Bruno Travassos, Ricardo Duarte, Luís Vilar, Keith Davids & Duarte Araújo This study reinforces the practical results of recent research demonstrating that there is good sense in designing training sessions that correspond as much as possible to skills and tactics necessary for competitive game performances. This study focusses on the conditions we create when we train, and how that relates to the performance on game-day. In the sport of futsal, for example, this study demonstrates that creating more complicated passing options in practice increases the likelihood that…
Research Reviews
Stay up-to-date with key player development research. Our resident Professor, William A. Harper, breaks down research papers into simple, easy-to-read articles with takeaways for coaches.
Natalia B. Stambulova & Tatiana V. Ryba The Big Idea When Pete Sampras retired from tennis in 2002 he said this: “It’s not easy to retire at 31. In one respect I was glad I was done. But after a few years of having fun, I got a little restless. When you’re 33, 34 and you don’t have a focus, you can get kind of lost. As a man, you feel a little bit unfulfilled.” Sport careers, transitions, and assistance programs have become an active research area in the field…
Clifford J. Mallett, Stephanie J. Hanrahan The Big Idea “An athlete cannot run with money in his pockets. He must run with hope in his heart and dreams in his head.” So said Emil Zatopek, the remarkable Czechoslovakian distance runner, when asked what his motivation to run was. This one word, motivation, is a giant of a word. In the sporting world this one word has birthed thousands and thousands of inspirational quotes, sayings, locker room chalk-talks, T-shirt slogans, marketing ploys, even prayers. It is the one word that is…
Simone M. Ritter, Rodica Ioana Damian, Dean Keith Simonton, Rick B. van Baaren, Madelijn Strick, Jeroen Derks, Ap Dijksterhuis This study discusses human creativity in relation to diversifying life experiences – the kind of experiences which shape character – early parental loss, having immigrant status, or even living abroad. A fascinating look into the adaptability of the human mind, and especially how the brain reacts to these often extremely stressful and life changing conditions. Can creativity be a bi-product of these experiences? How does sport play…
Pam Richards, Dave Collins & Duncan R.D. Mascarenhas The Big Idea The USA National Football League Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning once said this about high pressure situations: “Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what the hell you’re doing.” The subject matter of this research paper aims to help coaches help athletes learn how to be pressured and know what the hell they’re doing. Takeaways Making quick and good decisions—collectively and individually—under pressure in team invasion sports is often the difference-maker in any competitive experience. One way…
Kenneth Aggerholm, Ejgil Jespersen, Lars Tore Ronglan The Big Idea In the 2010 Champions League football final, Diego Milito fooled Daniel van Buyten for his second goal, leading Internationale to defeat Bayern Munich 2-0. A writer for The Guardian described Milito’s second goal this way: “The Argentinian feinted as he twisted Daniel van Buyten this way and that before turning back inside, opening his body and guiding a shot with his right instep past Butt’s left hand.” The writer went on to sum up the meaning of Milito’s two goals: “Vision,…