What skills make the difference in decision making under pressure during a match? In The Perfect Choice II we will focus on the impact of mental, ball control, passing technique skills and biological age and sports history of players. Scroll down for all the info!
In the 2020-2021 season we successfully started the ‘The Perfect Choice I’ (TPC) project in collaboration with the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences (VU University Amsterdam) and various BVOs.
During ‘The Perfect Choice II’ we want to gain more insight into important extra skills in ‘decision making’ (choices on the ball under pressure) through new questionnaires, tests and competitions.
During the TPC II research, we will use the only LPM performance and data analysis system that generates data from smart balls. It is also more accurate than GPS technology..
Can we find differences in mental skills and mindset between the particular player profiles? Based on newly developed questionnaires…
What is the influence of biological age and sports history on technical and mental skills and the decision making profiles? Are late maturers over represented within a particular player profile…?
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What level is the player’s ball control (technique) compared to other players. Do players show different levels on particular moves? To what level do they apply these skills in match performance?
At what level are the player’s Cognitive skills? Can the player detect and estimate where the ball is going to end up while in play? How do his feet cooperate and react to what he sees?
During the TPC II research, we will use the only LPM performance and data analysis system that generates data from smart balls. It is also more accurate than GPS technology… One (or more) match(es) will be measured at your club for the study. Based on the raw position data, the xSP data model has been developed with smart AI algorithms, which will also be used for TPC II to predict the pass performance and comparison between players.
Can we find differences in mental skills and mindset between the particular player profiles? Based on newly developed questionnaires…
Is a player convinced of his options to develop and improve his skills and performance? How does he deal with setbacks, is the player focused on the result and does he put risk in his game? By means of validated questionnaires we will measure goal orientations, resilience and mindset of the players and compare them to the 4 Decision Making profiles.
This questionnaire measures players’ goal orientations using 12 questions. The goal orientations determine when players feel proficient in a practice or match. A distinction is made here between learning, performance, or approach and avoidance-orientation.
This questionnaire measures the mindset of players on the basis of 21 questions and is suitable for players aged 13 and over. Mindset is the belief of the developability of skills. In other words, a player believes that talent can be developed or that talent is innate.
The Motivational Climate Scale for Youth Sports (MCSYS) provides an age-appropriate measure of coach-initiated motivational climates in youth sports.
What is the influence of biological age and sports history on technical and mental skills and the decision making profiles? Are late maturers over represented within a particular player profile? Do they tend towards a growth mindset because they are always challenged by biologically older players? During the research we will investigate relationships between biological age, sports history and decision-making performance (match data).
The PHV is the maximum rate of height growth in the growth spurt. So the period in which a player experiences the greatest increase in height. The age relative to the PHV (APHV) can be used as a measure for the biological age, which can be used to determine whether a player is precocious or late maturing. The APHV is the time a player is away from his maximum height growth and can be calculated with a formula. By having knowledge of the APHV, training programs can be tailored to the player.
This questionnaire provides insights in a player’s sports history. The questionnaire consists of open questions that focus on sports activities that the player has practiced in previous years and the number of months that this sports activities have been practiced with the help of a trainer. This allows us to determine the training hours, type of training (‘play’ or ‘practice’) and whether players are specialized in their sport early on. The questionnaire is suitable for all ages.
What is a player’s basic technique like and to what extent is he able to apply it during the match? Using the Football Skills Track, Loughborough Soccer Passing Test and the Insait Joy ball control test, Dribbling, passing and ball control are objectively mapped with an academic substantion and innovative ball technology.
This skills track consists of the following parts slalom, dribble forward and backward, figure 8 and passing. The player must complete the course as quick as possible and the time is recorded for each part.
The LSPT measures short passing skills, decision making and ball control. Awareness, listening, ball control, precision and quick turning all play a role for the highest possible performance.
This ball control test measures different skills from beginner to expert level. The smart ball measures the number of ball contacts, rhythm and frequency per second.
The test has been developed to measure the ability of players to pass accurately under pressure
At what level are the player’s Cognitive skills? Can the player detect and estimate where the ball is going to end up while in play? How do his feet cooperate and react to what he sees?
This test measures game insight, choosing the right position and the ability to anticipate on different types of (passing-) situations.
The test measures the visual perceptual skills. The goal of the test is to determine the (sequential) memory and the spatial relationships of the player.
This tests measures the visual fine motor skills (eye-foot coordination).
It gives insights in the ability of players to convert visual clues to desired gait patterns. This is is usefull for dribbling the ball in tight spaces on the pitch.
This test is a visual/cognitive eyetest, designed to measure eye skills. The test measures eye movements, focus and speed of processing of information.
