What does the questioning of expert coaches reveal about the biomechanical knowledge of forward ice hockey skating?

Abstract

Coaches and scientists share a preoccupation with understanding athletic performance. The aim of this study was to investigate coaches’ practical knowledge about forward ice hockey skating with reference to the biomechanical research findings in order to improve understanding of the skating task and encourage the design of more representative research. For this purpose, 10 expert ice hockey coaches were interviewed. Semistructured interviews were transcribed and meanings units were selected and grouped to build the main categories after verbatim analysis. The qualitative analysis revealed that the coaches detailed forward skating based on three categories: posture, lower limb kinematics, and arm movements. They used performance indicators to specify their practical knowledge. These indicators were generally consistent with recent biomechanical research and when the coaches held different opinions, they expressed intuitive ideas that often suggested new research perspectives. This study illustrates how the interaction of scientists and coaches, via their respective knowledge, can supply new research perspectives.