Do the Structures Used by International Hockey Coaches for Practising Field-Goal Shooting Reflect Game Centred Learning within a Representative Learning Design?

Abstract

The 1997 rule change in field hockey that removed the offside rule was, arguably, a watershed moment in the evolution of the game. Previous research sought to establish how this rule change had affected the way field-goals were being scored and coaches' philosophies towards practising that component of hockey. The Federation of International Hockey (FIH) 2011 Men's Champions Trophy tournament provided an opportunity to revisit that research. Conclusions were that six of the seven team coaches observed at this tournament employed a game centred learning (GCL) design for practicing field-goal shooting (FGS) and these practices reflected a representative learning design (RLD). Video analysis of FGS supported the coaches' interpretations of the coupling of player perception and action processes in this skill. Overwhelmingly, but not totally, in the space of a little more than a decade, FGS practice, as observed by the author, had moved from drilling of skills in closed-skill contexts using command structures, to small-sided GCL practices reflective of a representative learning design.

Australian Football Skill-Based Assessments: A Proposed Model for Future Research

“…This integrated approach of the components enables this test to be high in representation and therefore positioned one level below match-play assessment. Field-hockey coaches have noted that whilst technique is important, so too was practicing in a tactical context where match-play is simulated, as the latter improved players tactical understanding, decision making ability and their understanding of player patterns (Slade, 2015). The absence of live opponents in the current AF skill tests may alter the perceptual cues available to the performer and consequently the performer may use alternative, non-match like movement patterns, leading to an unreliable evaluation of that particular skill performance (Roca and Williams, 2016).…”

Methodological Considerations for Furthering the Understanding of Constraints in Applied Sports

“…Australian football—kick type (drop punt, snap, etc. ); hockey—hit type Slade [ 45 ], Hughes and Franks [ 46 ] Automated detection of events via computer vision or device on athlete/equipment (i.e. ball or stick) Traffic event detection [ 47 ] Task Shot location - Angle/distance of goal face visible Pocock et al [ 48 ], Goldsberry [ 49 ] Player and ball tracking aligned with game logs Task Time in possession - Individual possession length - Length of possession chain - Team split of previous 10 mins Higham et al [ 50 ], Robertson et al [ 32 ] Player and ball tracking aligned with game logs Task/individual Shot trends: ‘hot hand fallacy’ - Team - Individual Skinner [ 51 ], Bar-Eli et al [ 52 ] Player and ball tracking aligned with game logs Individual Disposal efficiency - In game - History Pocock et al [ 48 ], Reich et al [ 53 ] Player and ball tracking aligned with game logs paired with analytics Task Available space - Physical pressure - No.…”

Future Directions and Considerations for Talent Identification in Australian Football

“…However, when only the first two practice free-throws were accounted for the percentage decreased to 69.8% which is comparable to match play performance (Kozar et al, 1995 ). In another study of seven team coaches in the Federation of International Hockey 2011 Champions Trophy tournament (field hockey) it was identified six of the coaches used more match representative designs when constructing their field goal shooting practice (Slade, 2015 ). The coaches found by moving away from the closed skill drilling sessions, into a more match representative task design, players were able to improve their tactical understanding, decision making and likely player patterns when attempting field goal shooting (Slade, 2015 ).…”