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Training visual attention improves basketball three-point shot performance under pressure

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Abstract

Purpose

The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a QE-training duration on improving the performance and accuracy of basketball three-point shot and determined whether such training protected against attentional disruptions associated with performing under pressure.

Methods

Eighteen expert male basketball players wore a mobile eye tracker to assess their quite eye (QE) duration when performing three-point shots carried out over 6 days without defensive pressure. They first participated in pre-test and were randomly allocated into a quiet eye (QE)-trained and control group. Both groups participated in video feedback of their gaze behavior and on-court training sessions and only the QE-trained group received additional instructions related to maintaining a longer QE duration. Their accuracy and gaze behaviors were recorded through post and pressure tests.

Results

The QE-trained group performed significantly better and had longer total, early and late QE duration through the phase of tests compared to the control group.

Conclusion

These results provide support for the efficacy of QE training focused on using visual information until the ball is released in undefended conditions. Future research is needed to determine if the results also apply when the athlete is closely defended.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Motor Behavior, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

    S. Moeinirad, B. Abdoli, A. Farsi & N. Ahmadi

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  1. S. Moeinirad
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  2. B. Abdoli
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  3. A. Farsi
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  4. N. Ahmadi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Moeinirad.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of Shahid Beheshti University (IR.SBU.ICBS.97/1009). Al procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standard.

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Informed consent was obtained from the patient included in the case report.

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Moeinirad, S., Abdoli, B., Farsi, A. et al. Training visual attention improves basketball three-point shot performance under pressure. Sport Sci Health 18, 853–861 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00866-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00866-0

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