Invasion Sports Research Articles

“Decisions, decisions, decisions”: transfer and specificity of decision-making skill between sports

The concept of transfer of learning holds that previous practice or experience in one task or domain will enable successful performance in another related task or domain. In contrast, specificity of learning holds that previous practice or experience in one task or domain does not transfer to other related tasks or domains. The aim of the current study is to examine whether decision-making skill transfers between sports that share similar elements, or whether it is specific to a sport. Participants (n = 205) completed a video-based temporal occlusion decision-making test in which they were required to decide on which action to execute across a series of 4 versus 4 soccer game situations. A sport engagement questionnaire was used to identify 106 soccer players, 43 other invasion sport players and 58 other sport players. Positive transfer of decision-making skill occurred between soccer and other invasion sports, which are related and have similar elements, but not from volleyball, supporting the concept of transfer of learning.

An above real time training intervention for sport decision making

ObjectivesA speeded video-based decision-making training intervention was used to assess the impact of above real time training on decision-making skill in sport. Design and methodsThree groups completed pre tests and either five weeks of fast speed video training, normal speed video training or no training, followed by a post test and two retention tests in subsequent weeks. Decision accuracy was measured by awarding three, two, one, or no point(s) based on independent coach ratings of each situation. ResultsResults revealed that those trained in above real time improved performance earlier in the training intervention compared to those trained in normal speed. The above real time group also retained more of the performance improvements. The transfer test for decision accuracy showed improvement following the training intervention for all groups, trends in the data reflected a higher retention rate for the fast speed group choosing the bet option more frequently than normal and control groups. ConclusionsThe results lend support to the general use of video-based decision-making training for team invasion sports. A greater impact is that they provide a new paradigm by adapting above real time training to decision making, to create a more game-like training scenario.

Quantification of tackling demands in professional Australian football using integrated wearable athlete tracking technology

To describe and quantify the frequency, velocity and acceleration at impact during tackling in Australian football using a combination of video and athlete tracking technology. Quasi-experimental. Data was collected from twenty professional Australian Football League players during four in-season matches. All tackles made by the player and those against the player were video-coded and time stamped at the point of contact and then subjectively categorised into low, medium and high intensity impact groups. Peak GPS and acceleration data were identified at the point of contact. Two-way analysis of variance was used to assess differences (p<0.05) between tackle type (made and against) and tackle intensity. A total of 173 tackles made and 179 tackles against were recorded. Significant differences were found between all tackle intensity groups. Peak velocity was significantly greater in high (19.5±6.1 k mh(-1)) compared to medium (13.4±5.8 k mh(-1)) and low intensity (11.3±5.0 k mh(-1)) tackles. Peak Player Load, a modified vector magnitude of tri-axial acceleration, was significantly greater in high (7.5±1.7 a.u.) compared to medium (4.9±1.5 a.u.) and low intensity (4.0±1.3 a.u.) tackles. High intensity tackles, although less frequent, are significantly greater in speed of movement immediately prior to contact and in the resultant impact acceleration compared to tackles of lower intensity. Differences in accelerometer data between tackles observed to be progressively greater in intensity suggest a level of ecological validity and provide preliminary support for the use of accelerometers to assess impact forces in contact invasion sports.

Above Real Time Training for Team Invasion Sport Skills

Decision-making is identified as a key element of elite sporting success. There are many challenges, however, in the design and implementation of a decision-training tool. These include difficulty in recreating a scenario in which the simulation allows the participant to feel like they are performing in the ‘real game’, and creating a training tool that can complement an existing physical training regime. The main aim of this paper is to present arguments for the use of above-real-time training, as popularly used in military and pilot training, as a viable simulation training method in the sporting arena. Above-real-time simulations are simulations that are played above normal speed. The potential benefits of using traditional video simulations are discussed, especially with respect to the promotion of key characteristics of elite performance, such as automaticity. Furthermore, the possible practical applications of using above-real-time video simulations will be explored in relation to fast-paced invasion sports.

MODELO DE JOGO E PROCESSO DE ENSINO NO FUTEBOL: PRINCÍPIOS GLOBAIS E ESPECÍFICOS

A dimensão tática deve ser entendida como centro do processo de ensino-aprendizagem no futebol, assumindo seu caráter organizativo, multidimensional, intencional e consciente. Este artigo teve como foco, apresentar conceitos e conteúdos para sustentação de um processo de ensino aprendizagem, baseado na dimensão tática e na interdependência de três aspectos fundamentais: metodologia para compreensão tática, princípios de jogo e modelos de jogo. Foram sugeridos e descritos em específico, princípios e modelos de jogo direcionados para diferentes faixas etárias, sendo estes compostos por peculiaridades comuns aos jogos esportivos coletivos de invasão.