Tactical Decision Making

UEFA A Licence Part 2

Tactical Decision – Making

Situation

Evaluate Options

Act Choose
Decision-Making
Definition ?
Decision Making

“ The thought process of selecting a logical choice from the available

options.
For effective decision-making, a person must weight the positives and
negatives of each option and consider the alternatives.
They must be able to forecast the outcome of each option and
determine which is the best for that particular situation.”

“The act of identifying and choosing alternatives based on the

values and preferences of the decision-maker.”
Types Of Decision

- “Whether to?”
- yes/no – either/or

- Which to?
- Choice from a number of alternatives

- Contingent
- Until a condition is met
Types Of Decision
• Optimising
- Choosing the very best possible solution form many options.
- Opting for the greatest probability

• Satisfying
- First satisfactory alternative chosen – not the best

• Maximaxising
- Choosing alternatives based on maximum pay-off

• Maximinising
- Worst outcome considered – 1- 0 up last two minutes
 The Process Of Making Decisions ?
(What factors are involved in making
decisions ?)
Poor Decision-Making Is The Result Of….?
 Poor Decision-Making
Un-aware of significant facts Lack of consideration / thought.

Emotional factors.
- stress, panic, expectations of others
Lack of previous experience. Lack of understanding of
ETC,ETC: the context and challenge.

Beyond resources / capabilities.

Mandated,instructed,ordered to act.

Un-aware of advantages &

Unaware of goal, target, intention.
dis-advantages etc

Time ? “ Tunnel-vision.”
Decision-Making Factors ?
 Decision-Making
FACTORS INVOLVED
Duty.
Information available. Consequences of the decision.
Influences. Degrees of benefit or dis-comfort.
Incentives. History – precedence – past experiences.
Impositions. Consultation with other / to please others !
Perceptions. Emotions , Feelings, Intuition – stress,
Prejudices. confusion etc
Preferences – often reflect values. Temperament – disposition.
Beliefs, ethics, values ,religion, up-bringing How the decision factors are presented –
etc “framing”.
Others views and decisions and doing it for Positives – Negatives.
others. Time available.
Mandated. Information “overkill”.
Decision-Making
Other Factors to consider

• Context

• Influence – State, Motive, Information, Intent, Action

• “It depends on…”

 EMOTION

“Emotions influence not only the way an individual feels but also

the way in which they think, process information and behave.

The concept has significant performance implications for

both player and coach.”

Teaching - Coaching

What do players want from coaches

during their coaching sessions ?

Expectations Of A Coach On The Field?
• Logistically organized
• Clarity with explanations
• Conviction and certainty
• Knowledge and understanding of subject matter
• Look and behave like a coach
• Know names
• Engage and hold attention
• Make individual and “global” coaching points
• Rhythm and balance to the session
Expectations of a Coach on The Field?
• Teach me something new
• Teach me to do something better than before
• Teach me to understand
• Teach me something different
• Help me to make correct decisions
• Give me a reason – WHY this is what I should do
• Leave me knowing and able to do more
• Leave me wanting more
• Leave me remembering YOU and your sessions
“ We don’t produce tactically intelligent
players in England.”
Meaning ?

CRITERIA for DOING SO ?

 Longitudinal study of players signed as young
professionals, or not by Dutch clubs.

“ knowledge of the game did not differ, but what

separated the professionals from the amateurs was
the ability to make correct decisions and position
themselves correctly on the field.”

University of Groningen
Decision – Making
DECISION-MAKING when attacking How and what criteria does 9 us
to make the correct decision ?
7

10
1 ?
2 ?
3 ?
COACHES :
4 ?
TELL ? 5 ?
LET PLAYER DECIDE ? 6 ?
“ When evaluating other people’s decisions, you are better
served by looking at their decision-making process rather than on
the outcome”.

M Mauboussin
WHAT have I called ? WILL I get hit before the pass ? WORTH the risk ?

Does it need changing ? HOW does it feel ?

STATE of the game – now .

Best option under circumstance ?
CAN I actually deliver that ?
What’s happening NOW ?
HOW to deliver as it
changes ?
What are defenders doing NOW ?

WHO to deliver to ? WHEN to release or run ?

WHAT can I hear ?
Robert Griffin III – Washington Redsikns Quater Back
 Wayne Gretzky – Canadian International 1981-1999

“ Anticipate and predict the game actions from long-

term memory. I see the immediate future faster and
better than others”

Strategic intuition ! Prediction is the core of intelligence.

Implications for coaches ?

“ Intuition depends on the use of EXPERIENCE to recognise key
patterns that indicate the dynamics of the situation”

Gary Klein- Psychologist

Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions 1999
GAME DECISION-MAKING CRITERIA ?
Criteria for Game Decisions ?
 Game Decision Making

• Awareness / Perception ?
• Circumstances ---- ?
• Options ----- ?
• Interpretation & understanding--?
• Priorities ?
• Possibilities-----? CONTEXT
• Necessities ----- ?
• Capabilities-----?
• Possible opponent actions --?
• Best tactical “fit.”
• CRITERIA for the most effective decision and action ?.
Game Decision Making

CONTEXT
FACTORS INVOLVED
• Information • History - precedence
• Influences • Consultation with others
• Incentives • Emotions / Feelings – stress,
• Impositions psyche
• Others views • Degrees of benefit-dis-
• Mandated comfort
• Duty • Temperament – disposition
• Perceptions ,prejudices • Preferences
• Beliefs, ethics, values up- • Positives – Negatives
bringing • Implications of the decision
• Consequences • Time available
• Intuition
Game Decision Making

