Effect of delayed mechanical feedback on long jump performance

Abstract

Purpose. the present study assesses the extent to which delayed mechanical feedback affects technical and numerical long jump performance. Methods. the participants were 45 first-grade students from the Department of Physical Education of Umm Al-Qura University. they were randomly divided into 3 equal groups. the first experimental group used delayed mechanical feedback, the second experimental group applied fast visual feedback, and the control group received oral explanation and guidance of a teacher. the delayed mechanical feedback condition lasted for 6 weeks. Each week included 2 units, each lasting for 90 minutes. Results. the educational programs had a significant main effect on technical and numerical long jump performance ( p < 0.05), with a large effect size, as the percentage of improvement ranged 9.95–42.32%. Also, the differences across the 3 groups were statistically significant in terms of their technical and numerical performance ( p < 0.05), favouring the mechanical feedback group, except for the difference between the fast visual feedback and the teacher guidance groups. Conclusions. the delayed mechanical feedback program had a more significant positive effect on technical and numerical long jump performance than the other 2 programs.