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The effect of fixation transitions on quiet eye duration and performance in the soccer penalty kick: instep versus inside kicks

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Abstract

Male goalkeepers of intermediate skill level attempted to stop penalty kicks executed with the instep and inside foot, in situ. A mobile eye tracker and an external camera were used to collect the gaze and motor behaviors of the goalkeepers, as well as the penalty takers’ motor behaviors and flight of the ball. Percent saves was greater during instep (28%) than inside foot kicks (12%), but we detected few differences in fixation frequency, location, duration, or transitions that could be attributed to the type of kick used. Fixation transitions (or the frequency of gaze shifts between locations) were significantly higher on goals than on saves. During the final phase of the kicking action, the quiet eye was located on the visual pivot and was longer during saves than goals. Furthermore, when the final fixation on the ball exceeded approximately 1,100 ms, then the likelihood of goals increased. The results are discussed in light of past studies in goaltending and the dual demands of motor tasks that require information be fixated both early and late at spatial locations that exceed the limits of focal vision.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the goalkeepers and the kickers who participated in the study, as well as the coaches from the respective teams. We want to thank Matt Scott who provided technical assistance. The research was partially funded by a grant from the Marco Polo Foundation of the University of Bologna.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta S. Donato, 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy

    Alessandro Piras

  2. Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, T3L 1R8, Canada

    Joan N. Vickers

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  1. Alessandro Piras
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  2. Joan N. Vickers
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Correspondence to Joan N. Vickers.

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Piras, A., Vickers, J.N. The effect of fixation transitions on quiet eye duration and performance in the soccer penalty kick: instep versus inside kicks. Cogn Process 12, 245–255 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-011-0406-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-011-0406-z

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