The Link Between Tactics, Sport Psychology and

Perceptual-Motor Learning

Squash Canada Squash Canada Task #11Task #11: : Advanced Strategy and TacticsAdvanced Strategy and Tactics

November 2003November 2003

Tim Bacon, Smith CollegeTim Bacon, Smith College

Ice-Breaker! Think about the best tactical squash Think about the best tactical squash

player that you know. Think about player that you know. Think about

their psychological qualities. Turn to their psychological qualities. Turn to

the person next to you and briefly the person next to you and briefly

discuss and decide (less than 2 min.): discuss and decide (less than 2 min.):

what psychological qualities do the what psychological qualities do the

best tactical squash players possess?best tactical squash players possess?

Overview

Open Skill ProcessOpen Skill Process Nideffer’s Model of ConcentrationNideffer’s Model of Concentration Anticipation & DeceptionAnticipation & Deception Psychological Qualities & Styles of Psychological Qualities & Styles of

PlayPlay Mental Skills to Improve TacticsMental Skills to Improve Tactics Winning Ugly: Psychological TacticsWinning Ugly: Psychological Tactics Periodization of Tactics & Periodization of Tactics &

PsychologyPsychology

Importance of Linking Tactics to Psychology & Perceptual Motor Learning

Canada: VickersCanada: Vickers Australia: Abernathy & FlynnAustralia: Abernathy & Flynn German Tennis Federation (TC)German Tennis Federation (TC) BompaBompa

Strategic Mistakes?

Tactical-Technical - insufficient skill to Tactical-Technical - insufficient skill to carry out the strategycarry out the strategy

Tactical-Physical – insufficient Tactical-Physical – insufficient conditioning to implement the strategyconditioning to implement the strategy

Tactical-Psychological –too anxious or Tactical-Psychological –too anxious or lack of concentration or confidence to lack of concentration or confidence to implement the strategyimplement the strategy

Tactical-Perceptual – Errors in Tactical-Perceptual – Errors in perception, judgement or decision-perception, judgement or decision-makingmaking

The Open Skill Process

PerceptionPerception DecisionDecision ActionAction FeedbackFeedback

3 Stages of Learning

StageStage CharacteristiCharacteristicscs

Tech./TacticsTech./Tactics

CognitiveCognitive TechniqueTechnique

DifferenitateDifferenitatedd

TacticsTactics

AutomaticAutomatic TacticsTactics

Attention is both a Motor Learning and Psychology Topic

Nideffer’s Model of Sports Concentration Focus – flashlight modelFocus – flashlight model 4 types of focus4 types of focus Relationship to Open Skill ProcessRelationship to Open Skill Process Choking ProcessChoking Process Attentional ErrorsAttentional Errors TAISTAIS Attentional Control TrainingAttentional Control Training

Four Types of Attentional Focus

WIDTH

DIRECTION

Broad

Narrow

External Internal

Choking An Attentional Problem

Attentional Problems

Attending to past events (e.g., what was?)

Attending to future events (e.g., what if?)

Choking under pressureOveranalysis of body mechanics

Fatigue

Test of Attentional & Interpersonal Style BET, NAR, OIT, OET, REDBET, NAR, OIT, OET, RED Canadian Jr. resultsCanadian Jr. results

Anticipation in Racquet Sports Abernethy: « A » players initiate Abernethy: « A » players initiate

movement movement beforebefore the ball is struck the ball is struck - « D » players do not!- « D » players do not!

Expert players rely on shoulder Expert players rely on shoulder and racquet head cues - novices and racquet head cues - novices don ’tdon ’t

Differences between world-class Differences between world-class and national-level playersand national-level players

Teaching Ball Judgement

Train the perception: straight or crossTrain the perception: straight or cross Train the decision: « fore » or « back »Train the decision: « fore » or « back » Train skill 1: forehandTrain skill 1: forehand Train skill 2Train skill 2 Alternate execution of skillsAlternate execution of skills Randomize execution of skillsRandomize execution of skills Competitive gameCompetitive game Evaluate in match playEvaluate in match play

Progression for Anticipation Identify pre-impact cuesIdentify pre-impact cues train the perceptiontrain the perception train the decisiontrain the decision train skill 1train skill 1 train skill 2train skill 2 alternate skillsalternate skills randomize skillsrandomize skills competitive-conditioned gamecompetitive-conditioned game evaluate in match playevaluate in match play

Decision-Making (Tactics) Progression Choose a topic: select two skills where Choose a topic: select two skills where

player must differentiateplayer must differentiate ““Sell” the decisionSell” the decision Train the perceptionTrain the perception Train the decisionTrain the decision Train skill 1Train skill 1 Train skill 2 Train skill 2 etc.etc.

Decision Training (Vickers)

Tactial TrainingTactial Training FeedbackFeedback Top down vs. Bottom upTop down vs. Bottom up

Tactical Coaching Assessment

Coaching Feedback Assessment

Top Down Coaching

Developmental Model for Perceptual-Motor Skills (Flynn)

Psychological Qualities & Styles of Play

StyleStyle Psych Psych QualityQuality

Methods to Methods to DevelopDevelop

RetrieverRetriever

AttritionalAttritional

Lobber/Lobber/slowslow

Hard HitterHard Hitter

ShotmakerShotmaker

IPS and Tactics

Tactical play is improved when in Tactical play is improved when in the zonethe zone

Mental Skills to Improve TacticsSkillSkill ApplicationApplication RationaleRationale

RelaxationRelaxation

Self-TalkSelf-Talk

ActivationActivation

VisualizationVisualization

ConcentratioConcentrationn

Focus Plans

Integrated mental & tactical planIntegrated mental & tactical plan 3 parts: Pre-Match, Match, 3 parts: Pre-Match, Match,

RefocusRefocus 3 ways to develop3 ways to develop

1.1. Situation/checkpoint/scoreSituation/checkpoint/score

2.2. TacticsTactics

3.3. Free formFree form

Winning Ugly: Psychological Tactics Brad Gilbert: Winning UglyBrad Gilbert: Winning Ugly ‘’‘’Geoff Hunt on Squash’’Geoff Hunt on Squash’’ Chuck Kriese: Momentum Chuck Kriese: Momentum

ManagementManagement

Periodization of Tactics & Psychology Technical-Tactial periodizationTechnical-Tactial periodization Development of psychological Development of psychological

qualitiesqualities Development of mental skillsDevelopment of mental skills Periodization of visualizationPeriodization of visualization Long-term planningLong-term planning

Periodization of Visualization

GeneralGeneral

Prep.Prep.Specific Specific Prep.Prep.

Pre-Pre-

Comp.Comp.Comp.Comp. Trans.Trans.

TechniquTechniquee

Basic Basic PatternsPatterns

IndividuaIndividuall

Game Game PlanPlan

StylesStyles

Focus Focus PlanPlan

OpponenOpponentt

RefocusRefocus

N/AN/A

ForehandForehand

drop in drop in frontfront

Drop Drop followed followed by volleyby volley

RetrieverRetriever 8-8, 58-8, 5thth

Match Match ballball

Down 2-Down 2-00

N/AN/A

Longterm Planning – TC Example

AgeAge U11U11 U14U14 U16/18U16/18

Psych Psych QualitiesQualities

OtherOther

References