This case study explored the professional judgement and decision making process of an athletic trainer, specifically focusing on the athletic training of an elite jockey. Using the Professional Judgement and Decision Making theory as a framework, the study investigated the cognitive processes, beliefs, and factors that influenced the first author’s judgment and decision making as an athletic trainer. The study employed a personal-narrative autoethnography approach, incorporating practice logs/diaries, consultations with the jockey, behavioral observations, and reflections. By integrating classical, rule-based, and naturalistic decision making approaches, the findings of this study underlined the complexity of the athletic trainers’ judgement and decision making at different training levels—program, intervention, and session. At the program level, decisions were characterized by analytical planning, incorporating a deep understanding of the jockey’s goals and the riding biomechanics. At intervention level, decisions were guided by both perceptual information and an intuitive understanding of the jockey’s physical and psychological state, allowing for flexible and responsive training strategies. At the session level, rapid, intuitive judgements facilitated immediate adjustments to training plans, underscoring the dynamic nature of athletic training. In conclusion, this case study offered a unique glimpse into the professional judgment and decision making processes in athletic training, advocating for a reflective and open professional debate to advance the field. It calls for future research to explore these processes across multiple sports and trainers, enhancing the understanding and application of PJDM in athletic training.
ORCID: 
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)