Learning of tennis skills and external focus

Ricardo Hadler, Suzete Chiviacowsky,  Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil

Gabriele Wulf, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA

José Francisco Gomes Schild, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil
Abstract: The present study examined the effects of instructions promoting external versus internal foci of attention on the learning of a tennis forehand stroke in 11-year old children. Three groups of  participants practiced hitting tennis balls at a target. External focus group participants were instructed to direct their attention to the  movement of the racquet, while participants in the internal focus group were asked to direct their attention to the movements of their  arm. Participants in a control group did not receive attentional focus instructions. Two days after the practice phase (60 trials), learning was assessed in retention and transfer tests.
The results showed that the external focus group demonstrated greater accuracyin hitting a target relative to the two other groups  in retention, and relative to the internal focus group in transfer. We conclude that instructions inducing an external focus of attention can enhance children’s sport skill learning.

„Children’s learning of tennis skills is facilitated by external focus instructions“

by Ricardo Hadler, Suzete Chiviacowsky, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil; Gabriele Wulf, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA; José Francisco Gomes Schild, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil

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