Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.26582/k.56.1.5

The effects of attentional focus instructions on the performance of a persistent form-based skill in gymnastics

Bianca Maria Laroëre orcid.org/0000-0002-9866-3202 ; Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic; Department of Gymnastics and Combat Sports, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic *
William M. Land ; Department of Kinesiology, College for Health, Community and Policy, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
Ludvík Valtr ; Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
Kamila Banátová ; Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
Jiří Mudrák orcid.org/0000-0002-9457-566X ; Institute of Psychology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Reza Abdollahipour orcid.org/0000-0002-7559-5921 ; Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

External relative to internal focus instructions have been shown to be more effective for enhancing optimal performance across various motor tasks that do not rely on movement quality or movement form. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an external versus an internal focus of attention on the motor performance of a gymnastic skill that requires static strength and movement form. Participants with previous experience in aerobic gymnastics were asked to perform an L-support task for 4 seconds in three attentional focus conditions: internal focus, external focus, and control, with the order counter-balanced across focus conditions. Two pieces of yellow tape (2×9 cm) were attached to the gymnasts’ feet on the inner side of the navicular bones. Two pieces of red tape (2×9 cm) were wrapped around the distal phalanx of the big toes of the right and left foot. All participants performed four trials in the external focus (focus on keeping red tape below the yellow tape), internal focus (focus on pointing your toes), and control (no-focus) conditions. The results showed that execution faults were smaller in the external focus condition compared to the internal focus and control conditions. No difference was found between the internal focus and control condition. The findings of this study indicate that the external focus is more beneficial than the internal focus and no-focus control condition for enhancing the performance of a static gymnastic skill that requires static strength and movement form.

Keywords

focus of attention; movement form; motor performance; gymnastics

Hrčak ID:

318259

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/318259

Publication date:

30.6.2024.

Visits: 781 *