Abstract
This study aims to expand the process of tactical assessment of soccer players through the development and validation of a video-based test based on core tactical principles of play. The TacticUP video test for soccer is composed of offensive and defensive video sequences of 11vs11 soccer situations. Participants should choose the most appropriate solution for each video sequence. Content validity was established based on a panel of nine experts from four different countries. Construct validity was assessed through the comparison between players with distinct expertise levels. Comparisons between groups’ final scores showed statistical differences (p < 0.05) in 10 out of the 15 variables assessed, in which the expert group displayed higher values compared to the non-expert group. Face validity examined the acceptability and suitability of the test by players. Reliability was determined through the test–retest method for each video sequence, and Cohen’s Kappa values ranged from 0.622 to 1.0. Therefore, the TacticUP video test showed adequate content, construct, and face validity and was a reliable measure of perceptual-cognitive and decision-making skills in soccer. We overcame limitations from previous video-based tests in soccer by introducing situations concerning off-the-ball movements in both offensive and defensive phases. The practical applications of this test are: (i) it can be used to monitor players’ perceptual-cognitive and decision-making skills; (ii) the test is based on players’ response selection in a video-based test, which enables the measurement of their perceptual-cognitive and decision-making skills based on the core tactical principles of play; (iii) generate players’ tactical profile considering their perceptual-cognitive and decision-making skills based on core tactical principles of play; and (iv) measure the effectiveness of intervention/training programs on the development of perceptual-cognitive and decision-making skills.
Highlights
Making efficient decisions is an essential feature for athletes to achieve superior performance in sports (Gréhaigne et al, 2001)
The purpose of this study was to expand the process of tactical assessment of soccer players through the development of a video-based test based on the core tactical principles of play
Following recommendations from Larkin et al (2014), we resorted to experts from four different countries, who provided a cross-cultural perspective of the game and were less likely to display any biases regarding a single “point of view” about soccer tactics from a particular country or culture, which is a novelty provided by our study when compared to other video-based tests
Summary
Making efficient decisions is an essential feature for athletes to achieve superior performance in sports (Gréhaigne et al, 2001). In this context, decision-making can be defined as an action choice, and it is an outcome that can be observed as a motor or verbal response (Macmahon and Mcpherson, 2009; Bruce et al, 2012). Decision-making skill is related to sport-specific knowledge, which is defined by Thomas et al The sport-specific knowledge may range from a response selection (perceptual-cognitive skills) to a response execution component (perceptual-motor skills) and is closely related to the tactical domain in individual and collective sports (McPherson, 1994; Williams, 2000; Starkes et al, 2004; Macmahon and Mcpherson, 2009; Bonney et al, 2019) Decision-making skill is related to sport-specific knowledge, which is defined by Thomas et al (1986, p. 259) as “. . .a complex product of cognitive knowledge about current situation and past events combined with a player’s ability to produce the sport skill(s) required.” The sport-specific knowledge may range from a response selection (perceptual-cognitive skills) to a response execution component (perceptual-motor skills) and is closely related to the tactical domain in individual and collective sports (McPherson, 1994; Williams, 2000; Starkes et al, 2004; Macmahon and Mcpherson, 2009; Bonney et al, 2019)
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