TY - JOUR

T1 - A proximal external focus does not benefit skilled skiers

AU - Varga, Joseph

AU - Marchant, David

AU - Hardy, James

PY - 2024/10/1

Y1 - 2024/10/1

N2 - The potential performance benefit of an external focus of attention remains unexamined for skilled junior performers, especially those executing ballistic, whole-body continuous movements. Skilled junior skiers (Mage = 14.09) completed slalom runs under external focus, internal focus, and control focus conditions. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference between attentional foci on performance times. Our data challenges the commonly held belief regarding the superiority of an external focus. Instead, we offer researchers and practitioners a more nuanced discussion concerning possible distance effects (proximal vs. distal) associated with external foci in skilled junior performers executing ballistic, whole-body movements.

AB - The potential performance benefit of an external focus of attention remains unexamined for skilled junior performers, especially those executing ballistic, whole-body continuous movements. Skilled junior skiers (Mage = 14.09) completed slalom runs under external focus, internal focus, and control focus conditions. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference between attentional foci on performance times. Our data challenges the commonly held belief regarding the superiority of an external focus. Instead, we offer researchers and practitioners a more nuanced discussion concerning possible distance effects (proximal vs. distal) associated with external foci in skilled junior performers executing ballistic, whole-body movements.

U2 - 10.1080/10413200.2024.2407135

DO - 10.1080/10413200.2024.2407135

M3 - Article

SP - 1

EP - 8

JO - Journal of Applied Sport Psychology

JF - Journal of Applied Sport Psychology

SN - 1041-3200

ER -