“Thinking outside the box” was a big buzzword phrase maybe about a decade ago and still used a little today.  Here’s the wikipedia definition: “Thinking outside the box (sometimes erroneously called “thinking out of the box” or “thinking outside the square”) is to think differently, unconventionally or from a new perspective. This phrase often refers to novel, creative and smart thinking.”  As instructors, I think it is important to “Learn” Outside the Box.  By this, I mean to seek out other fields of study that can help us become better teachers.

For some, those fields could be physical, psychological or people skills.  I think the amount of linking that can be done between different disciplines is vast.  I predict that when golf shows up at the olympics in 2016, we will see some things that we may have never seen before.  Different ways to hold the club, different ways to swing and different ways to putt.  I am very curious and excited to see what some countries come up with.

As a group, the teachers I converse with on twitter on a regular basis are quite open with information and continually suggesting reading topics from outside of golf.  I can’t think of another group as extensive and talented and OPEN as this group.  We are all more interested in the improvement of our players then on holding onto ideas because of any perceived personal gain.

For me, I will spend a great deal of time this winter trying to learn more about the technical business side.  Last year, I help encourage a bunch of coaches to start blogging.  This year I hope to learn how to enhance websites and things of that nature.

So coaches, I ask you, “What will you be “Learning” Outside the Box this winter?”

Please leave your comments and ideas and as always, we will learn from each other.

Thanks to all who participate.

Related posts:

1. Learning Motor Skills

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