Phenomenal decision-making in elite soccer: making the unseen seen

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose: Decision-making research in soccer is dominated by a methodological dichotomy between experimental research approaches and ecological research approaches. The aim of this paper is to expand the methodological discussion on decision-making in soccer by demonstrating the utility of a phenomenological analysis of decision-making. This paper responds to calls for future research on decision-making to address the lack of studies which include the athlete’s perspective and adds to the growing body of sporting literature which examines the athlete’s subjective or lived experience of their sporting domain as a means to explore a specific aspect of sporting performance.Methods: To analyse the live decision-making moment in elite soccer we utilised self-confrontational interviews, which involved the combination of audio-visual data and a phenomenological elicitation interview as a means to elucidate the expert player’s pre-reflexive experiences during the decision-making moment. An expert sample included senior international female soccer players (n = 10).Results / Conclusion: Findings highlight the capacity of a phenomenological methodology to capture the complex interaction between the simultaneous processes underpinning the decision-making moment, to enhance current research methodologies of decision-making and to contribute to future research perspectives on decision-making.