title: Perceptual Training in Beach Volleyball Defence: Different Effects of Gaze-Path Cueing on Gaze and Decision-Making.
abstract: For perceptual-cognitive skill training, a variety of intervention methods has been proposed, including the so-called "color-cueing method" which aims on superior gaze-path learning by applying visual markers. However, recent findings challenge this method, especially, with regards to its actual effects on gaze behavior. Consequently, after a preparatory study on the identification of appropriate visual cues for life-size displays, a perceptual-training experiment on decision-making in beach volleyball was conducted, contrasting two cueing interventions (functional vs. dysfunctional gaze path) with a conservative control condition (anticipation-related instructions). Gaze analyses revealed learning effects for the dysfunctional group only. Regarding decision-making, all groups showed enhanced performance with largest improvements for the control group followed by the functional and the dysfunctional group. Hence, the results confirm cueing effects on gaze behavior, but they also question its benefit for enhancing decision-making. However, before completely denying the method's value, optimisations should be checked regarding, for instance, cueing-pattern characteristics and gaze-related feedback.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klostermann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vater
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kredel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ernst-Joachim
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hossner
keywords: anticipation; eye tracking; gaze behavior; perceptual-cognitive skills; sport performance