Welcome, I'm Philip

I created this space to help coaches make sense of skill acquisition and the Constraints-Led Approach without getting lost in theory.Over time, through coaching and exploring the Constraints-Led Approach, my focus shifted toward making these ideas clearer, more connected, and easier to use in practice.This page brings together the courses, writing, and resources I’ve created to support that process and help coaches design better learning environments with confidence

Free Resources

The Newsletter

The newsletter is where I explore the ideas behind skill acquisition and the Constraints-Led Approach in more depth, and connect them to the reality of everyday coaching.Each issue breaks down key research insights, and highlights what they might mean for how you design and adapt practice.It’s designed for coaches who:
•Want ongoing clarity around skill acquisition and learning
•Enjoy thinking a little deeper about why practices work the way they do
•Are interested in connecting theory, discussion, and practical application over time

CLA Crash Course

The CLA Crash Course is your quick-start guide to understanding and applying the Constraints-Led Approach in your coaching.Across seven short, focused lessons, you’ll discover the core ideas behind the CLA and how to begin designing sessions that help players explore and learn more effectively — all in clear, coach-friendly language.It’s perfect for coaches who:- Don’t have time to take a deep dive into complex theory
- Want practical, easy-to-apply insights they can use right away
- Are keen to deepen their understanding of the CLA and how to use it effectively in practice


CLA Coaching Blueprint

Research Paper Notes

What exactly is acquired during Skill Acquisition?

Motor Development: Embodied, Embedded, Enculturated, and Enabling

Understanding how athletes learn: Integrating skill training concepts, theory and practice from an ecological perspective

Enskilment: An Ecological-Anthropological Worldview of Skill, Learning and Education in Sport

Ecological Dynamics and Motor Learning Design in Sport

Emergence of Sports Skills Under Constraints. In Skill acquisition in sport

Manipulating Constraints to Train Decision Making in Rugby Union

The Role of Nonlinear Pedagogy in Supporting the Design of Modified Games in Junior Sports

An Introduction of the “PoST” Framework for Skill Development

Towards a Contemporary Player Learning in Development Framework for Sports Practitioners

An Ecological Insight Into the Design and Integration of Attacking Principles of Play in Professional Rugby Union

Sport Practitioners as Sport Ecology Designers: How Ecological Dynamics Has Progressively Changed Perceptions of Skill Acquisition in the Sporting Habitat