Abstract
Attention and concentration are crucial indices for successful performance outcome in sports. Therefore, the ability of an athlete to control and maintain attention and concentration for the duration of the athletic competition is often difficult, this may be due to the influence of the audience and significant others which often affects their performance. The study therefore examined the audience effects on attentional and concentration demands of the athletes in the performance of a motor skill (Railwalking) by selected athletes in University of Ibadan. The randomized pre-test, post-test control and experimental group design was used in the study. Forty (40) male athletes, which constituted the samples for the study, they were randomly assigned to each of the two experimental and control groups. Test instrument in railwalking used in the study were standardized. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), was the main statistical method use sin the study. To determine the effect of the two audiences (volitional and captive). All the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that volitional audience had significant effect on the athletes performance on railwalking (F=8.20; P <.0.05). The captive audience also had significant effect of on railwalking (F= 75.93; P < 0.05) but, there was no significant effect on athletes performance on railwalking when the captive and volitional audience where combined. (F = 43.80; P < 0.05). The study established that for a high performance of any motor skill, whether fine or gross in nature, the athletes should be provided with the relevant cues that can and performance. It was, therefore, recommended that coaches, sports trainers, and sports psychologist should expose their athletes to similar environmental and captive audience conditions during practice and training sessions as they occur in real competition. DOI : 10.7176/JBAH/10-2-04 Publication date: January 31 st 2020
Highlights
The experience of the athletes in terms of frequency and duration of exposure to performance front of crowds, the impact of performing in front of talent scrub versus an audience largely ignorant of the intricacies of the performance, the audience size and the atmosphere” of the venue, and the interactivity and perceived support of the audience with the competitors are all factors that adds pressure on an athletes. All these leaves to anxious moments for athletes
No social psychological effect is more important to athletic performance and outcome than the audience or spectator effect
While many variables may help create the home court or field advantage, none seems to be as important as the presence of a supportive audience as this determine that audience presence could affects athletic performance (Pollard, 1986)
Summary
The experience of the athletes in terms of frequency and duration of exposure to performance front of crowds, the impact of performing in front of talent scrub (or other knowledgeable people) versus an audience largely ignorant of the intricacies of the performance, the audience size and the atmosphere” of the venue, and the interactivity and perceived support of the audience with the competitors are all factors that adds pressure on an athletes. Emenike (1985) compared the effectiveness of audience and non-audience on sports performance where two groups of supportive and non-audience atmosphere were the conditions set out, he posited that an individual, according to his or her personality either positively or negatively at any material time, and that the closeness of the audience to the athlete and the athlete’s feeling about the crowd have varied influences He advocates for a closer study instructor, so as to understand their (athletes) attitudes and characteristics before an audience by placing inexperienced athletes in front of groups and gradually increasing the size during the initial weeks, months of practice. Significance of the Study The presence of an audience of one or more spectators can facilitate performance, as almost everyone has experienced the desire to perform better when friends, family or members of opposite sex are watching It is hoped, that the findings of this study would assist coaches and sports psychologists in the formulation of policies and principles in the control of stress and anxiety, before, during and after major competitions. All hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance
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