Skilled motor performance captures the attention of both spectators and researchers. One aspect of skilled motor performance in invasion games is that of tactical decision making. The purpose of this inquiry was to explore constraining influences on tactical decision making during game play of skilled intercollegiate soccer players and to enhance understanding of how such constraints act upon game performance. This inquiry was conducted from a constructivist qualitative theoretical frame. One coach-identified, tactically skilled, male offensive and one defensive player from a competitive intercollegiate soccer team were given voice concerning decision making during game play. Data were gathered individually from five interviews of three different types over one season—a preseason, semi-structured interview, two on-field post game interviews, and two stimulated recall interviews (SRI) with videos of two games as the stimuli. In the first SRI, each player gave a running commentary of his decisions during that game play. In the second, players were asked to comment on specific game scenes edited by the researchers. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. A constant comparative data analysis strategy was used, with game play surrounding individual player’s decisions as the unit of analysis. Trustworthiness was established through multiple data sources, interview transcription verification, a confirmability audit, and participant negotiation of findings. Examples of the large number of individual constraints influencing game-play decisions, organized post-analysis within Newell’s constraints model, included (a) task constraints of ball reception, time, space, and opponents, and (b) personal constraints of fitness, experience, and technical ability. There were no environmental constraints on players’ decision making. Different constraints tended to cluster around each of the five main decision-making contexts in soccer—offensive and defensive on-ball action, offensive and defensive off-ball action, and set plays. The roles of forward and defender influenced decision making differently concerning the importance of ball possession, relationship of player to midfielders, and reliance on style of play. Insights gained from data analysis included the following: (a) Offensive on-ball decisions were the most complex, (b) team was the most influential individual constraint, (c) players brought a decision-making set to the game, (d) decisions appeared to present themselves as binary choices, and (e) ball reception was pivotal in the decision-making process. Recognizing constraints on tactical decisions increases a player’s knowledge base concerning soccer, helps focus player attention during the game, and enhances understanding of the current game situation thereby contributing to successful game play.