The Effect of Attentional Focus in Suprapostural Task on Postural Control in Boys from 9 to 12 Years Old

One of psychological interventions that can be effective on improving performance and learning behaviors is at the focus of attention. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine efficacy of instructions on the focus of attention of suprapostural task on learning of postural control in boys with 9 to 12 years old. In this study, 45 boy students of one of the Malayer city schools were participated, and divided into three groups (15 people), including: external attention, internal attention and control group randomly. The participants were asked to keep their postural control by using instructions on suprapostural task. Instructions included attention on the bar horizontally held in their hands (external attention), their own hands (internal attention), and no instruction (control). The result showed that learning process in both internal focus group (P=0.022), and external focus group (P=0.04), is significant compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were found in learning between external focus group and internal focus group (P=0.794).  The findings support of applying the attention instructions as an effective strategy to improve learning. Also the fact that children can take advantage from the attention instructions, has important applications for physical education.