Journal of Motor Control and Learning
Volume:2 Issue: 3, Summer 2020

In recent years sports psychologists, coaches and athletes have paid a greater focus of attention to mental wellbeing and psychological skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate which psychological skills are important to two levels of skills among Darts players, namely; elite and beginner.

The sample consisted of 24 elite and 24 beginner Darts throwers. In order to gain insight into Darts throwing, beginner Darts players attended a national-championship-simulated competition. Both elite and beginner players also completed the Ottawa Mental Skill Questionnaire.

Independent t-test results showed that there was a significant difference just in basic psychiatric skills between the beginner and elite Darts throwers (p<0.05). Nevertheless, there is no statistically significant difference in Ottawachr('39')s mental skills, psychosomatic skills and cognitive skills between beginner and elite Darts throwers (p>0.05).  

Results revealed differences between elite and beginner Darts players in foundation mental skills and commitment and mental practice subscales. Furthermore, results showed that for the commitment skill, elite and beginner Darts throwers were at the highest and lowest level respectively.

Challenge Point Framework (CPF) is a model by which it is possible to enhance mobility learning through interference in practice conditions to adjust task difficulty as a consequence of the interaction between skill levels of learner and the task difficulty. As the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients have trouble with balance control and walking, giving practice in the framework can help them cope with these movement problems. In the previous studies, it was clear that the method was useful in Parkinson and brain stroke patients, not in MS patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to address the CPF to improve control balance and mobility of the MS patients.

We have randomly selected 22 individuals with MS (Mage= 32± 4.5yrs.) and divided them into two groups of control and experiment with 12 interference sessions. We employed Timed Up and Go (TUG) test to evaluate balance and 25-foot walk test to measure speed.

The results have indicated that the speed and balance of the patients in experiment group have been improved due to interference based on CPF (P≥0.001).

Therefore, the efficiency of CPF has been approved in gait speed and balance of the MS patients.

 One of the most important factors in the performance of motor skills is the psychological properties of individuals. In this regard, the relationship between individualschr('39') cognitive styles and attention levels has not been investigated.

 The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive styles, attention and performance of shooting skill.

In this research, 150 athletes were selected through purposeful sampling. Group Embedded Forms Test (GEFT) attention test according to black and red table and air gun shooting test were used for data collection. Data analysis was handled by Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results showed that correlation between independent and neutral cognitive styles and shooting performance is more than field-dependent cognitive styles. Results also showed participants with higher attention in presence of a disruptive stimulant showed a better performance in shooting skill.

Based on results achieved, it may be stated that measures may be taken to improve performance of shooting skill among athletes by using cognitive styles, improving attention, and considering their personal features and training methods.

 Working memory is one of the important cognitive processes that underlie thinking and learning.

 The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive role of working memory on selective attention and performance accuracy in young girls of the University of Tabriz.

This research was conducted in a descriptive – correlation method. The participants were 140 female students from the University of Tabriz aged 19 to 25 years. To measure research variables in this study, Working Memory Capacity Tests, Strop Test, and Standard Volleyball Test were used respectively. To analyze the data, the Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used.

The results of the study illustrated that spatial working memory played a predictive role in selected attention (same color and font, and different color and font) and performance accuracy; Moreover, mathematical working memory played a predictive role in selected attention (same color and font, and different color and font). However, it did not have a predictive role in performance accuracy.

The regression analysis indicated that the working memory variable has a significant predictive ability for selected attention and performance accuracy in female students of the University of Tabriz. According to the results of this study, by raising the working memory, it can be helped reduce the reaction time, or increase the selected attention and the performance accuracy.

Adolescentchr('39')s perfectionism relates primarily to stress symptoms. Relationship between aspects of perfectionism and sports performance in no-stress training accompanied by inconsistent results.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate how different aspects of perfectionism predict futsal skill performances during stressful training in the adolescent.

Participants were 101 adolescent futsal players. They completed perfectionism inventory, then performed a futsal skill during three blocks of four trials. Two indices took into account: time and performance.

There was a significant relationship between positive perfectionism and performance during blocks 1 and 3 when negative perfectionism was considered. A significant positive relationship between negative perfectionism was observed with both time and performance during block 3. Also, a significant positive correlation in terms of the interaction between high positive and high negative perfectionism with the performance during block 3 was found.

The findings suggest that positive perfectionism in athletes during training was correlated with high levels of performance, but when crossing blocks, that relationship removed. Also, after observing otherchr('39')s performance, performance in individuals with high negative perfectionism during consecutive trials improved. When the interaction between positive and negative perfectionism was considered to predict sports performance, performance in individuals with high positive perfectionism during stressful training impaired.