Choose one priority from the evidence
Begin with a repeated, clearly visible situation that matters to the athlete’s current goal. Link it to the source timestamps and state what remains uncertain. One carefully chosen priority is easier to practise and evaluate than a long list of faults. A report can propose a task, but the coach should decide how it fits the athlete’s level, schedule and existing programme.
Write a task that another person could run
A practical task describes the starting situation, the partner’s role, the permitted choices and the cue the athlete will try. It also says what to record. Replace “improve distance” with a coach-agreed scenario that recreates the observed decision. Keep the practice within normal supervised training. The video does not establish an appropriate workload or replace the coach’s assessment of readiness.
A fictional example: from note to task
Observation: in several reviewed clips, the athlete makes a second retreat before choosing the final response. Question: could an earlier decision help in this particular situation? A coach might design a controlled partner exercise with two agreed responses and ask the athlete to call or demonstrate the choice at a defined cue. Record whether the cue was noticed and the intended response was completed. This example illustrates task structure; it is not an individual prescription.
Define the success condition before practising
Use an observable condition, such as recognising the agreed cue and completing the intended response, rather than “look more confident.” Agree how many attempts to observe with the coach and record both completed and missed attempts. Keep the difficulty and partner behaviour in your notes. A higher success rate in an easier drill does not, by itself, show transfer to competition.
Review transfer in the next comparable footage
On the next review, use the same inclusion rule and compare similar score and tactical situations where possible. Note which part changed: recognition, decision timing, execution or outcome. Retain examples that do not fit the expected story. If the pattern persists, revisit the explanation with the coach instead of automatically adding more repetitions. A small sample is a starting point for discussion, not proof of a lasting improvement.
Keep the plan small enough to use
Keep a one-page record of the evidence clips, chosen task, cue, success condition and next review date. Use the free worksheet for notes and the interval timer only when its visual timing fits the agreed session. FencerLens’s fictional sample report shows how findings and training priorities can be connected. Real private reports should keep that connection visible and identify uncertainty.