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What sports coaching techniques were used in ancient civilizations?

Ebba Winger

In ancient civilizations, there were many different ways that sports were taught and coached. One popular technique was called "cross-training," where athletes would learn multiple sports and train in different ways to improve their overall physical abilities.

Another technique was what we would call "visualization" today. Athletes would close their eyes and imagine themselves performing certain moves or actions in their sport. This helped them mentally prepare for competitions and also improve their technique.

In addition, some ancient civilizations used very specific training techniques for certain sports. For example, ancient Greeks developed a technique called "gymnastics," which included exercises like running, jumping, and lifting weights. This helped athletes improve their strength and flexibility for sports like wrestling, boxing, and running.

Other civilizations, like the Incas in South America, focused on endurance training. They would run long distances at high altitudes to prepare for competitions like the Incan Games, where athletes would compete in a variety of sports like archery, javelin throwing, and running.

Interestingly, some ancient civilizations also used music as a coaching technique. In Greece, a type of music called "lyre" was played during athletic competitions to help athletes stay focused and perform better.

Overall, there were many different sports coaching techniques used in ancient civilizations, some of which are still used in sports today. Cross-training, visualization, and specific training techniques for certain sports were all popular methods of coaching, and athletes also used music to help improve their performance.