Incorporating perceptual decision-making training into high-intensity interval training for Australian football umpires. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kittel, Aden; Elsworthy, Nathan; Spittle, Michael
• Is Part Of: Journal of sports sciences. Volume 37:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 29
• Page End: 35
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Perceptual skill -- sport officials -- cognition; Sports -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 612.044
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2018.1480257
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-0414

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Existing methods for developing decision–making skill for Australian football umpires separate the physical and perceptual aspects of their performance. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of incorporating video-based decision-making training during high-intensity interval training sessions, specific for Australian football umpires. 20 amateur Australian football umpires volunteered to participate in a randomised control trial. Participants completed an 8-week training intervention in a conditioning only (CON; n=7), combined video-based training and conditioning (COM; n=7), or separated conditioning and video-based training (SEP; n=6) group. Preliminary and post-testing involved a Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test (Yo-YoIR1), and 10x300m run test with an Australian football specific video-based decision-making task. Overall, changes in decision-making accuracy following the intervention were unclear between groups. SEP was possibly beneficial compared to COM in Yo-YoIR1 performance, whereas CON was likely beneficial compared to COM in 10x300m sprint performance. There was no additional benefit to completing video-based training, whether combined with, or separate to physical training, suggesting that this was not an optimal training method. For video-based training to be an effective decision-making tool, detailed feedback should be incorporated into training. It is recommended that longer conditioning and video-based training interventions be implemented to determine training effectiveness.