Coaches’ thinking process: Analysis of decisions related to tactics during sports games

A three-step model of coaches’ tactical thinking process is proposed: pre-interactive, interactive and post-interactive decisions. This study focuses on the interactive decisions. Its first objective was to verify if a coach is able to report these decisions at the end of a game. The second objective was to analyse the goals and factors inducing the decisions. Data were collected during and after four games directed by two coaches, one in basketball, and the other in volleyball. Their teams participated in the second division of the Belgian national championship (1998-1999). The research method was similar to that developed by Gilbert, Trudel, and Haughian (1999). Coaches reported a limited number (1 to 9) of tactical decisions immediately after each game. Decisions reported by the coaches and additional decisions selected by researchers from videotapes of the games were used for stimulated recall interviews. A total of 82 decisions were analysed with the basketball coach and 88 with the volleyball coach. Data analysis was considered separately for each coach. Calling time out, player substitutions, and tactical cues were the most frequently analysed decisions. Adapting the team strategy and providing information or directives were the priority goals of the decisions. Most of the decisions were determined by subjective field information.