Effect of increasing the distance of an external focus of attention on performance and kinematic of horizontal jump in skilled athletes

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of near external and far external focus of attention on performance and kinematic of horizontal jump in skilled athletes. Participants were 15 males’ students’ member of volleyball and basketball team with an average age (23±4) that purposefully selected. The task was the horizontal jumping test which was executed under three condition (3 trials in per conditions; CON, EXN and EXF). Participants in the control condition did not receive any instruction, in EXF condition, participants were instructed to focus on a cone 5m far from the jumping lines, in EXN condition, participants were instructed to focus on the jumping lines on the floor. Kinematic data of knee joint was recorded by 3 markers in knee joint and 8 camera motion analysis. The results indicated that participant in EXN and EXF condition had significantly higher performance and also less maximum knee flexion than CON condition (P≤0.05). However, there was no significant difference between EXF and EXN condition (P>0.05). The result of the present study support “constrained action hypothesis” and show that focusing on the movement effect on the environment improve motor performance like jumping.