How much? How long? Should it be tactical? Should it be effort based? Do i change my comment type based on performer level? An analysis of the types and frequencies of coach feedback in MMA

1. Effective Coach Feedback and Fighter
Application in Mixed Martial Arts
Dr Kirsten Spencer and Anton Vera.
Auckland University of Technology, Youth Development Research
Group

2. Background
• Previous research from other sports has touched upon the
link between coaching feedback, athlete application and
performance.
• In mixed martial arts, the fight consists of 3 (Preliminary
and Main) or 5 (Championship) rounds with 1 minute
break in between each round
• The coach uses the 1 minute break to deliver optimal
(type, duration and complexity) feedback to their athlete
• This research will measure the fighters’ application of their
coaches’ feedback (communicated during the 1 minute
break) and the types (nature and form) of feedback used
by the coaches.

3. Methods Division
Weight
Fly Bantam Feather Light Welter Middle L Heavy
Championship (n = 12) 2
2 0 0 4 0
4
Main Card (n = 12) 2
0 0 4 0 2
4
Preliminary (n = 12) 0
2 2 4 2 0
2
Fighter Divisions and Weight.
Nature of Coach Feedback
Prescriptive The coach gives an indication that the athlete should respect in the next
combat, imposes a solution, possibly underlining the mistakes to avoid.
Descriptive The coach describes the way the athlete accomplished any previous action
Positive Evaluation The coach evaluates the athletes’ performance in a positive way or he
praises or encurages the athlete
Negative Evaluation The coach evaluates the athletes’ performance in a negative way reflecting
disapproval
Form of the Information
Verbal The coach transmits the information in an exclusively verbal way
Visual The coach transmits the information in a non-verbal way, through gestures
or facila expressions, which may show approval, disapproval or
demonstration ‘simulation’
Kinesthetic The coach transmits the information manipulating te athletes body
Combined
(Verbal/Visual or
Verbal/Kinesthetic)
The information is transmitted in a verbal and gestural way or in a verbal
way with manipulation of the athletes’ body respectively.
Observation
system of coach
instruction

4. Methods
1. General Feedback
Striking
Actions
Definition
Punch Successful strike which connects with opponent with a
closed fist
Elbow Successful strike which connects with opponent with the
point of the elbow
Kick Successful strike which connects with opponent with the
foot, leg or heel
Knee Successful strike which connects with opponent with the
kneecap and surrounding area of kneecap
Grappling
Actions
Clinch A grapple at close quarters with opponent, to be too closely
engaged for full arm blows
Submission Attempts at yielding the opponent with a grapple with the
intent to finish the fight
Takedown A grappling manoeuvre where the opponent is brought
down to the mat from a standing position
Guard Execution of a ground grappling position where fighter has
their back to the ground while attempting to control the
Coach
Feedback
Fighter Application of Coach Feedback
Drive
forward
Obvious forward movement fighter towards
opponent
Centre of
ring
Duration fighter is in the “Centre of ring”
(Figure 2)
Kicks to
body
Successful strike which connects with
opponent’s torso with the foot, leg or heel
2. Coach Feedback
Score Feedback Application Grading System
1 Very
Low
0% - No clear evidence of instructions
in action
2 Low 1% - 49% - evidence of less than half
of instructions in action
3 Mod 50% - evidence of half the instruction
in action
4 High 51-99% - evidence of more than half /
nearly all instructions in action
5 Very
High
100% - evidence of all instructions in
action
3. Grading System for
Application of Coach
Feedback

5. Results: Frequency of Coach Feedback
The quantity of feedback communicated by the
coaches increased as the fight progressed.
This trend occurred in each of the divisions
coded
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
Win C Loss C Win M Loss M Win P Loss P
Frequency
Division
R1R2
R2R3
R3R4
R4R5

6. Results: Form of Coach Feedback
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Championship Main Card Preliminary
Frequency
division
Form of Feedback by division
Verbal Combined
Percentage of form of coach feedback by division
 Championship level coaches used a greater percentage of verbal
feedback

7. Results: Nature of Coach Feedback
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
R1R2 R2R3 R3R4 R4R5
Frequency
Breaks between rounds
Nature of Feedback per Round
Prescriptive Descriptive P Evaluation N Evaluation Motivational
 coaches used prescriptive feedback 50% more frequently than
the other forms of feedback
 FB Form changes as fight progresses

8. Results: Fighter Application of Coach Feedback
Winning fighters were significantly more likely to
have applied coach feedback than losing fighters
Suggests a trend of losing fighters ‘reduced
application of feedback’ in each level of MMA
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Win C Loss C Win M Loss M Win P Loss P
Frequency
Division and Outcome
Mean frequency of information applied by the fighter (by division)

9. Results: Influence of Round
Fighter Application of Coach Feedback
 Mean information applied by fighters in all divisions showed a
decreasing trend as rounds progressed
 Negative trends were more exaggerated as fighters proceed through
the fight, particularly exhibited by the Championship division.
 The greatest decrease of information application was displayed by the
losing Preliminary fighters division.

10. Results: Quantity of Feedback
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Win C Loss C Win M Loss M Win P Loss P
Info Retained Extent of Info
Quantity Fighter applied feedback and Quantity of Coach Feedback
Losing fighters were given more feedback and applied less
feedback as opposed to their corresponding winning
divisions.

11. Conclusion
The less information given to the fighter, the more
they retain.
The more information the fighter retains the more
likely they will win
Prescriptive feedback is the most effective
Coaches increase their quantity of feedback as
fights progresses

12. Thank You