Situated analysis of elite trampolinists' problems in competition using retrospective interviews

Abstract

The aims of this study were to identify and analyse elite athletes' problems in competition. A situated cognition approach placed the emphasis on athletes' actions (i.e. cognitions and behaviours), which were considered to emerge from couplings with selected elements of the context. Fifty-two exercises performed by 10 elite trampolinists were analysed. Field observations, structured interviews, and self-confrontation interviews were conducted and transcribed, and used together with behavioural descriptions derived from video recordings. Performance problems were selected from these reports and from the major infringements of trampoline rules. Qualitative analysis identified the meaningful units of action and their semiotic components for each problem. Four categories of problem were identified and noted to appear either separately or jointly while performing: (a) finding the best moment to begin the performance; (b) finding and maintaining the best mode of involvement to end the performance; (c) recovering normal sensory-motor capacity to perform; and (d) solving problems quickly and definitively while performing. The results suggest that the study of action -- situation couplings in sports, as well as of their constantly evolving dynamics, not only reveals elite athletes' psychological activity, but is vital to a deeper understanding of these couplings.

Recognition Within the Decision-Making Process: A Case Study of Expert Volleyball Players

“…NDM could extend knowledge about the information perceived in the course of action that is reported by athletes. Previous studies showed that experts reported information that was significant for them (e.g., Hauw & Durand, 2007) and salient (e.g., Savelsbergh et al, 2002).…”

“…Activity is considered as a meaning construction process: meaning is built as activity unfolds, it does not precede it. These studies focused on: (a) the interpretation of athlete particular situation during the course of action (e.g., Arripe-Longueville, (d'), Saury, Fournier, & Durand, 2001), (b) the knowledge produced during the course of action (e.g., Sève, Saury, Ria, & Durand, 2003), (c) the time duration in a competition during which athletes can observe, and adapt their actions to those of their opponents (e.g., Sève & Poizat, 2005), and (d) the problems encountered by athletes during their performances (Hauw & Durand, 2007). These studies focused on dynamic and natural situations.…”

Un programme de recherche technologique en formation des adultes

“…L'amélioration des performances dépend de l'utilisation par les athlètes des « possibles pour l'action » dans cette alternance. Ce modèle sommairement présenté ici, a guidé la conception de dispositifs d'aides à l'entraînement (Hauw, Berthelot, & Durand, 2003 ;Hauw & Durand, 2007). L'étape d'analyse de l'activité n'est pas toujours un préalable indispensable à la modélisation dans la mesure où certaines pratiques ont déjà fait l'objet de recherches que le formateur peut exploiter : c'est le cas par exemple pour le travail des enseignants, qui est sans doute celui ayant été le plus étudié, et pour lequel les projets de formation peuvent démarrer sur la base d'une veille documentaire et une recension des recherches déjà publiées.…”

The Relationship between Trail Running Withdrawals and Race Topography

“…Hence, these studies made additional contributions to the research that has used this approach to show how perceived experiences during a sporting activity could be thought of as a succession of discrete sequences that have an impact on the outcome of that activity [20,21,22,23,24,25,26]. However, according to the 4 E approach, the studies underestimated the embedded components of these experiences, and particularly how they were linked to the specific environmental conditions in which the experiences occurred.…”