Have you considered, as a coach, what you’re trying to achieve when you show videos of a match to players afterwards? What do you hope to achieve? Do you want to lead a true discussion with the players and listen to the perspective of each or are you trying to lead them to the solution you already have in mind?
You might not even realize you’re guiding the player to the solution you’ve specified. Many studies have been completed on the effect of video analysis on player learning. The goal is to illustrate that when a group of people watch the same recording, you will get a variety of perspectives. If a player is making a suggestion that you, the coach, does not agree with how open are you to implementing it?
Do not be too hard on yourself as well, because coaching has come on in leaps and bounds over the past decade. Gone are the days of cones, bibs and trainers whilst shouting instructions like a drill sergeant. Today more focus is given to the interaction, empowerment and development of a positive culture around the team. It is now generally accepted that the player must have a level of input. Does this happen in reality though?
Traditionalists still believe that training sessions should be led by the coach, be technically-focused and about passing knowledge from the coach to the players. This makes the learning process passive, with little if any interaction.
This can work well for an amateur team that may only meet once a week and needs to use the time to learn tactics and develop skills for the next match. In this situation, there is no time for the coach to debate several different perspectives.
However, the current thinking of sports psychologists, scientists and coaches is to support video analytics into a very effective form of reflection, helping to improve their skills and develop an understanding of the psychology of the players of in the game in terms of tactics. Video analysis helps to increase and improve future decision-making in the game as does using Rugby Drill videos as part of training exercises. For more information, visit a site like https://www.sportplan.net/drills/Rugby
What seems clear is that there is heaps of evidence to support the idea of the involvement of the player being a positive thing and able improve the team’s performance. Coaches have noted that video analysis can help players see the actions of others, not just themselves and can help to put an incident in the broader context of the entire match.
Video analysis provides a great opportunity for players but it is a wasted exercise if the coach then ignores all suggestions and observations. Coaches need to learn to listen to other viewpoints and create an inclusive learning environment that is open to a different range of experience, skills and knowledge.