Pattern recognition in soccer: perceptions of skilled players and experienced coaches

Feist, J., Runswick, O. R., Hope, E., North, J. S. and Pocock, C. (2023) Pattern recognition in soccer: perceptions of skilled players and experienced coaches. In: 10th Meeting of Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network, 17th-18th May 2023, Manchester, UK.

[thumbnail of 10th Meeting of Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network]
Preview
Text (10th Meeting of Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network)
Feist et al. (2023) ESAN Poster Abstract.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (282kB) | Preview
[thumbnail of 10th Meeting of Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network]
Preview
Image (10th Meeting of Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network)
ESAN Poster 2023.pdf - Presentation
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (334kB) | Preview

Abstract

The ability to perceive and recognise patterns of play is important for skilled performance in
sporting environments with strict spatiotemporal constraints. An extensive body of
laboratory-based experimental research has examined pattern recognition, yet there has been
a lack of qualitative investigations into pattern recognition underpinning skilled performance.
We interviewed six skilled soccer defenders and seven experienced coaches to investigate the
perceived importance of pattern recognition to ‘game reading’ in soccer and its development
in practice. A two-stage reflexive thematic analysis identified seven higher-order and twenty-two lower-order themes relating to the contribution of pattern recognition to game reading in
competition and practice. Participants reported that danger and distances, visual perception,
anticipation, experience, opposition team, organisation and communication, and development
in practice were deemed fundamental to performance in competition. Participants explained
that developing pattern recognition skills in representative practice environments supported
transfer of these skills into competition. Defenders and coaches emphasised the importance of
distance between player and ball, as well as identifying ‘triggers’ which appear linked to a
defender’s experience, positional awareness, and organisational skills. Providing defenders
with representative scenarios during practice is recommended to stimulate problem-solving
and promote familiarity with an opposition team’s patterns of play to support skilled
performance.

Publication Type: Conference or Workshop Items (Poster)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Football, soccer, UEFA. visual perception, communication, organisation, game reading, pattern recognition
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports > GV711 Coaching
Divisions: Academic Areas > Institute of Sport
Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Research Theme > Enhancing Sport Performance
Research Entities > Centre for Health and Allied Sport and Exercise Science Research (CHASER)
Event Title: 10th Meeting of Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network
Event Location: Manchester, UK
Event Dates: 17th-18th May 2023
Depositing User: Chris Pocock
Date Deposited: 25 Jul 2023 13:59
Last Modified: 05 Jun 2024 10:25
URI: https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/7006

Actions (login required)

View Item
View Item
▲ Top

Our address

I’m looking for