Position Affects Performance in Multiple-Object Tracking in Rugby Union Players.

Andrés Martín,Ana M. Sfer,José F. Barraza,Marcela A. D'Urso Villar

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01494

Abstract

We report an experiment that examines the performance of rugby union players and a control group composed of graduate student with no sport experience, in a multiple-object tracking task. It compares the ability of 86 high level rugby union players grouped as Backs and Forwards and the control group, to track a subset of randomly moving targets amongst the same number of distractors. Several difficulties were included in the experimental design in order to evaluate possible interactions between the relevant variables. Results show that the performance of the Backs is better than that of the other groups, but the occurrence of interactions precludes an isolated groups analysis. We interpret the results within the framework of visual attention and discuss both, the implications of our results and the practical consequences.

Highlights

Skilled perception is an important determinant of performance in sports that are characterized by a complex and rapidly changing environment (Starkes, 1987; Helsen and Starkes, 1999; Williams et al, 1999; Ward and Williams, 2003)
The plots clearly show that the proportion of Goods depends on the particular combination of speed and time: higher speeds and longer times increase the task difficulty, which results in a decrease of Good responses
We have measured the performance of 86 rugby union players and a control group in a Multiple-Object-Tracking paradigm (MOT) task to explore whether we could find differences between players and nonplayers and between players that occupy different positions in the field

Summary

Introduction

Skilled perception is an important determinant of performance in sports that are characterized by a complex and rapidly changing environment (Starkes, 1987; Helsen and Starkes, 1999; Williams et al, 1999; Ward and Williams, 2003). The mechanism that accomplishes this selection is called visual attention (James, 1890; Posner, 1980; Duncan, 1984) and represents a key factor underlying perceptual skill in sport (Abernethy, 1988; Williams, 2000; Ward and Williams, 2003; for a review, see Moran, 2010). Note that this definition refers to a specific meaning of the term attention, namely selective attention (Carrasco, 2011). The existence of different types or sub-processes of attention (Coull, 1998) such as selective attention, attentional orientation, divided attention, and sustained attention has been suggested

Methods

Results

Conclusion