Developing Decision Makers

Ask a coach what the core skills of hockey are and they will most likely respond with.. push pass, trap and tackling. Yet, how many would respond with... the ability to adapt, problem-solve, confidence to make decisions under pressure and a capacity to communicate information quickly?

Some may consider effective decision-making skills to be a natural attribute yet in most cases with an environment that is game-like, decision rich and deliberate our players will continue to grow their decision-making skills. If we are asking players to make decisions, then as coaches we must reflect and ask ourselves; is our training actually asking players to make decisions?

An individual's tactical behaviour and execution of performance are directly related to the decision a player takes at any given moment and, therefore, emphasises the importance of understanding how to develop expert decision-makers. It is believed that an average adult would make more than 35,000 decisions per day, add a game of hockey in here and these will be turbocharged again.

Decision-making is referred to as “the information provided by one’s current situation combined with one’s ability to apply their knowledge about the situation to plan, select, and execute an appropriate goal-directed action or set of actions.” It is the capability of players s to choose functional actions from a vast number of possible actions that emerge from the environment to achieve a specific goal. (Roca, A. and Ford, P.R., 2020).

A traditional approach to coaching would look to reduce the demands of the game for learners through continuous repetition of a single skill with no opponents to develop an individual's exaction. Though these practices may produce a better performance exaction in the short term, the likelihood of promoting a positive transfer to an individuals game intelligence is low given the lack of representative practice (Ford et al. 2010).

Take a moment to reflect on this question “What does the game ask of players?” Write down everything you can think of an then ask yourself “Does my training look and feel like the game?”. The ability to recognise what the opposition is doing is one example, players have to adapt on the run, think like an opposition player and share information efficiently. How often do we go into a matchday knowing exactly what the opposition will do? It is like predicting the lottery numbers...

The question then comes back to training, how often do we give each team in training a different challenge? Creating a scenario where players must identify and navigate their way through the problems that the opposition are throwing at them would look and feel like the game.

Challenge one team to identify their opposing teams challenge using a MatchPlay Card? (see the link below for more information). The coaches role is to preselect cards that fit the session theme before inviting players to select a card that will represent a new challenge for the game. Alternatively, adding a change in dynamic and promoting adaptability, games can be randomly paused where a player from each team runs over to select a MatchPlay Card? that would represent their team challenge for the remainder of the game.

“The key always with practice is the transfer into the game... It is important to try to maximise the possibility of a transfer by not steering too far from the reality of the game.” Steve Holland - England Football Assistant Coach

Many players would be able to articulate responses to questions about the game but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are able to perform them in action. It is in activities that ask players to make decisions where knowledge and experiences are captured, adding to an individuals ability to make and execute real-time decisions with confidence in varying scenarios.

Using player challenges to influence how an individual engages with the game will impact how they interact with the environment, given they will have to adjust to the information presented to them and match these with their decision through the game. As players arrive at a session they are invited to self-challenge and select a MatchPlay Card? that will stay with them for the session, reflecting on its impact with teammates and coaches at the end to capture the learning. As coaches, we can challenge players with secret missions Using MatchPlay Cards? when the game is in full flow without having to stop the game, you may recognise a player who needs stretching or supporting to get more out of the game. Again, reflecting on the impact by asking players what they saw or noticed about that specific player.

"No manager in the world can absolutely tell a player that second what will happen to them, they have to make that decision... and you have to put them in a position they can make clear decisions." Arsene Wenger, 22 years Premier League Manager at Arsenal FC

To promote “in-game” learning practices should engage players to take action through decisions, supporting them to identify information that will influence how they interact with what the game is asking them. Adding a different MatchPlay Card? challenge in the attacking half and defending half to encourage a particular set of behaviours, connecting the environment - player - game together as one rather than in isolation.

Where else can we add decisions into the game? Can we subdivide the playing area into small areas with specific challenges that the game would ask players in those situations? Maximising our time on the training field with exposure to as many decisions as possible, supporting players to connect their previous learning and experiences to the situations that find themselves in.

Can we play a game is the most asked question to any coach but not anymore! MatchPlay Cards? are designed to support coaches coach through games, present problems to players asking them to gather the information that will influence their in-game decision making, challenging them to plan ahead of time to outthink their opposition.

As we increase the demand on players to make in-games, continue to maintain feedback opportunities. Players want to know that they are supported, whatever decision they make. Can this feedback be on the run so you aren't stopping the game? Imagine you have a GPS tracking system on you... If you were to review your movements after the session would they show you have moved all across the field to check in with different players and different moments of the game? Using MatchPlay Card? challenges as a tool to support your observation skills. Who needs support to get in the game and who needs stretch to be challenged more?

I am curious as to what the future game and player will look like in 5,10+ years time but one thing is for sure and that is the game will always ask players to make decisions and the importance of preparing players for the future will forever be a focus. Keep up the great work and I look forward to hearing how you are making your environments look and feel like the game.

Don’t forget to ask the players what they thinking and feeling. It is their game and they have a right to absolutely own it! Imagine the impact on players we involved them more in our session planning....

Shop MatchPlay Cards: https://www.thecoachinglab.org/shop