Conceptions of Coordination

Movement analysts ranging from spectators and sportswriters, to teachers and coaches, to biomechanists and kinesiologists, to neuroscientists and roboticists believe that coordination is a desirable aspect of performance. Yet, there has been little coordination among movement analysts in the effort to understand and improve coordinated movement. Perhaps our disjointed activity is due in part to our diverse conceptions of coordination. If so, identifying and clarifying the various meanings of coordination may enable movement analysts to cooperate on the topic of coordination. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to ask and address a series of questions: What is meant by coordination? Are the meanings similar or different for professionals and non-professionals, for scholars and practitioners? Are the meanings complementary or contradictory for researchers in various fields? Is there a common thread of meaning that could be used as both a basis of communication as well as a basis for research?