• Awareness / Perception – “sensory” information

• Circumstances / environment ---- ?
• Options ----- ?
• Interpretation and understanding---?
• Priorities -------?
• Possibilities-----? CONTEXT
• Necessities ----- ?
• Capabilities-----?
• Possible opponent actions----- ?
• Best tactical “fit” ( risk, safety, necessity !)
• CRITERIA for the most effective decision and action?
Game Decision Making
Pressure – degree and angle.
• Circumstance Awareness of own situation.
Space, time,
• Options
• Possibilities Observed and available under the
circumstances
• Priorities Based on understanding of game,
reading of the game, situation, self.
• Necessities
• Capabilities State of game ,Risk – Safety,
Team tactics, style of play etc
• Possible opponent actions
• Best tactical fit ? “ Know thyself and others“ !

• CRITERIA for the most effective decision and action

“ The ability to anticipate and to make
decisions develops progressively through
extensive engagement in soccer-specific
practice and play activities.”

Mark Williams, Liverpool John Moores University

Defensive Decision-Making
Defending around the box
against strikers movements
Back Four Defending

DECISION AND WHY ?

CRITERIA FOR
DECISION-MAKING ?
Back Four Defending

9
5

8 6

BACK 4
DROP or NOT ?
Reasons ?
Back Four Defending

8 6

BACK 4
DROP or NOT ?
Reasons ?
Back Four Defending

9 5

6
8

BACK 4
DROP or NOT ?
Reasons ?
Back Four Defending
2

9 5

8 6

TRACK or PASS-ON ?
Reasons ?
Back Four Defending
2

5
9

8 6

TRACK or PASS-ON ?
Reasons ?
Back Four Defending

11

7 2

9 5

10 8 6

3
4

7
11
TRACK or PASS-ON ?
Reasons ?
Back Four Defending

11

11 2

9 5

4
8 6

3
4

7
7

TRACK or PASS-ON ?
Reasons ?
 Defending Against
WIDE BACKS – decision-making ?

Flank Movement
Back Four Defending
7
11

2
10

9 5
4

8
6

4 10
3
7
11
TRACK or PASS-ON ? 2
Reasons ?
Back Four Defending
7
11

2
10

9 5
4

8
6

10
4
3
7
11

TRACK or PASS-ON ? 2
Reasons ?
Back Four Defending
7
11

9 5
4

10 6

4
10 3
7
11
TRACK or PASS-ON ? 2
Reasons ?
Back Four Defending
7
11

9 5

4
8

10 6

4 10
3
7
11
TRACK or PASS-ON ? 2
Reasons ?
Back Four Defending 2
Defending Against
7 Flank Movement, Possibilities?
3 11

4
5

9
10
1
8

11 3
Defending Against Split Strikers
lPaying Against “Split Strikers”
Possibilities? 7
2

A 4 5

9 R
10
1
E 8

A
6

11 3
Back Four Defending
7 11

6
5
8 4 9

9
10
6
5 4
8 10

11
7
No.10 ? 2

Reasons ?
Back Four Defending
7 11
2

5
6 8 4 9

6
10
5 4
8 10

3
7

11
No.10? 2

Reasons ?
Back Four Defending
11
7 2

8
6 8
5
9

9 4

6
10
5 4
10

11
7
No.10? 2

Reasons ?
Back Four Defending
3
7

11
2

6 9 5
4

10 8 6
5
4
10
8

11
7 3

2
N0.10?
Reasons ?
Man – mark ?

BOLTON WANDERERS v SWANSEA CITY (April 2012 )

Three Centre Backs
Three Centre Backs

7
4

9
5
8

10
6
11

3
TRACK or PASS-ON ? 7

Reasons ?
Three Centre Backs

11
2

7
4

9
5
9

10 6

8
4

3
TRACK or PASS-ON ? 7

Reasons ?
Three Centre Backs

11

4
7

9
5
8

8 6

3
11 7
TRACK or PASS-ON ?
Reasons ?
Three Centre Backs

11

9 5

6
10
8

4
3
11 7
TRACK or PASS-ON ? 2
Reasons ?
Three Centre Backs

11

2
9 4

5
10
4

8
4
3

11 7
TRACK or PASS-ON ?
Reasons ?
Three Centre Backs

9 4

10 5

4 11

8 7

4 3

11
TRACK or PASS-ON ?
Reasons ?
Factors To Consider

• Is the defender marking a player or a space ?

• “Read the ball-holder’s body language
• Pressure on the ball or not – factors of pressure !
• Know the movements of other attacking players
• Distance the pass has to travel
• Likely time taken for pass to travel
• Time to pass on opponents ?
• Possibility to pass on opponents ?
• Direction of the pass
• Other defenders circumstances
• Can other defenders deal with the problem ? (Communication !)
• Player movement into dangerous attacking areas or not ?
• Opponents strength & weakness ?
• Your personal capabilities ?
• Priority ?
DECISION-MAKING when attacking How and what criteria does 9 use
to make the correct decision ?
7 1 ?
2 ?
3 ?
8 4 ?
5 ?
6 ?
9
1

And teach me
Teach me what I SHOULD D O
10 how to do it !
AND HOW TO
MAKE THE MOST EFFECTIVE
DECISION, FROM
ALL THAT I COULD DO.
Any Questions?