Coaching instruction is one of the most effective methods of supporting athletes to learn, refine, and perform motor skills effectively. Whilst there is robust support for instructions that induce an external focus of attention, more recent research directions have begun to explore some of the outliers in the field. Suggested anomalies have included: situations where a salient external focus is absent or impractical, sports such as artistic gymnastics where proprioceptive information is important for task success and subsequently more congruent with an internal focus of attention, or situations where skill refinement or re-learning of a motor skill may be required. The purpose of the present symposium is to address some of the nuances and complexities of effective instruction, propose guidance for practitioners, and stimulate discussion for potential new directions within the focus of attention knowledge base.