Rob Gray and Mike Ashford discuss how we make decisions

Rugby Coach Weekly

Dan hosts a discussion between Professor Rob Gray and Dr Mike Ashford about how players make decisions.
The discussion is based on a paper that Mike wrote reviewing different academic approaches to decision-making:
Understanding a Player’s Decision-Making Process in Team Sports: A Systematic Review of Empirical Evidence
https://doi.org/10.3390/sports9050065
Rob Gray suggests that the role of ecological dynamics needs to be viewed differently from the paper's conclusions.
During the discussion, we explore different views on information processing and ecological dynamics, with reference to various coaching and game scenarios.
Rob is associate Professor of Human Systems Engineering at Arizona State University and host of the Perception & Action Podcast, which has over 350 episodes. He is also of author of How We Learn to Move: A Revolution in the Way We Coach & Practice Sports Skills, also available as an audio book.
Follow Rob @ShakeyWaits
Mike is a lecturer in Sport Coaching at Coventry University. His research interests include player and coach decision making, coach development and understanding how we can shape effective learning environments. Mike completed his PhD at Leeds Beckett University.
Follow Mike @MAGreyMattersUK
Here are some of the key links from the pod.
From Mike:

• frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.609127/full My study exploring player decision making in rugby union alongside Andy and Jamie.
• https://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1612197X.2021.1907768 Rosie, Dave and Howies' study exploring premiership rugby union players decision making.
• https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sport-psych-show/id1434313037?i=1000548775303 My podcast with Dan Abrahams exploring the systematic literature review study and my decision making study

From Rob:

• My review of Mike's paper: https://perceptionaction.com/386/
• Ecological approach imagery: https://perceptionaction.com/337/
• Strong anticipation: https://perceptionaction.com/336/

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