mood and Reduce Physiological Arousal’, was published in Cell Reports Medicine in January 2023. A copy of the paper is attached to the show notes at www.trainersbullpen.com In this interview with Dr Balban, we discuss the research finding that the Cyclic Sigh is a significantly more effective technique to rapidly lower physiological arousal when compared to the much more commonly taught ‘Box Breathing’ technique. In addition, the Cyclic Sigh can be conducted extremely quickly (during conflict),  and, importantly, can be automated with practice. This interview contains helpful practical insights on how trainers should consider adjusting training methodology to improve officer performance. In addition, Dr Balban briefly discusses NeuroSmart – exciting new technology that will help officers learn and automate the Cyclic Sigh during the training process. This holds incredible promise for advancing law enforcement and military training!

All law enforcement instructors would agree that one of the core functions of police skills training is to develop great adaptive decision-making skills in our officers. The question that must be asked is, what is the relationship between instructor / coach feedback methods and the development of independent adaptive decision-making and, are there proven techniques that work better than others? In this interview, we talk with decision-making expert Dr. Joel Suss about several critical components of training that should be understood and implemented in order to accomplish these important training objectives. Topics covered in this interview include recognition-primed / naturalistic decision making, the use of effective probing questions to get ‘inside the students head’, the effective use of story-telling, and the application of the ‘7 cognitive skills’ to guide the student to understand, assess and correct their own decision-making and performance. This interview contains helpful practical insights on how trainers should consider adjusting training methodology to improve officer performance.

Summary In this episode of the Trainers Bullpen, host Chris Butler interviews Dr. William Bozeman, a leading expert in law enforcement use of force and injury epidemiology. They discuss the findings of Dr. Bozeman's research on police use of force, particularly focusing on Taser use and Vascular Neck Restraint (VNR). The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the actual rates of injury associated with various use of force modalities, the methodology behind the research, and the implications for law enforcement training and public safety. Dr. Bozeman emphasizes the need for evidence-based practices in policing and the significance of high-quality research in shaping policies and training programs. The research strongly contradicts the popular narrative that police use of force is climbing or ‘out of control’. Takeaways • Dr. Bozeman's research focuses on injury epidemiology related to police use of force. • Taser use has been shown to rarely cause significant injuries. • 98% of subjects involved in use of force incidents had no or mild injuries. • Vascular Neck Restraint (VNR) has a remarkably high success rate with no fatalities in the study. • Police do not use force very often, with less than 1% of interactions resulting in force. • High-quality research is essential for informing law enforcement policies and training. • Courageous conversations about the effectiveness and necessity of certain tools, like batons, are needed as agencies continue to modernize their policing practices.

Summary Bryce Jenkins, a PhD student in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University, discusses his research on the deployment of SWAT or tactical teams and the associated risks. He challenges the notion of the militarization of police and the belief that the deployment of tactical teams increases the risk to the public. Bryce's research focuses on understanding the context and nature of calls that tactical officers respond to, and he found that the primary response of tactical officers is to high-risk calls. He also highlights the importance of considering relevant environmental factors and the limitations of relying solely on the initial call type to assess risk. The conversation explores the use of tactical officers in law enforcement and their potential impact on public safety. The guest, Bryce Jenkins, discusses the effectiveness of using tactical officers to augment patrol and the value of their specialized resources. He also addresses the concern that tactical officers are predisposed to use force, highlighting research that shows they actually reduce the likelihood and severity of force. The conversation delves into the concept of naturalistic decision making and how the expertise and training of tactical officers contribute to their superior decision-making abilities. The importance of debriefing and continuous learning in improving decision making is emphasized. Overall, the conversation challenges the notion that tactical officers pose an increased risk to the public and highlights the benefits they bring to law enforcement. Takeaways There is no evidence that the deployment of SWAT or tactical teams increases the risk to the public. Tactical officers primarily respond to high-risk calls, but they also provide support and backup to frontline officers in lower-risk situations. The initial call type alone is not sufficient to assess the level of risk in an incident; relevant context and environmental factors must be considered. Policy and operational practices should be informed by research findings to ensure effective and appropriate deployment of tactical teams. Using tactical officers to augment patrol can be an effective use of specialized resources. Research shows that tactical officers actually reduce the likelihood and severity of force. Tactical officers' expertise and training contribute to their superior decision-making abilities. Debriefing and continuous learning are critical for improving decision making in law enforcement. The notion that tactical officers pose an increased risk to the public is challenged.

