List of Titles

Visual-perceptual training with motor practice of the observed movement pattern improves anticipation in emerging expert cricket batsmen

- Brenton, John, Müller, Sean, Harbaugh, Allen

Authors: Brenton, John , Müller, Sean , Harbaugh, Allen
Date: 2019
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Journal of Sports Sciences Vol. 37, no. 18 (2019), p. 2114-2121
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Description: This study addressed the paucity of evidence of whether visual anticipation can be improved in emerging experts in striking sports. Twelve emerging expert batsmen from a state cricket squad were equally randomised into intervention and control groups. They were pre-and-post tested on a video temporal occlusion test of a fast bowler, as well as transfer tests of different fast and slow bowlers. The intervention group received two sessions per week of point-light display temporal occlusion training with motor practice of the observed bowler’s action over a 4-week period. The control group completed only the testing phases. Batting averages before, during, and after the study were recorded for both groups. The intervention group, but not the control group, improved anticipation to significantly above chance level across pre-to-post-tests based upon pre-ball flight information. The intervention, but not the control, transferred their learning to anticipate significantly above chance level based upon pre-ball flight information across different fast and slow (spin) bowlers. Batting average of the intervention group was higher than the control group during the study. Findings indicate that the intervention can improve anticipation in emerging expert batsmen, beyond sport-specific practice. This improvement may benefit competition performance, but further evidence is required. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Visual-perceptual training with acquisition of the observed motor pattern contributes to greater improvement of visual anticipation

- Brenton, John, Müller, Sean, Dempsey, Alasdair

Authors: Brenton, John , Müller, Sean , Dempsey, Alasdair
Date: 2019
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied Vol. 25, no. 3 (2019), p. 333-342
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Description: This experiment investigated the contribution of visual and additive motor experience to improvement of visual anticipation. Club cricket batters were randomized into (a) a visual-perceptual group that received temporal occlusion training (n = 13), (b) a visuomotor group that received temporal occlusion training coupled with motor pattern practice of the observed bowler's action (n = 13), and (c) a no-training control group (n = 13). They completed a fast bowler video-based temporal occlusion prepost anticipation test, as well as a transfer temporal occlusion test that included different fast and slow bowlers. Results indicated visual-perceptual and visuomotor groups equally improved pick up of advance cues across prepost tests. Additive motor pattern practice for the visuomotor group facilitated superior anticipation through earlier pick up of advance information across the transfer tests. No improvement was found for the control group. The findings indicate that visual and combined motor experience facilitates learning, but additive motor experience facilitates superior transfer. Findings have implications for theoretical and applied knowledge to develop anticipation skill. © 2019 American Psychological Association.

Advancements to the understanding of expert visual anticipation skill in striking sports

- Morris-Binelli, Khaya, Müller, Sean

Authors: Morris-Binelli, Khaya , Müller, Sean
Date: 2017
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science Vol. 49, no. 4 (2017), p. 262-268
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Description: Superior performance in striking sports requires anticipation skill because of constraints imposed on the performer, which can make it extremely difficult to achieve the motor skill goal. This article reviews the empirical literature on expert visual anticipation in striking sports since 2012 to determine if it has contributed to advancement of a theoretical model. First, methodologies used to study visual anticipation are briefly described. Second, an existing model is outlined to present what is known about the theoretical underpinning of expert visual anticipation. Third, empirical evidence of key factors that contribute to expert visual anticipation are discussed. Moreover, whether anticipation skill can be improved and transferred to different contexts is discussed. The review identifies that there are multiple key factors that contribute to expert visual anticipation performance, which need to be more thoroughly accommodated as part of the theoretical model. There is still less empirical evidence of learning and transfer of visual anticipation skill even though both of these are vital to improve motor skill performance, as well as apply any improvement to anticipation skill in different in situ settings. Collectively, this review provides an update of the research on expert visual anticipation and identifies future research directions that can continue to further knowledge in striking sports. © 2017 Canadian Psychological Association.

