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Analysis increasingly provides evidence that the essence of the modern game is speed. Players run more, the ball is circulating quicker and decisions need to be made more rapidly than ever before. With players at the highest levels often in possession of the ball for an average of less than one second per contact decision-making is crucial.
So what is ‘decision-making’? What role can a coach play in developing it? And how can certain practice experiences help?
Decision-Making has been broadly referred to as the art of choosing a particular technique, action, or tactic which is of benefit to the team. So when we see Wilshere, Xavi, Vidic or Messi successfully score, stop or create a goal what is it that enables them to do this? If top players actually ‘make the best decisions most often’ (as was articulated by an ex-top player and highly successful ex-youth developer), what underpins these decisions that complementary actions so often follow?
Fitts & Posners (1967) theory of skill development - which has stood the test of time – suggests these players have reached skill levels that might be described as ‘autonomous’ or automatic (without conscious thought or attention), maybe even transcendental and 6th sense like at times. Improvement arises through ‘dipping’ into the previous skill development stage known as the ‘associative’ (linking component parts and using feedback to perfect skill/s).
What does this all mean? It suggests that somewhere along the way, these players arrived at a stage where their senses, amongst other things, began to detect and decode meaning attached to patterns quickly and accurately - which would enable them to do things differently from the majority of the player population. Research suggests (Baker et al. 2003) the very best players are more capable in relation to:
Multi-Tasking Automaticity Anticipation & Recognising Patterns Recalling Patterns
Retrieval of Critical Information Related to the Task/Situation Decision-Making Skills Knowledge of Appropriate Tactics & Procedures Superior Movement Adaptability & Execution Skills
It is these skills that contribute to quick, accurate functioning and interaction of perceptual and motor streams (brain and nervous system functions).
There are many players who have sound technical ability (motor) but don’t see what others see regarding putting their team in a position of advantage from their action. Likewise, there are many players who show that they possess the perceptual capability for decision-making but do not possess the appropriate technique or quick enough reactions to turn this into a benefit for their team. These players are harder to judge.
What sets the best out from the rest depends on the two streams, perceptual and motor, aligning instantly and accurately. This is even more important at the top levels of the game where due to similar physiological capabilities decision-making becomes increasingly more important (Reilly & Williams, 2000).
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