I'm glad I heard you on the Volleypodd Loren. I have a military and LE background. When we trained we did somthing called RBTs (Reality Based Training). We also had a saying , train how we fight. What you said in the interview sounded so similar that it blew my mind why I didn't do "ECOD". Or train how we play volleyball.
I've only been coaching for the past 3 years and I questioned the drills at first but it was the only thing I knew and learned from other coaches.
I'm starting to implement ECOD at the 11u level and I'm hopeful to compare results this season from last season.
Thank you so much for this—what an awesome connection to RBT and “train how we fight.” That mindset is so aligned with the ecological approach, and it’s wild how often we separate the real from the training in sport, even though we’d never tolerate that disconnect in high-stakes professions like yours.
The fact that you’re already implementing ECOD with 11Us is huge. That age group is primed for learning through play, exploration, and chaos. You’re giving them a chance to grow into the game, not just execute it. And questioning those drills early on? That’s the sign of a coach who thinks deeply.
Can’t wait to hear how the season goes—please share what you notice. Wins, losses, frustrations, breakthroughs—all of it matters in building a better way.
I'm not a volleyball coach. I'm a martial arts coach from the other side of the planet.
3ish years ago, I discovered ecological methods of training, dropped everything, and dived in.
I waded through hours and hours of materials where academics spoke to other academics like they are talking about coaching rather than about actually being a coach with only a few lights in the dark like GD4H and a little of Josh Peacock's work.
A little while back, I decided that maybe what I needed to do was look outside of martial arts for inspiration. So I did.
And then a month or so ago, I discovered your work Loren. You hit that perfect balance between learning about coaching and actually being one.
I'm so glad I stumbled onto your work. It's now where I point people who are new to ED. It's that good, and that immediately applicable. This latest article is the best coaching article I've ever read.
Thanks for all that you do. Nobody else writes like this.
Wow. I’m genuinely moved by your words—thank you. What you describe is exactly what I’ve been trying to build: something that speaks to the human side of coaching, not just the theoretical one. The fact that it’s resonating across domains—from volleyball to martial arts—is both humbling and incredibly exciting.
I’ve felt that same sense of frustration in the academic fog, searching for voices that remember what it feels like to be in the gym, on the mat, in the chaos. So it means the world to know that this writing helped cut through some of that.
Thank you for doing the same kind of work on your end—and for pointing others this way. That kind of word-of-mouth means everything. I’m honored to be part of your journey, and I hope we keep learning together.
This was a long but worthwhile read. Thanks for sharing.
I love your acronym, NAC. I might just steal that and use it :-)
I'm glad I heard you on the Volleypodd Loren. I have a military and LE background. When we trained we did somthing called RBTs (Reality Based Training). We also had a saying , train how we fight. What you said in the interview sounded so similar that it blew my mind why I didn't do "ECOD". Or train how we play volleyball.
I've only been coaching for the past 3 years and I questioned the drills at first but it was the only thing I knew and learned from other coaches.
I'm starting to implement ECOD at the 11u level and I'm hopeful to compare results this season from last season.
Thank you so much for this—what an awesome connection to RBT and “train how we fight.” That mindset is so aligned with the ecological approach, and it’s wild how often we separate the real from the training in sport, even though we’d never tolerate that disconnect in high-stakes professions like yours.
The fact that you’re already implementing ECOD with 11Us is huge. That age group is primed for learning through play, exploration, and chaos. You’re giving them a chance to grow into the game, not just execute it. And questioning those drills early on? That’s the sign of a coach who thinks deeply.
Can’t wait to hear how the season goes—please share what you notice. Wins, losses, frustrations, breakthroughs—all of it matters in building a better way.
I'm not a volleyball coach. I'm a martial arts coach from the other side of the planet.
3ish years ago, I discovered ecological methods of training, dropped everything, and dived in.
I waded through hours and hours of materials where academics spoke to other academics like they are talking about coaching rather than about actually being a coach with only a few lights in the dark like GD4H and a little of Josh Peacock's work.
A little while back, I decided that maybe what I needed to do was look outside of martial arts for inspiration. So I did.
And then a month or so ago, I discovered your work Loren. You hit that perfect balance between learning about coaching and actually being one.
I'm so glad I stumbled onto your work. It's now where I point people who are new to ED. It's that good, and that immediately applicable. This latest article is the best coaching article I've ever read.
Thanks for all that you do. Nobody else writes like this.
Wow. I’m genuinely moved by your words—thank you. What you describe is exactly what I’ve been trying to build: something that speaks to the human side of coaching, not just the theoretical one. The fact that it’s resonating across domains—from volleyball to martial arts—is both humbling and incredibly exciting.
I’ve felt that same sense of frustration in the academic fog, searching for voices that remember what it feels like to be in the gym, on the mat, in the chaos. So it means the world to know that this writing helped cut through some of that.
Thank you for doing the same kind of work on your end—and for pointing others this way. That kind of word-of-mouth means everything. I’m honored to be part of your journey, and I hope we keep learning together.
Gratefully,
Loren