Cognitive fatigue in tennis. Current understanding and application among Australian high-performance tennis coaches

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Sumeyya Ozsoy ^*/**, Russell Conduit ^*, Robyn L. Moffitt ^***, Ash Moreland ^*, Tim Buszard ^**/**** and Melanie Nash ^*****

^(*) School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Australia
^(**) Game Insight Group, Tennis Australia, Melbourne, Australia
^(***) School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
^(****) Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Australia
^(*****) School of Education, RMIT University, Australia

Citation

Ozsoy, S., Conduit, R., Moffitt, R.L., Moreland, A., Buszard, T., Nash, M. (2024). Cognitive fatigue in tennis. Current understanding and application among Australian high-performance tennis coaches. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 55(2), 109-128. doi:10.7352/IJSP.2024.55.109

Abstract

This study investigated the understanding and conceptualization of cognitive fatigue in a tennis context and its application among high-performance tennis coaches (HPTC). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eighteen HPTC in Australia to gather insights into their knowledge of cognitive load and fatigue. Through an interpretive qualitative case study approach, five themes were identified: ‘Definitions of cognitive load’, ‘Definitions of cognitive fatigue’, ‘Development of cognitive fatigue’, ‘Management of cognitive fatigue’ and ‘Perceptions of training to prevent cognitive fatigue’. While coaches demonstrated some awareness of cognitive fatigue in their athletes, variations were observed in the strategies employed to manage and alleviate cognitive fatigue. This study has identified the need for better: 1) coach education on cognitive load and cognitive fatigue, 2) training techniques to ameliorate state cognitive fatigue, 3) measurement tools to track athlete cognitive load and state changes in cognitive fatigue.

Keywords: Training, Match performance, Load, Athletes.

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