A1 Journal article (refereed)
Instructions for External Focus of Attention Improved Taekwondo Kicking Performance Only Among Less Skilled Youth (2022)

Siltanen, S., & Bottas, R. (2022). Instructions for External Focus of Attention Improved Taekwondo Kicking Performance Only Among Less Skilled Youth. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 129(3), 787-799. https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125221083748

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Siltanen, Simo; Bottas, Reijo

Journal or series: Perceptual and Motor Skills

ISSN: 0031-5125

eISSN: 1558-688X

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 09/04/2022

Volume: 129

Issue number: 3

Pages range: 787-799

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125221083748

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/80605

Abstract

External focus of attention (EFA) studies among children have yielded more equivocal results than have those among adults. Some investigators have found an internal focus of attention (IFA) advantage in children and have explained their results by children’s generally lower skill levels, compared to adults. According to the constrained action hypothesis, children’s lower skill levels are not yet associated with over-learned automatic movement patterns, so their motor performance is not disrupted by IFA instructions. In this study, our objective was to examine a possible interaction effect between children’s skill levels and their exposure to either IFA or EFA instructions on motor performance. Our participants were 40 10–15-year-old taekwondo competitors of higher and lower skill levels (based on both the participant’s experience and their test performance) who engaged in a taekwondo kicking movement before and after either IFA or EFA instructions. We found improved kicking performance with EFA versus IFA instructions only among less versus more skilled participants.

Keywords: taekwondo; sport-specific skills; motor learning; attention; children (age groups)

Free keywords: focus of attention; verbal instructions; taekwondo; side kick; performance

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1