Effect of Sport Type and Exercise Environment on Athletic Distance Perception and Performance

The purpose of this study was to compare the distance perception between indoor and outdoor sports athletes in the indoor and outdoor conditions at far and near distances. A total of 40 male athletes were selected (sports experience about 5 years and age range between 20 to 35 years), which included 10 taekwondo (individual and indoor), 10 tennis (individual and outdoor), 10 volleyball (team and indoor) and 10 football (team and outdoor). The standard Direct Blind Walking Test were used to measure distance perception. The test was performed in four different conditions (indoor and outdoor, at a distance of 3 and 10 meters). The error rate to achieve the target (distance perception indicator), and movement time and step length (performance indicator) was recorded. The results of combined analysis of variance with repeated measurements (2×2×4) showed that there was no significant difference between errors of the outdoor and indoor sports athletes, but the single athletes' error was significantly higher than the team athletes. The movement time of indoor and team athlete groups in outdoor and 10 distance conditions was significantly higher than outdoor and single groups respectively. There was no significant difference in the step length of the athletes in outdoor and indoor sports groups, but the step length of single athletes was significantly higher than that of the team group. These findings show that Sport type and exercise environment effect on development of athlete’s distance perception and performance.