Diversification of Training and Experience Develops Robust, Resilient, and Tactically Creative Athletes

By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him)

The vilification of words like “diversity” represent a socio-political shift within our society toward a more convergent hegemonic perspective. It is in this evolution that the diversity of peoples who do not subscribe to this hegemonic perspective find themselves at equal vilification. However, when it comes to “diversity”, we must accept that things like race, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, and yes, even political beliefs inherently shape our development, experiences, and perspectives that is what makes every one of us unique. But these things aren’t necessarily what “defines” diversity, in fact diversity goes well beyond such basic socio-cultural constructs.

Taking into considerations our unique selves and apply that to our diversity of thought, education, lived experiences, and backgrounds. Diversity of thought is rooted within the dynamic interplay of our childhood development as it relates to the social, physical, and cultural environments for which we grow up. As individuals, we are all unique relative to our dynamic lives that have shaped our inherent sense of self. All this representing a complex interplay of neuronal activations taking place within our brains at any given moment within the blink of an eye. Shaping our perceptions of our environment, thought processes, and our subsequent action behaviors.

For athletes, these diverse experiences, perceptions, and thought processes come to play in all situations encountered in sport and life that serve to help develop a strong skillset rooted in creativity, judgement-decision making behaviors, and problem-solving skills. When playing sport, it is well encouraged for kids to develop in both structured and unstructured environments. That is playing in traditional sport systems, exploring different types of sports, and allowing free play time for kids to explore the world on their own. It is through challenge for which we achieve growth. Fostering the development of divergent thinking or the ability to “think outside the box” by developing multiple potential solutions to any given problem.  

• Free Practice: Unstructured and self directed practice where athletes have the freedom to experiment and explore new strategies, techniques, and ideas without specific coaching or drills.
• Free Play: Unstructured play for youth athletes where choose their own rules and teammates to foster creativity, problem solving, and enjoyment for the sport without adult involvement.
• Deliberate Practice: Structured and intentional approach to training focused on skill development through repetition.
• Deliberate Play: Combining training with free play in a low pressure play focused on enjoyment and skill development to build creativity and adaptability.

As an athlete perceives any given situation and develops multiple solutions, or “opportunities for action’ via divergent thinking to consider for a problem. Well at some point the athlete must decide and pursue one of said opportunities for action. Convergent thinking is where the athlete considers the risk vs reward and potential outcomes of each “opportunity” and decide which is the best possible to achieve success. Mind you, this entire process of perceiving the problem, analyzing the situation, divergent thinking, convergent thinking, and then acting all must happen within milliseconds, again rooted within the athlete’s knowledge, experiences, and diversity of thought. It is this implicit skill of “lateral thinking” for which we can develop and train, but those who are well practiced are able to achieve this process much more quickly. In sport, we call this “game intelligence” which requires high levels of situational awareness and mental flexibility.

It is key to point out that convergent thinking without divergent thinking inhibits creativity and problem-solving abilities. It is one thing to select the best possible option out of multiple possibilities, but to have only one solution available doesn’t necessarily make it the best solution. Homogeny of thought and experience limits the potential solutions for which we can perceive and develop in any given situation. This increases the fallibility within the very foundations of ourselves and the process for which we operate, leading to predictable behaviors. That is, we are unable to “think outside the box” and pursue alternative solutions that may be more effective. A fixed mindset is a key indicator of homogeny of thought, people with a fixed mindset often find challenge to be overwhelming and unable to adapt accordingly. Leading to adverse behavioral responses and performance collapse. Regarding effective strategy and tactics in sport, this results in a loss.

The highest performing athletes and teams in the world have a strong foundation in diversity of thought, both individually and collectively. High performing teams develop this collective intelligence through group cohesion, communication, teamwork, trust, and adaptability. Allowing them to remain robust and resilient challenge and adversity while maintaining high standards of performance. The collective diversity of thought within a team is directly represented and built upon those who are part of it. A vast diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and thought processes among the players, coaches, staff, managers, trainers, and every other member all serve a strong potential to develop a robust, adaptable, and high performing team.

Every individual is similarly shaped by their experiences, backgrounds, and thought processes, rooted within the diversity of which they perceive and explore the world around them. Working with a growth mindset allows one to seek out new experiences, knowledge, and a desire to learn. We can increase our own diversity of thought by enriching ourselves through the pursuit of knowledge, challenge, and lived experiences which in turn further develop our problem-solving skills and tactical creativity, whether it be for sport and/or life.

Applying these developed problem solving and tactical creativity skills into the unique situations that reflect our interests is key. It is incorporated as part of our “game intelligence” as it pertains to any given task.