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Kinesiology, Vol. 47. No. 1., 2015.

Original scientific paper

The relationship between quantity and level of competition, and cognitive expertise in Spanish tennis players

Luis García-González orcid id orcid.org/0000-0001-8115-0649 ; Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Spain
Alberto Moreno ; Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Spain
Perla Moreno ; Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Spain
Alexander Gil ; Faculty of Sport, UCAM, Spain
Fernando del-Villar orcid id orcid.org/0000-0001-8724-8006 ; Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Spain

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Abstract

This work evaluates the relationship between quantity and level of competition, and cognitive expertise. To this end, cognitive expertise has been evaluated in Spanish tennis players (N=150) by means of declarative knowledge (DK) and procedural knowledge (PK) levels. DK and PK were assessed through a specific questionnaire (DK/PK-QT; García-González, Moreno, Moreno, Iglesias, & Del Villar, 2008). ANOVAs
showed significant differences in both DK and PK with regard to the quantity of competitions played (F(2, 147)=23.28; p<.001; ηp
2=.24 for DK; F(2,147)=44.52; p<.001; ηp 2=.37 for PK) and with regard to the level of competition (F(2, 147)=20.91; p<.001; ηp
2=.22 for DK; F(2, 147)=37.59; p<.001; ηp 2=.34 for PK). Furthermore, the Spearman’s Rho test showed that DK and PK were strongly correlated to quantity and level of competition. These results suggest that quantity and level of competition could be of central importance for the development of expertise in tennis players. In sport training stages, we recommend coaches to plan participation in
competitions (in the short and medium term), so that competitions would provide appropriate and significant experiences in real setting conditions (I.e. they should be ecologically valid). These competitions must be high level ones and sufficiently challenging so as to foster the development of cognitive expertise. Competitive structures (e.g. season competitions), which favor cognitive elements (e.g. DK and PK) and develop expertise in athletes, will also have to be put into practice.

Keywords

sport expertise; match-play; competition level; tennis

Hrčak ID:

140256

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/140256

Publication date:

29.6.2015.

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