Does perceptual or motor experience influence the perception of global and joint-specific kinematic changes in complex movement patterns?

Abstract

The perception and identification of technical errors during skill execution is a critical component in coaching, because it provides the foundation for skill analysis, instruction, and feedback provision. In this study, we examined the influences of perceptual and motor experience on the perception of kinematic change in a technical evaluation task that is common in coaching. A total of 21 expert coaches, stratified by playing (Bmotor^) expertise, as well as ten novice coaches and ten current players, observed video and point-light displays of a service action and recorded written judgments on whether the serve had changed from one video clip to the next. Three kinematic variables were manipulated: maximum knee flexion, maximum trunk rotation, and ball toss position at zenith. Coaching experience provided no additional benefit when perceiving global (holistic) changes in the service action, and limited if any benefit when perceiving specific changes in the observed kinematics. A significant expertise effect showed that expert coaches have increased sensitivity when detecting smaller changes in knee flexion. Changes in trunk rotation appeared difficult to perceive for all groups, whereas changes in lateral ball toss position were easily perceived. Motor experience did not influence the perception of global kinematics and provided no benefit above perceptual experience alone when perceiving specific kinematic changes. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that experienced coaches have the capacity to detect relatively small changes in kinematics; however, the ability to detect changes does not appear to be influenced by the extent of their own expertise in producing the movement pattern being evaluated.

Experiential Knowledge Affects the Visual Search Behaviors of Sprint Coaches and Sport Biomechanists

“…Further investigation into the specific verbal comments made by participants and the biomechanics of the athletes may shed more light on this video observation skill that is a prevalent part of modern coaching. The error detection ability or visual sensitivity to changes in body positions of coaches and biomechanists are two potential directions that have already given insights into expert tennis coaches perceptual abilities and are potentially worth exploring in sprint coaches and biomechanists (Giblin et al, 2016). Another limitation of this research is the use of videos obtained in a controlled environment and displayed at fixed speeds, potentially collecting the visual and verbal data "live" in actual coaching sessions or during competition would reveal different insights into behavior.…”

Differences Between Expert and Novice Tennis Coaches’ Perceptual Capacities

“…The video analysis method was previously used by Graham et al (1993) in a study of physical education teachers' ability to observe and interpret instructional events at different stages of teaching expertise. This technique has also been previously used in research on coaches' perceptions (Giblin et al, 2016). This technique yielded information regarding "cue acquisition, cue interpretation, and diagnostic decisions" (Pinheiro & Simon, 1992, p. 289).…”

“…A study similar to the current investigation examined the influences of coaching and playing experience on perceptions of kinematic changes in a tennis serve (Giblin, Farrow, Reid, Ball, & Abernethy, 2016). The participants were 21 coaches averaging 15 years coaching experience and holding or pursuing their country's highest coaching certification, 10 novice coaches (average 5 years experience) and 10 current tennis players.…”

How does the amount of movement and observer expertise shape the perception of motion aesthetics in dance?

“…However, research on body angle discrimination and related visual biases has suggested that there is a critical JND in the magnitude of body angles that can be perceived. body angles above a conservative perceptual threshold of 15° per body segment seem to be applicable for complex biological motion kinematics [20][21][22][23]. For example, Giblin et al [21] investigated whether expert coaches, novice coaches, and tennis players differred in their ability to detect kinematic changes in tennis serves.…”

“…body angles above a conservative perceptual threshold of 15° per body segment seem to be applicable for complex biological motion kinematics [20][21][22][23]. For example, Giblin et al [21] investigated whether expert coaches, novice coaches, and tennis players differred in their ability to detect kinematic changes in tennis serves. the angle of maximum knee flexion, the angle of maximum trunk rotation, and the height of ball toss were manipulated by a tennis player executing the tennis serve.…”