Exploring coaches’ use of planned disruptions in talent development and elite sports

Planned disruptions are defined as relatively small and deliberate training activities in which athletes are exposed to increased pressure under controlled circumstances. Increasingly, a case is made in elite sports for the structural inclusion of such planned disruptions. Research suggests that they can increase performance under stress (Oudejans & Pijpers, 2010) and play a role in the development of psychological resilience (Kegelaers & Wylleman, in press). Despite theoretical and practical support, there is a lack of knowledge on which strategies coaches use in an applied context and how or why they use them. Therefore, the present study aimed at exploring the different types of planned disruptions coaches use, and the desired outcomes of these disruptions. To this end, thematic analysis was used to analyse semi-structured interviews with N = 9 talent-development and elite-level coaches (Mean age = 42.9, SD = 8.26). Results indicated that coaches use a combination of nine types of planned disruptions (i.e. location, competition simulation, punishments & rewards, physical strain, stronger competition, distractions, unfairness, restrictions, outside the box). These strategies were used to familiarise athletes with pressure, create awareness, develop or refine personal resources, and promote team processes. Three additional themes emerged regarding the surprise nature of planned disruptions, periodization, and the impact on personal relationships. The findings in the present study can guide fur ther applied and theoretical explorations of the use of planned disruptions.