Implementing Skill Acquisition Research in High-Performance Sport: Reflecting on the Importance of Autonomy-Support for Successful Collaboration

Perceptual-cognitive-motor skills, such as visual anticipation, are pivotal for superior performance in sport. However, there only a limited number of skill acquisition specialists working with coaches to develop these skills athletes. The purpose this paper is present brief reflection on the use psychological strategies create an autonomy-supportive environment embed research project high-performance was conducted Australian national field hockey unit and investigated individual differences expert goalkeepers’ anticipation. first discusses role specialist, how they collaborate athletes, barriers collaboration. then outlines can be used build relationship establish collaboration team. Further, importance continually involving athletes process facilitate their engagement self-determined motivation complete project. By applying environment, sports scientists may have greater success overcoming many conduct elite sport setting, outcomes highly valuable athlete development.