What makes basketball players continue with the planned play or change it? A case study of the relationships between sense-making and decision-making

Abstract : In team sports, players are required to undertake planned coordination (i.e., play) so that their teammates know what will happen and can achieve positive outcomes. They are also required to change the play when situations develop in a different way to that anticipated. But what make the players continue with the planned play or change it? This study aimed to identify relationships between the sense players made of situations and their decisions to continue with the planned play or change it. Seven female elite basketball players from the same team participated in the study. A match was video-recorded. Postperformance interviews were conducted separately; each player was shown the video and asked to describe her activity in relation to the events observed. The interview data were used to identify how players made sense of situations and the relationships between sense-making and decision-making. Results showed two steps in sense-making: assessment of the current situation, and anticipation of possible situation developments to manage risk. Results also showed risk assessment led the players to continue or change the play. Results suggest players used situation recognition and mental simulation to make sense of situations. They changed the play to cope with risks, suggesting team adaptation.