Physical approaches (tactics)
- opposed practiceA practice which involves working through a series of different plays with opposition for added difficulty. It is used when learning a new tactic or strategy in sport.
- unopposed practiceA practice which involves working through a series of different plays without opposition or pressure. It is used when learning a new tactic or strategy in sport.
- walk through
Unopposed practices
Unopposed practices are used when trying to learn a new tactic or strategy. It involves setting up in a shape as requested by the coach and then slowly working through a series of different plays. It is performed with no opposition or pressure.
Throughout the practice, the coach can stop the set play and provide feedback.
Once you and your teammates become more confident in using the approach, you can progress by swithcing to an opposed practice and adding in opposition to increase the difficulty.
Below are benefits and limitations of unopposed practice.
| Benefits | Limitations |
| Suitable when learning a new strategy as no pressure is applied. | Can be very boring as no opposition and lots of stop-starting from the coach. |
| Can receive continuous feedback from coach to improve performance within session. | |
| Can be easily broken down to clearly focus on elements of the performance. |
| Benefits | Suitable when learning a new strategy as no pressure is applied. |
|---|---|
| Limitations | Can be very boring as no opposition and lots of stop-starting from the coach. |
| Benefits | Can receive continuous feedback from coach to improve performance within session. |
|---|---|
| Limitations |
| Benefits | Can be easily broken down to clearly focus on elements of the performance. |
|---|---|
| Limitations |
Let's now deconstruct unopposed practices and break it down into smaller parts.
In doing this, we are:
- first identifying an important part in the process
- then showing why this part is important in making the process work
- Your coach should provide ongoing feedback during the unopposed practice as you are at the beginner's stage of learning a new strategy. This will ensure no bad habits are picked up, as mistakes are corrected immediately.
- Your coach should combine unopposed practices with digital analysis to give you two sources of incoming feedback. This will help consolidate your knowledge of how to perform the strategy as you can see where something was good and/or poor.
- You should try to add in points systems for completing the unopposed practice to certain levels to make it more exciting. This will ensure you stay motivated and continue to concentrate throughout the approach.