Episode Summary Dr. Pete Blair is the Executive Director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center and a Professor of Criminal Justice at Texas State University.  Dr. Blair discusses the need to reform police training in order to address the current crisis in policing. He emphasizes the importance of an evidence-informed approach and highlights the work of ALERRT in providing critical incident response training. Blair identifies the shortcomings of the traditional model of police training, including the focus on ideal techniques and the lack of transferability to real-world situations. He advocates for a shift towards an ecological dynamics approach, which emphasizes self-organization, contextualization, and problem-solving. Blair argues that training should focus on outcomes rather than specific techniques and should incorporate rich and variable environments to enhance transferability. The conversation explores the concept of self-organization in training and how it can lead to more effective and efficient performance. The discussion includes the importance of setting clear intentions and understanding the intention structure in any given situation. They emphasize the need for trainers to guide learners towards exploring more optimal and effective solutions while still allowing for self-organization. The conversation also touches on the role of attention and the shift from internal focus to goal-focused attention. Dr. Blair highlight the importance of understanding what learners will do in real-world situations and focusing on the desired outcome rather than rigid techniques or formations. Takeaways The traditional model of police training is not effective in enhancing the retention and transfer of critical performance skills. Police training should adopt an evidence-informed approach and focus on outcomes rather than specific techniques. Training should incorporate rich and variable environments to enhance transferability to real-world situations. Self-organization is a key concept in training, where the body organizes around the intended outcome to achieve it efficiently and effectively. Contextualization and problem-solving should be emphasized in training to prepare officers for the complex and ever-changing environments they operate in. Setting clear intentions and understanding the intention structure is crucial for self-organization in training. Trainers should guide learners towards exploring more optimal and effective solutions while still allowing for self-organization. Attention should be goal-focused rather than internally focused. Understanding what learners will do in real-world situations is important for effective training. Focusing on the desired outcome is more important than rigid techniques or formations.

Professor Chris Cushion discusses the transformation of police personal safety training using scenario-based training, emphasizing the need for a pedagogical shift and the integration of decision-making and skill acquisition within tactical contexts. He addresses the challenges of implementing change and the disparity between traditional training models and the gold standard of scenario-based training. The conversation delves into the importance of implicit learning, the flaws of front-loading skills, and the need for contextualized practice. The role of instructors in coaching through scenarios and the limitations of traditional debriefs are also highlighted. Professor Cushion discusses the transformation of police personal safety training using scenario-based training, highlighting the challenges, evidence, and impact of the new approach. Dr. Cushion also addresses the cultural and political dilemmas in implementing change and the adoption of the new training model by the College of Policing in England and Wales. Takeaways: The need for a pedagogical shift in police training towards scenario-based training that integrates decision-making and skill acquisition within tactical contexts. The importance of implicit learning and the flaws of front-loading skills in traditional training models. The role of instructors in coaching through scenarios and the limitations of traditional debriefs in police training. The challenges of implementing change and the disparity between traditional training models and the gold standard of scenario-based training. Scenario-based training offers a more effective approach to police personal safety training, focusing on performance versus learning and practice design. Cultural and political dilemmas present challenges in implementing change in police training, requiring a shift in policy frameworks and police culture. The College of Policing in England and Wales has adopted the scenario-based training model, with a focus on standardization and evidence-based impact assessment. The transformation of police training involves re-culturing trainers and learners, overcoming the influence of past experiences and embracing a new pedagogical approach. The pending study comparing the linear technique-based model with the scenario-based model is expected to provide valuable insights into the impact of the new training approach.

Welcome to Episode #35 of the Trainers Bullpen, the final edition in our ‘’How We Learn to Move” series with Dr. Rob Gray Rob Gray is a psychology professor and research psychologist with a focus on perceptual-motor control in driving, aviation, and sports. He also hosts the Perception & Action Podcast, is the author of two bestselling books on the acquisition of movement skills ‘How We Learn To Move’ and ‘Learning to Optimize Movement’, and he serves as the Skill Acquisition Specialist for the Boston Red Sox. In this interview, Dr. Gray discusses the key aspects from chapters 7 and 8 of How We Learn to Move. Rob provides insights on how coaches and trainers can consider the Constraints Led Approach of a new way forward in facilitating the development of adaptability and decision making in our officers. Further, Rob discusses the importance of understanding the kinetic chain and how that relates to the manner in which we set up movement drills and also how the conditions of the original learning environment are so important for creating resilience and ‘stickiness’ of our performer’s skills. Additional topics covered in this interview are the importance of destabilization, self-exploration and self-organization, how to amplify information in order to invite affordances for action, structured variability as a critical aspect for motor learning and the critical need for ‘perturbances’ during learning – which is a concept pretty much completely at odds with current law enforcement training. This interview contains practical insights on how trainers should understand and apply aspects of the Constraints Led Approach to help our officers develop the critical cognitive and physical skills they need on the street!