I conducted some research into what sports coaches at the high performance level are doing in relation to reviewing and debriefing and how they use data and analysis during this process. Below are the summaries of my own thoughts and the feedback provided by the five different coaches across four different sports.
My experience in cricket says it’s an area under-utilised and I believe it’s a great avenue for evidence based coaching. What I have experienced is that when a team wins often there is no debrief/review that takes place. Conversely when a team losses there often is a debrief/review.
Do you have a structured debrief and review process after every game? If so what does it look like?
· All five coaches who provided feedback said they have a debrief/review process.
· The importance and value of reviewing/debriefing in sport is an important part of the learning process for teams and individuals.
When does this take place in relation to when the match finished?
· No right or wrong time as to when this is done.
· A lot of variables to consider in cricket like when is the next game and is there opportunities to practice before the next game.
· For me in an ideal world it would be the start of the next training as this would allow me some time to gather significant information in data and video to be able to display accurate information that relates to the performance. This would form a good basis for discussion.
· During a congested tournament where you play day after day the review/debrief would be conducted the evening of the match and the key action points from this review emphasised in less detail the following morning in the team huddle. Important the players go to bed having reflected on the performance and we have discussed, identified what and how we will do things differently in the next game.
· Positive thoughts and imagery in their heads as they go to sleep very important.
Do you focus on the result or the performance?
· Focusing on the processes and components of performance that led to or contributed to the outcome.
· With this you need to have facts (KPIs) and data to back up points discussed as otherwise it just becomes the coaches’ opinion.
· Asking questions comes into play here to get player buy in and feedback on specific areas you want discussed.
Are your goals or KPIs analysed in this forum?
· Similar to the above it shows the importance that team KPIs are set. This then gives the team an opportunity to look at;
Did we achieve this KPI?
Why did or didn’t we achieve it?
How can we get better in relation to this?
How do you insure players learn and are better for the experience of playing in a game?
· Having them go through a semi-structured review process where players are asked questions in relation to the goals and KPIs set is the first piece of the puzzle towards learning.
· Secondly it’s about asking them what areas they need to improve on and the big question is how are they going to improve in those areas. If there is a decent amount of time before the next game then this forum really provides the plans for upcoming team trainings.
Does the outcome or result ever determine whether you debrief/review or not?
· In reality the outcome of the match shouldn’t affect whether or not a review takes place but in cricket it does at times.
· If the team is performing well then the captain may want to keep things simple and ride the momentum wave. You also may have to fly out straight after the game then play the next day so time does not allow for it. An element of flexibility is required with differing circumstances that the coach and team may be faced with.
· If there is no formal team review/debrief then it’s very important that you as a coach are doing this informally with individual players within the team. Especially the younger and less experienced players as they are ones that are eager to learn, get better, and have a high capacity to improve.
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