In an April 22, 2020 interview published in the Washington Post newspaper, Duke head football coach David Cutcliffe discussed the decision-making process that he teaches quarterbacks in order to maximize their chance for success during a game. Cutcliffe’s time-honored theory has direct applicability to outdoor leaders seeking to maximize the potential for a successful outdoor event.
Here are Cutcliffe’s three stages of decision-making for quarterbacks, summarized as “pre-snap”, “post-snap”, and “alarm”:
(1) Pre-snap: Pre-snap is about gathering information. It is important to make a decision based on recognition, not instinct or athleticism. Cutliffe states “When you’re doing it for what you believe to be the right reasons, then it’s easier to correct and fix the mistake.”
(2) Post-snap: Cutliffe says the post-snap phase is about adjustment. The quarterback has to understand whether the initial decision was correct, and if not, make another decision using good mechanics.
(3) Alarm: Cutliffe says that if the quarterback fails to adequately deal with the post-snap phase, he enters the “alarm” phase. He says that many quarterbacks in the post-snap phase hesitate too long, or make no decision at all, or make a decision by indecision, the worst of all.
Cutliffe summarizes his approach to decision-making as one where information plus context plus reliable execution equals expertise.
Sounds like a perfect combination for an outdoor leader to maximize the chance for success during an outdoor activity. Have enough information at hand to make pre-activity planning decisions that are rational and take all known factors into account, be able to adjust during the activity in the event one or more factors deviate from what was expected, and avoid entering the “alarm phase” during the activity!