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Psycho-perceptual-motor skills are deemed critical to save the penalty corner in international field hockey

- Morris-Binelli, Khaya, van Rens, Fleur, Müller, Sean, Rosalie, Simon

Authors: Morris-Binelli, Khaya , van Rens, Fleur , Müller, Sean , Rosalie, Simon
Date: 2020
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Psychology of Sport and Exercise Vol. 51, no. (2020), p.
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Description: In interceptive sports such as field hockey goalkeeping, the psycho-perceptual-motor skill anticipation is vital for performance due to the extreme time constraints associated with saving a goal. The purpose of this study was to understand the beliefs and attitudes of international field hockey goalkeepers and coaches regarding anticipation of the drag-flick in penalty corners. Seven international goalkeepers and five international coaches were interviewed. Using a constructionist and relativist approach to reflexive thematic data analysis, we identified three overarching themes to anticipate the drag-flick, namely, pre-match video analysis, perception and action, and psychological factors. In the first theme, participants reported that pre-match video analysis allowed goalkeepers and coaches to identify the attacking capabilities of opposing teams. This analysis was used to inform defensive structure and save the drag-flick. In the second theme, participants reported that perception and action, which consisted of the pick-up of visual cues and movement execution, was important to anticipate the drag-flick. Goalkeepers reported that they rely heavily on ball flight, which was central in coaches’ approaches in training drills such as to use a projection machine that presents only ball flight information. The third theme, psychological factors, encompassed, psychological resilience, arousal regulation, leadership and communication, and sports intelligence, which were thought to be vital to facilitate anticipation of the drag-flick. The findings of this study have important implications for how to assess and train visual anticipation in time-constrained interceptive sports skills. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

Reliance upon contextual information can impede visual anticipation

- Müller, Sean, Brenton, John, O’Grady, Mathew

Authors: Müller, Sean , Brenton, John , O’Grady, Mathew
Date: 2023
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: European Journal of Sport Science Vol. 23, no. 7 (2023), p. 1324-1333
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Description: This study investigated whether skilled batsmen in a state cricket pathway could anticipate ball types when congruency of field-placings was manipulated with a bowler’s action. Twenty-four male cricket batsmen were recruited who had played either first-class cricket (n = 6), were part of under 17 (n = 8) or under 19 (n = 10) state cricket squads. Participants completed a video-based temporal occlusion test where they were required to anticipate ball types from a swing bowler. In condition one, contextual field-placing information was presented to be congruent with the delivery type and bowler’s action, whilst in condition two it was incongruent. Results did not reveal skill level differences across conditions for anticipation. In the congruent condition, all skill groups predicted above the chance level at the beginning and end of the bowler’s delivery stride. In the incongruent condition, first-class players predicted above chance at the beginning of the bowler’s delivery stride, and to a higher magnitude above chance compared to other skill groups at ball release. Under 17 and 19 players could not predict above chance at the start of the bowler’s delivery stride with their magnitude of prediction lower than first-class players at ball release. Results indicate skilled batsmen find it challenging to integrate contextual and kinematic information to anticipate. This is likely due to greater emphasis placed upon contextual information in part supplied by data analysts. Findings have theoretical and practical implications respectively for lower body positioning for bat-ball interception and perceptual training to improve pick-up of kinematic cues. HIGHLIGHTS Skilled batsmen in a high-performance state cricket pathway could integrate congruent field-placings and bowler kinematics to anticipate ball types. First-class batsmen could integrate incongruent field-placing information to the start, but not the end, of the bowler’s delivery action to anticipate ball types. Under 17 and 19 batsmen could not integrate incongruent field-placings to bowler kinematics to anticipate ball types. Skilled batsmen who cannot use kinematic information to anticipate ball types should be given visual-perceptual simulation training to accelerate performance. © 2022 European College of Sport Science.

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