title: Scaling sporting equipment for children promotes implicit processes during performance.
abstract: This study investigated whether children who used scaled equipment compared to full size equipment during a motor task demonstrated reduced conscious involvement in performance. Children (9-11 years) performed a tennis hitting task in two attention conditions (single-task and dual-task) using two types of equipment (scaled and full size). A more skilled group and a less skilled group were formed using hitting performance scores. The more skilled group displayed greater working memory capacity than the less skilled group. For both groups, hitting performance and technique were better when scaled equipment was used. Hitting performance when using scaled equipment was not disrupted in either group by a cognitively demanding secondary task; however, performance was disrupted in the less skilled group when using full size equipment. We conclude that equipment scaling may reduce working memory engagement in motor performance and discuss the findings in the context of implicit motor learning theory.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, College of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia; Tennis Australia, Private Bag 6060, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia. Electronic address: tim.buszard@vu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buszard
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, College of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia; Australian Institute of Sport, PO Box 176, Belconnen, ACT 2617, Australia. Electronic address: damian.farrow@vu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farrow
authors.affiliation: Tennis Australia, Private Bag 6060, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia. Electronic address: MReid@Tennis.com.au.
authors.forename: Machar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 3/F, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; Department of Sport and Leisure Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Waikato, New Zealand. Electronic address: rmasters@waikato.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Rich S W
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Masters
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D019876:Sports Equipment
keywords: Child; Dual task; Implicit learning; Modified equipment; Motor learning; Skill acquisition; Talent development; Working memory