The contribution of a mixed-methods approach to understanding intersubjectivity in coach–player communications during rugby training sessions

This article aims to characterize the contributions of a mixed-methods research design based on a techno-psychophenomenological approach to document intersubjectivity in coach–player(s) communications during a rugby training session. In particular, we address the following research question: How can a mixed-methods research design add value in capturing intersubjectivity in action, across its public and private dimensions, within an ecological sports training context? We develop a multi-method approach primarily based on the combination of semi-structured interviews, audiovisual recordings, and explicitation interviews in order to understand intersubjectivity in action. This approach enables the development of three main “innovations”: (1) documenting both the objective and subjective facets of activity through the combination of quantitative and qualitative methods; (2) gaining insight into practitioners’ subjective experience in real-life situations; and (3) examining intersubjectivity by cross-analyzing experiential data from both players and coaches. The integration of first-person and third-person data allows for a fine-grained documentation of intersubjectivity in action within a communicative situation. We notably present the results of a case study focusing on a communication episode between one coach and several players. Finally, we discuss the relevance of mixed-methods research designs for accurately documenting the intersubjectivity of coach–player(s) communications during training sessions, highlighting the specific contribution of each methodological tool.