The complex problem-solving competence of team coaches
Project management: Prof. Dr. Bern Strauß; Dr. Norbert Hagemann
(supported by research grant from the Federal Institute of Sport Science, Germany; code number: VF 0407 / 10 / 06 / 2000 – 2001)
The complexity and dynamics of team sports places high information-processing demands on coaches. Having to solve problems in a competition may well require not only domain-specific but also domain-unspecific problem-solving strategies. This study used a domain-unspecific computer-simulated scenario (“heating oil company, Hasselmann & Strauss, 1993) to measure domain-unspecific complex problem-solving competence in 38 top-league coaches (first or second German national league in team handball or basketball) and 43 local-league coaches. Results showed that top-league coaches exhibited better problem-solving performance than lower-league coaches. The real-life coaching behavior of some of these coaches (14 top-league, 13 lower-league) was recorded 6 months later during competitions, and the content of their statements was analyzed. The main findings were that top-league coaches made fewer statements in competitions, but gave relatively more concrete instructions. They also criticized and motivated their players more frequently during play. Comparing intervention behavior across the two settings (computer-simulated scenario vs. competition) disclosed some general problem-solving strategies (e.g., number of motivating statements, strength of interventions). It is concluded that the success of sports coaches depends at least in part on their domain-general, complex problem-solving competence.
