Observation training for future rugby educators: what consequences on their conception of the game?
This theoretical article is in the field of human activity analysis. This study focuses on the development of undergraduate students who specialized in rugby in the Science and Techniques of Physical Activities and Sport program. Moments of a process of an instrumental genesis (Rabardel, 1995) of students using material artefacts (software dedicated to the analysis of rugby sevens games) were noticed, with a special interest in behaviours revealing an appropriation of the software. The controversy among students, caused by the use of the software about the qualification of game phases, contributes to developing both the instrumentation phase – appropriation of the tool by the students- and the instrumentalisation phase – adjustments made on the tool by students. This double process helps the students to improve their reading of rugby games.