title: Attentional focus and control parameter: effect on throwing pattern and performance.
abstract: In two separate experiments, this study examined changes in motor pattern and performance accuracy when low-level throwers focused on internal variables, external variables, and/or velocity of throw. In Experiment 1 the task goal was to improve the throwing pattern. In Experiment 2 the task goal was to throw as accurately as possible at a target. The results of Experiment 1 indicated that increasing velocity was most effective for changing the throwing pattern, with external focus more effective than internal focus. The results of Experiment 2 indicated that external focus was the most accurate condition and increasing velocity was most effective for changing the throwing pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Texas Christian University, Forth Worth, Texas 76129, USA. d.southard@tcu.edu
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Southard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis