Effects of a cognitive intervention package on the free-throw performance of varsity basketball players during practice and competition.
To examine the effects of a cognitive intervention package on the free-throw shooting performance of basketball players, with 3 Canadian male university caliber basketball players ages 20, 22, and 24 years, during practice and in competition single-subject multiple-baseline design was implemented. Each subject was introduced to the imagery-rehearsal intervention at different times during the 14-week competitive basketball season. Free-throw data were collected during 50 practice sessions and 32 games. Data from both practice and competitive situations were examined using a comparison of graphed means. In the practice condition an increase in free-throw performance for all three subjects occurred during the posttreatment intervention. In the game condition, Subjects A and B showed posttreatment improvement. The cognitive intervention package consisting of visualization and relaxation can be an effective strategy for improving free-throw performance of some basketball players. Further research should involve control-group examination using a larger sample across a variety of tasks.
Kearns
D W
DW
Lakehead University Fieldhouse, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Crossman
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001490:Basketball / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D012064:Relaxation Therapy