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The Link Between Tactics,
Sport Psychology and
Perceptual-Motor Learning
Squash Canada Task #11:
Advanced Strategy and Tactics
November 2003
Tim Bacon, Smith College
Ice-Breaker!

Think about the best tactical squash player
that you know. Think about their
psychological qualities. Turn to the person
next to you and briefly discuss and decide
(less than 2 min.): what psychological
qualities do the best tactical squash
players possess?
Overview
Open Skill Process
 Nideffer’s Model of Concentration
 Anticipation & Deception
 Psychological Qualities & Styles of
Play
 Mental Skills to Improve Tactics
 Winning Ugly: Psychological Tactics
 Periodization of Tactics & Psychology

Importance of Linking Tactics
to Psychology & Perceptual
Motor Learning
Canada: Vickers
 Australia: Abernathy & Flynn
 German Tennis Federation (TC)
 Bompa
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Strategic Mistakes?
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Tactical-Technical - insufficient skill to carry
out the strategy
Tactical-Physical – insufficient conditioning to
implement the strategy
Tactical-Psychological –too anxious or lack of
concentration or confidence to implement the
strategy
Tactical-Perceptual – Errors in perception,
judgement or decision-making
The Open Skill Process
Perception
 Decision
 Action
 Feedback

3 Stages of Learning
Stage
Characteristics Tech./Tactics
Cognitive
Technique
Differenitated
Tactics
Automatic
Tactics
Attention is both a Motor
Learning and Psychology
Topic
Nideffer’s Model of Sports
Concentration
Focus – flashlight model
 4 types of focus
 Relationship to Open Skill Process
 Choking Process
 Attentional Errors
 TAIS
 Attentional Control Training

Four Types of Attentional Focus
Broad
WIDTH
Narrow
External
Internal
DIRECTION
Choking
An Attentional Problem
Attentional Problems
Attending to past events
(e.g., what was?)
Attending to future events
(e.g., what if?)
Choking under pressure
Overanalysis of body
mechanics
Fatigue
Test of Attentional &
Interpersonal Style
BET, NAR, OIT, OET, RED
 Canadian Jr. results

Anticipation in Racquet Sports
Abernethy: « A » players initiate
movement before the ball is struck « D » players do not!
 Expert players rely on shoulder and
racquet head cues - novices don ’t
 Differences between world-class and
national-level players

Teaching Ball Judgement
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Train the perception: straight or cross
Train the decision: « fore » or « back »
Train skill 1: forehand
Train skill 2
Alternate execution of skills
Randomize execution of skills
Competitive game
Evaluate in match play
Progression for Anticipation
Identify pre-impact cues
 train the perception
 train the decision
 train skill 1
 train skill 2
 alternate skills
 randomize skills
 competitive-conditioned game
 evaluate in match play
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Decision-Making (Tactics)
Progression
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Choose a topic: select two skills where
player must differentiate
“Sell” the decision
Train the perception
Train the decision
Train skill 1
Train skill 2
etc.
Decision Training (Vickers)
Tactial Training
 Feedback
 Top down vs. Bottom up

Tactical Coaching
Assessment
Coaching Feedback
Assessment
Top Down Coaching
Developmental Model for
Perceptual-Motor Skills
(Flynn)
Psychological Qualities &
Styles of Play
Style
Retriever
Attritional
Lobber/slow
Hard Hitter
Shotmaker
Psych
Quality
Methods to
Develop
IPS and Tactics

Tactical play is improved when in the
zone
Mental Skills to Improve
Tactics
Skill
Relaxation
Self-Talk
Activation
Visualization
Concentration
Application
Rationale
Focus Plans
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1.
2.
3.
Integrated mental & tactical plan
3 parts: Pre-Match, Match, Refocus
3 ways to develop
Situation/checkpoint/score
Tactics
Free form
Winning Ugly:
Psychological Tactics
Brad Gilbert: Winning Ugly
 ‘’Geoff Hunt on Squash’’
 Chuck Kriese: Momentum
Management

Periodization of Tactics &
Psychology
Technical-Tactial periodization
 Development of psychological qualities
 Development of mental skills
 Periodization of visualization
 Long-term planning

Periodization of Visualization
General
Prep.
Specific
Prep.
PreComp.
Comp.
Technique Basic
Patterns
Individual
Game
Plan
Styles
Focus
N/A
Plan
Opponent
Refocus
Forehand
drop in
front
Retriever
8-8, 5th
N/A
Match ball
Down 2-0
Drop
followed
by volley
Trans.
Longterm Planning – TC Example
Age
Psych
Qualities
Other
U11
U14
U16/18
References