Individual differences in short-term anticipation training for high-speed interceptive skill

Müller, S.ORCID: 0000-0001-5777-4953, Gurisik, Y., Hecimovich, M., Harbaugh, A.G. and Vallence, A-MORCID: 0000-0001-9190-6366 (2017) Individual differences in short-term anticipation training for high-speed interceptive skill. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 5 (1). pp. 160-176.

Abstract

Training studies in a variety of domains focus on between group comparisons. This study investigated individual differences in learning based upon visual anticipation training using field hockey goalkeeping as the exemplar motor skill. In a within-subject design, four state-league level field hockey goalkeepers were tested before and after visual anticipatory training in an in-situ test that required them to save goals from a drag flick. Response initiation time and response accuracy were measured. Participants were tested at baseline, completed a control phase of sport-specific practice, re-tested, then given an intervention phase of temporal occlusion training plus sport-specific practice, and re-tested. Results indicated that two goalkeepers’ response initiation times were earlier after the intervention. Effect sizes indicated that the two goalkeepers improved response accuracy after the intervention. Another goalkeeper’s response initiation time was later after the intervention, but this did not impede response accuracy of goals saved. The mechanism of individual learning appeared to be modulation of response timing to save goals. Anticipation training can improve in-situ visual-perceptual motor skill performance in an individualized and non-linear fashion. Further research is needed to better understand how each individual learns the visual-perceptual motor skills of high time-stress tasks in the sport domain.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Psychology and Exercise Science
Publisher:	Human Kinetics Publishers Inc.
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/57074

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