The Bookshelf
The Language of Coaching by Nick Winkelman
Every month in the Climb Strong newsletter, I try to recommend a book for the athletes and coaches that follow CS. I’ll be putting those books here.
The Language of Coaching is not only an essential read for every single person who coaches movement, but is an excellent guide to anyone who is trying to lean a movement. Winkelman, whom I’ve followed since seeing him present years ago at a conference, is a former EXOS coach and is now head of Athletic Performance & Science, with Ireland’s national rugby team.
Far more than simply being a sets and reps coach, he is all about teaching people how to move. This book dives deep into the essential role of communication in enhancing athletic performance. He delves into how the words coaches use can shape an athlete’s movement, learning, and motivation. Drawing on principles from motor learning, neuroscience, and skill acquisition, Winkelman emphasizes the importance of external cues—focusing on movement outcomes rather than mechanics—to improve retention and execution. Through practical examples and research-backed insights, he provides coaches with actionable strategies to optimize instruction, feedback, and athlete engagement, ultimately fostering better skill development and performance.
We are so far from having a workable model for coaching movement in the world of climbing (although Andrew Shelley is closing the gap), it’s a simple task for a climbing coach to pull principles from Winkelman’s work and do good things. for their athletes.
