Effect of the interaction of attentional focus types and the competitive environment on learning and performance overarm throw with the non-dominant hand

Introduction and goal: focus of attention and competition is an integral part of the sport and the factors affecting the performance and motor skills. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the interaction of attentional focus types and competitive environmen on performance and learning over arm throwing in high school student.

60 male students with a mean age (16.95 ± 0/819) and unfamiliar with the research they were studying in Tabriz voluntarily participated in this study and were divided into four groups of 15 persons (external focus on non-competitive environment, internal focus on non-competitive environment, external focus on competitive environment, external focus on competitive environment). Then in the acquisition level practiced six blocks of ten attempts over arm throwing the earth tennis ball in conditions with each group. Retention and transfer tests were performed after 24 hours from the acquisition.

the results of variance analysis with repeated measures showed that the main effect of block groups and blocks, as well as the interaction between these two variables is significant. One-way analysis of variance and bonferroni test shows significant differences in all phases of the scores and in both competitive and non-competitive external focus group is better than internal focus group. The results also show that all groups in acquisition and retention tests compared to pre-test their progress (P≤0/05). Therefore, it is suggested that coaches and sports teachers in competitive environments also use external attention instructions to learn sport skills.