Alan C. Macpherson

The University of Edinburgh | UoE · Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences

The Multi-Action Plan (MAP) model presents an idiosyncratic framework for human performance. MAP research has categorised four Performance Types (PTs; T1-T4) using self-paced activities. Specifically, T1-4 present four distinct mental states experienced by athletes during performance, differing, among other aspects, in the level of effort and perce...

A recent paper in this journal presented ideas and statements from the legendary martial artist Bruce Lee and tried to demonstrate how his ideas "align with contemporary theorizing in movement skill acquisition"; specifically, with the Ecological Dynamics approach. In this paper, we offer a critical consideration of their arguments, suggesting that...

Performance psychology has increased in usage and popularity; however, we contend that within the elite spheres of the military, there is a need for research and development to fit the context and environment. In this study, we describe an explorative case study on the integration of mental skill training techniques to an advanced sniper course in...

Over the past 30 years, implicit coaching has emerged as a popular learning tool and pre-emptive intervention to avoid choking under pressure. Despite advocacy in the sport coaching literature, however, we are concerned that theoretical, methodological, and practical issues have potentially inflated or obscured its utility for coaching practice. In...

In recent literature, constraints-led approaches have been promoted for practice design to coaches of American foot- ball. While we agree that this approach would represent a useful tool, we put forward that ecological approaches alone are insufficient to address the complexity and diversity of real-world sporting contexts, so coaches must carefull...

As performance psychology expands to address different environments, military settings are viewed as a natural extension. In certain cases, however, we suggest that a sub-optimal approach has been employed, due to a lack of specific knowledge of military culture and context, coupled with a diminished emphasis on conducting psychological research ta...

The Multi-Action Plan (MAP) presents as an action-focused, sport-specific, mixed methods intervention model. MAP research characterized four Performance Types (PTs). Each PT operates on an affective, cognitive, behavioral, and psychophysiological level—across performance contexts. In this narrative review, we present a synthesis of our current unde...

In order to evaluate an experimental intervention, it should be contrasted against at least one relevant comparison group. Without meaningful and relevant comparisons, results can be difficult to interpret, effect sizes may be unduly minimised or exaggerated, and any resulting recommendations for practice could be called into question. Despite reco...

Background We draw on the work of established scholars in the field of reflective practice who highlight its importance as a key cognitive skill for professionals to hold. While the substantive effect of engaging in reflective practice is emphasised in the literature, apparently coaches only spend a limited time learning about and engaging with it....

Objectives To date, research concerning analogy and explicit instruction has focused on motor learning (i.e., change or development over many learning trials) with limited attention directed toward acute performance considerations. Accordingly, the present study examined the short-term, differential effects of analogy and explicit instructions on m...

Tse, Wong, and Masters (2017) recently published a study that indicated that analogy instruction may help older adults acquire resilient motor skills that require reduced cognitive processing compared to traditional explicit instruction. Although we do not dispute that analogy learning may prove useful for this population, in this commentary, we co...

Understanding and explaining the mechanisms, cognitive processes, and self-regulatory strategies that enable the acquisition and proficient execution of motor skills pose significant challenges for the evidence-based practitioner. In this article, we critically consider contemporary theoretical and research findings focused on the scientific study...

The current study compared and contrasted the optimal regulation of stride patterns in the horizontal jumping events for 6 British athletes of international standard. Long jump and triple jump approach data were collected over a 3-year period in international and domestic competitions and considered against the distances achieved. Results suggest t...

This paper considers the importance of temporal structure or rhythm, as one type of movement retrieval cue or prime, for optimum movement execution and emphasizes its potential for enhancing human performance. To present this case, we consider evidence from the motor control literature that discusses the importance of temporal structure and rhythm...

This article considers interesting differences between the mental focus employed by an elite athlete javelin thrower (E1) when contrasted with three international standard javelin throwers (I1, I2, I3). Athletes' mental focus was recorded in both competition and training using self-report measures. In addition, kinematic analysis through point of r...

In activities requiring repetitive motions such as cycling, an individual gravitates to a natural cadence (NC). NC is seen as a “naturally occurring” phenomenon, a pace to which an individual reverts, as opposed to a consciously mediated pace, which is a learned ability. For example, an experienced middle distance athlete will be able to accurately...

We explore how expertise is obtained in the domain of rugby refereeing. The research data are qualitative and are drawn from an 18 month period working in collaboration with the Rugby Football Union Elite Referee Unit. Adopting an ethnographic mode of enquiry, the study combined long-term participant observation with in-depth interviewing, indirect...