Translating Key Methodological Issues into Technological Advancements When Running In-Situ Experiments in Sports: An Example from Sailing

Abstract

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in capturing and understanding skilled performance by studying complex perceptual-motor skills. In this context, we identify and discuss key methodological issues that are particularly relevant when aiming to translate sport scientific knowledge into practical guidelines for coaches and athletes. These issues are: the representative performance environment (including fidelity of stimuli and type of response), generalisability, and experimental control. After a short introduction of the methodological issues, we first review and critically discuss to what degree past research studying complex perceptual-motor skills in sports has or has not sufficiently taken these issues into account. Second, we illustrate an examination of expertise in sailing as an example of how to address the key issues when performing experiments in-situ. We conclude that the presented example illustrates how the collaboration between coaches, athletes and sports scientists advances the methodological and technological developments to capture skilled performance in complex sports.

Perceptual-cognitive skill and the in situ performance of soccer players

“…Therefore, the findings question the suitability of video-based perceptual-cognitive skill tests for studying perceptual-motor expertise (see Dicks et al, 2010 ), and this suggests that caution is warranted when using these tests for talent identification or to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. Alternatives to the paradigms employed in traditional laboratory studies have been provided by recent technological advances such as mobile eye tracking devices ( Van Maarseveen et al, 2016 ; Pluijms, Cañal-Bruland, Kats, & Savelsbergh, 2013 ), event-related visual occlusion goggles ( Mann et al, 2010 ; Oudejans, van de Langenberg, & Hutter, 2002 ), and virtual reality ( Bideau et al, 2010 ; Correia, Araújo, Cummins, & Craig, 2012 ). In order to accurately capture the perceptual-motor performances of athletes, we suggest using in situ research designs so that the task constraints represent as accurately as possible the natural performance setting of the athlete and actual movement responses are required.…”

A probabilistic model for analysing the effect of performance levels on visual behaviour patterns of young sailors in simulated navigation

“…Furthermore, it would be important to highlight that this analysis should be applied in real conditions of navigation, as pointed out by Pluijms et al (2013), in order to compare the real visual patterns with the ones obtained by simulated navigation.…”

The effectiveness of constraint-led training on skill development in interceptive sports: A systematic review (Clark, McEwan and Christie) – A Commentary

“…We have made the call for the experiential knowledge of coaches to be acknowledged, emphasizing the need for coaches and sport scientists to work together. 56 The value and role of experiential knowledge of coaches have often been neglected largely because of the inability to ‘collect’ data through classical experimental designs because of the inherent complexity of expertise or knowledge in coaching. A number of programmes of work are emerging that have meshed qualitative and quantitative research findings to enhance our understanding of expertise in sport.…”

“…Pluijms et al. 56 in sailing and the PhD programmes of Sarah-Kate Millar 57 in rowing and Dan Greenwood 58 in sport run-ups. These innovative approaches need to be continued in further work.…”