Influence of attentional focus distance on motor learning of skilled children

Abstract

In adults, longitudinal external focus benefitsthe motor performance of high-skilled performers. Whilelow-skilled performers benefit from a proximal external focus. Children seem to respond differently to adults regarding the effects of attentional focus on motor learning, and the cause of this difference remains unclear.The present study investigated the effects of the attentional focus distance on motor performance and learning of high-skilled children. Forty-five 8-years-old high-skilled children were divided into three groupswith different attentional focus distances (internal, proximalexternal and distal external). All participants practiced aninside-of-the-foot kick soccer task in 5 blocks of 10 trials. Motorperformance was assessed through absolute and variable errors before the practice (pre-test), immediately after the practice (post-test), and after 24-hours (retention test). As inferential analyses,we run an ANOVA two-way (3 groups x 3 times) for absolute and variable errors. For absolute error, there was aneffect in time (p< .0001), with improvement across practice and retention; also, the distal external group demonstrated lower absolute error than othergroups (p< .0001). In contrast,proximal external focus provides a lower variability inter-trials (but with a lower score)(p< .001).Our findings suggested that distal external attentional focus benefits motor performance and learning of skilled children.Practice and experience are the predominant factors in this interaction, as it happens in adults.Childhood characteristics seem not to influence this process.