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.