Letter to the editor concerning the article "Performance of gymnastics skill benefits from an external focus of attention" by Abdollahipour, Wulf, Psotta & Nieto (2015)

Journal of Sports Sciences
Dave CollinsJohn Toner

Abstract

Abdollahipour, Wulf, Psotta, and Nieto (2015) recently published data in the Journal of Sports Sciences to show that an external focus of attention promotes superior performance effects (gymnastics jump height and judged movement form score) when compared to internal or control foci during skill execution without an implement involved. While we do not contest the veracity of findings reported, nor others that have been used to support beneficial effects of an external focus of attention, in this Letter to the Editor we comment on considerable methodological limitations associated with this and previous studies that, we suggest, have resulted in serious theoretical oversights regarding the control of movement and, most crucially from our practitioner perspective, suboptimal recommendations for applied coaching practice. Specifically, we discuss the lack of consideration towards translational research in this area, the problematic nature of attentional focus cues employed, interpretation of findings in relation to other applied recommendations and coherence with mechanistic underpinning and, finally, the representative nature of task involved. In summary, while (laboratory) research evidence may appear to be conclusive, we sugges...Continue Reading

References

Oct 1, 1996·Journal of Sports Sciences·A M Goginsky, D Collins
Jun 25, 1999·Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport·G WulfT Toole
Jan 5, 2002·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. A, Human Experimental Psychology·G WulfC H Shea
Jan 5, 2002·Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport·G WulfJ H Park
Nov 28, 2006·Journal of Sports Sciences·Denis Hauw, Marc Durand
Oct 6, 2007·Journal of Sports Sciences·Jon KarlsenJohnny Nilsson
Jul 9, 2008·Journal of Sports Sciences·Stephen M WeissDavid R Owen
Jul 1, 2010·Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology·Richard Mullen, Lew Hardy
Jun 27, 2013·Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology·Stacy Winter, Dave Collins
Mar 6, 2015·Journal of Dance Medicine & Science : Official Publication of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science·Akito MiuraKazutoshi Kudo
Mar 17, 2015·Journal of Sports Sciences·Reza AbdollahipourMiriam Palomo Nieto
Jun 6, 2015·Journal of Dance Medicine & Science : Official Publication of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science·Gry Galta van Merkensteijn, Edel Quin
Dec 23, 2015·International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology·Howie J Carson, Dave Collins

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Citations

Dec 28, 2018·European Journal of Sport Science·David J HarrisMark R Wilson
Feb 6, 2020·Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport·Carolina M AndradeDaniela V Vaz
Dec 18, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Kaylee F Couvillion, Jeffrey T Fairbrother
May 2, 2019·Sports Biomechanics·Tricia Lee WidenhoeferThomas Gus Almonroeder
May 25, 2018·Journal of Motor Behavior·Jed A DiekfussLouisa D Raisbeck
Jan 27, 2021·Psychological Research·Rasool AbedanzadehSeyyed Mohammad Reza Mousavi
Apr 13, 2021·Human Movement Science·Michael A Maloney, Adam D Gorman

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