Kinesthetic (Tactile) Learners
The last of the well documented learning styles is kinesthetic learners, who learn by doing. The definition of kinesthetic is a sense mediated by receptors located in muscles, tendons, and joints and stimulated by bodily movements and tensions. Kinesthetic learners tend to retain and understand information best by doing the activity – mimicking the action, or showing it to others. They like to think out issues, ideas and problems while exercising. 

An easy coaching mistake is to believe that high-energy athletes are kinesthetic learners. I have not found a correlation between an athlete’s energy level and learning style. A few years ago, I coached a women’s AAU basketball team that included a high-energy athlete, but her learning style was visual. Until you showed her what to do, she would move in all directions without a purpose. After demonstrating the movement, she was able to control and focus her energy into quick aggressive purposeful moments that propelled her into a leading scorer and a mercilessly tough defender.  Seeing what she needed to do taught her how to take her game to the next level.

Common phrases used are:

• Let us try it out and see how it works
• That feels right to me
• I follow your drift

Common actions used are:

• Move around, touch and talk and use body language
• Like "getting your hands dirty," making models, or working out jigsaws
• Good at physical activities, like athletics, and are typically the three and four sport youth athletes

Coaching kinesthetic learners:
Although kinesthetic learners are a minority in society, athletic coaches work with them regularly. If you have ever said, "He is a natural athlete," then there is a good chance you found a kinesthetic learner.

Building on the auditory and visual example of teaching primary and secondary lead offs from first base, the last step is to have the athlete practice the technique. By critiquing the player, the coach is providing feedback to the auditory and visual learners while providing the kinesthetic learners the opportunity to learn by feeling the movement.

Next is sequential learning style.

If you've enjoyed reading this post then please subscribe to my full text RSS feed.