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Kinesiology, Vol. 48. No. 2., 2016.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.26582/k.48.2.6

Self-talk does not affect the transfer and retention in the tennis forehand learning in beginners

Thiago Rogel Santos Ferreira ; Metropolitan University of Santos; Santa Cecília University, Brazil
Flávio Henrique Bastos ; Motor Behavior Laboratory, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Silmara Cristina Pasetto ; Motor Behavior Laboratory, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Camila Torriani-Pasin ; Motor Behavior Laboratory, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Umberto Cesar Corrêa orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-3465-0437 ; Motor Behavior Laboratory, University of São Paulo, Brazil

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of self-talk on motor learning in beginners. The learning task was the forehand stroke in tennis. Eighty-four students were assigned into five self-talk groups and one control group. One of the self-talk groups used four cues for directing attention to key elements of the forehand stroke. The other self-talk groups made use of only one of the four cues (ball, bounce, hit, and ready), and the control group received only general instructions. In the acquisition phase, all groups performed 180 trials over three days. Then they performed a transfer test of 10 trials involving a change in the target direction. After five days they performed a retention test in the same conditions of the acquisition
phase. The performance was analysed in terms of rates of success and consistency of the forehand hit to the target located on the opponent’s court. Results showed that all groups improved their performances in the acquisition phase, and that they maintained the improvement in the retention and transfer tests. However, no differences were found between the groups. It was concluded that self-talk did not affect the learning of forehand stroke in tennis. In addition, learning with self-talk with four cues was similar to that with selftalk with only one cue.

Keywords

selective attention; motor skill learning; instruction; cues; racket sports

Hrčak ID:

170216

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/170216

Publication date:

23.12.2016.

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