Effects of an external foci of attention at different distances on standing long jump in non-athletes

Abstract

[Purpose] External focus (EF) instructions demonstrate a learning effect on motor performance enhancement. However, the effective EF distance during standing long jump performance of non-athletes has not been clarified. This study aimed to determine the effects of EF at different distances on jumping performance. [Participants and Methods] A total of 40 non-athlete participants were randomly divided among four groups. The no attention line group performed a standing long jump without the attention line on the floor; those in the −20-cm EF group, the ± 0-cm EF group, and +20-cm EF group performed the jump attention line with an attention line 20-cm posterior, at ± 0 cm, and 20-cm anterior as the reference jump distances, respectively. [Results] The mean rate of increase between the first to second jump distances in the +20-cm EF group was higher than that in the no attention line group. The rates at which the jumpers reached the attention line in the ± 0-cm EF group and the +20-cm EF group were lower than the rate in the −20-cm EF group. [Conclusion] Instructions are more effective when the distance to the attention line exceeds jumping performance.

The location of an internal focus of attention differentially affects motor performance

“…Findings from this study confirmed earlier work from McNevin et al, [11] as the data showed that horizontal jump distance was systematically increased as attention was directed at spatially greater distances from the mover. Since the aforementioned findings, much research using the SLJ has been conducted exploring the distance effect on motor learning and performance with regard to the external far condition [14][15][16][17][18].…”

“…This differs from previous investigations as this study specifically examined how various internal foci impact motor performance. Based on previous attentional focus work using the SLJ task [12][13][14]16,20,22,[27][28][29][30], it was predicted that worse performances would be observed in all internal focus conditions compared to a control condition. Additionally, it was predicted that there would be no significant differences between the IFOA conditions.…”