Do coaches see the game better than players? Testing tactical decisions with video scenarios.
Article
Russo, Gabriele, Williams, A Mark, Verghini, Gabriele et al. (2026). Do coaches see the game better than players? Testing tactical decisions with video scenarios.
. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 88 103262. 10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103262
Russo, Gabriele, Williams, A Mark, Verghini, Gabriele et al. (2026). Do coaches see the game better than players? Testing tactical decisions with video scenarios.
. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 88 103262. 10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103262
Decision-making in soccer depends on the information available in unfolding play, yet it remains unclear whether coaches differ from players on standardized video-based assessments and whether any differences depend on situational demands. We compared 29 coaches and 52 players on a temporal-occlusion task comprising 28 animated match scenarios. On each trial, participants selected one of four tactical options pre-rated by an expert coach panel for appropriateness (1-4). Decision scores were analyzed with mixed-effects models including Stroop interference and Cognitive Reflection Test score as covariates; decision response times were analyzed in parallel. Coaches selected higher-rated options than players in the difficulty-based analysis (p=0.002, ηp2=0.12), but this difference depended on scenario difficulty (Difficulty × Group: p=0.003, ηp2=0.11): coaches outperformed players in easy clips (p<0.0001) but not in difficult clips (p>0.05). Scores were higher for defensive than offensive situations (p<0.001,ηp2=0.12), with coaches scoring higher across action types (p<0.001,ηp2=0.08). Players responded faster than coaches, whereas Group interactions with Difficulty and Action Type were nonsignificant for response time. Cognitive covariates were not associated with decision quality. Overall, coach-player differences were most evident in lower-ambiguity scenarios, highlighting the context-dependent nature of tactical decision assessment in soccer.
