What Are Affordances?

Affordances are opportunities for action offered by the environment. Coaches can shape environments that help athletes better perceive these opportunities — a key part of developing adaptable, skillful movers through modern coaching principles.

Key Points for coaches:

• Affordances are specific to the individual: Each athlete perceives opportunities for action differently based on their capabilities and intentions.
• Not all affordances are perceived: An athlete may or may not perceive an affordance. As a coach, guiding an athlete (not telling them how to act) to perceive relevant affordances can improve performance. 
• Affordances can be accepted or rejected: Even when perceived, athletes can choose whether or not to act on an opportunity.
• Affordances are frame-dependent: They appear in specific moments and contexts — and often disappear just as quickly.