The Link Between Tactics, Sport Psychology and Perceptual-Motor Learning Squash Canada Task #11: Advanced Strategy and Tactics November 2003 Tim Bacon, Smith College

Ice-Breaker! Think about the best tactical squash player that you know. Think about their psychological qualities. Turn to the person next to you and briefly discuss and decide (less than 2 min.): what psychological qualities do the best tactical squash players possess?

Overview Open Skill Process Nideffer’s Model of Concentration Anticipation & Deception Psychological Qualities & Styles of Play Mental Skills to Improve Tactics Winning Ugly: Psychological Tactics Periodization of Tactics & Psychology

Importance of Linking Tactics to Psychology & Perceptual Motor Learning Canada: Vickers Australia: Abernathy & Flynn German Tennis Federation (TC) Bompa

Strategic Mistakes? Tactical-Technical - insufficient skill to carry out the strategy Tactical-Physical – insufficient conditioning to implement the strategy Tactical-Psychological –too anxious or lack of concentration or confidence to implement the strategy Tactical-Perceptual – Errors in perception, judgement or decision-making

The Open Skill Process Perception Decision Action Feedback

3 Stages of Learning Stage Characteristics Tech./Tactics Cognitive Technique Differenitated Tactics Automatic

Attention is both a Motor Learning and Psychology Topic

Nideffer’s Model of Sports Concentration Focus – flashlight model 4 types of focus Relationship to Open Skill Process Choking Process Attentional Errors TAIS Attentional Control Training

Four Types of Attentional Focus Broad WIDTH Narrow External Internal DIRECTION

An Attentional Problem Choking An Attentional Problem

Attending to past events (e.g., what was?) Attentional Problems Attending to past events (e.g., what was?) Attending to future events (e.g., what if?) Choking under pressure Overanalysis of body mechanics Fatigue

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

Anticipation in Racquet Sports Abernethy: « A » players initiate movement before the ball is struck - « D » players do not! Expert players rely on shoulder and racquet head cues - novices don ’t Differences between world-class and national-level players

Teaching Ball Judgement Train the perception: straight or cross Train the decision: « fore » or « back » Train skill 1: forehand Train skill 2 Alternate execution of skills Randomize execution of skills Competitive game Evaluate in match play

Progression for Anticipation Identify pre-impact cues train the perception train the decision train skill 1 train skill 2 alternate skills randomize skills competitive-conditioned game evaluate in match play

Decision-Making (Tactics) Progression Choose a topic: select two skills where player must differentiate “Sell” the decision Train the perception Train the decision Train skill 1 Train skill 2 etc.

Decision Training (Vickers) Tactial Training Feedback Top 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 Psych Quality Methods to Develop Retriever Attritional Lobber/slow Hard Hitter Shotmaker

IPS and Tactics Tactical play is improved when in the zone

Mental Skills to Improve Tactics Application Rationale Relaxation Self-Talk Activation Visualization Concentration

Focus Plans Integrated mental & tactical plan 3 parts: Pre-Match, Match, Refocus 3 ways to develop Situation/checkpoint/score Tactics Free form

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

Periodization of Tactics & Psychology Technical-Tactial periodization Development of psychological qualities Development of mental skills Periodization of visualization Long-term planning

Periodization of Visualization General Prep. Specific Prep. Pre- Comp. Trans. Technique Basic Patterns Individual Game Plan Styles Focus Plan Opponent Refocus N/A Forehand drop in front Drop followed by volley Retriever 8-8, 5th Match ball Down 2-0

Longterm Planning – TC Example Age U11 U14 U16/18 Psych Qualities Other

References