---

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of attention in skilled performance in real conditions, using a mixed-method study. Fourteen expert judo player participated in the study. The stimulated recall was used in the qualitative phase of the study to explore athletes’ attention in real competitive conditions. In the quantitative portion of the study, number and percentages of foci in preparation phase, execution phase, and total (preparation +execution) were associated with performance movement time. Our results indicated that while attention during execution phase was not associated with performance time, attention in the preparation phase was associated with better performance time. specifically, less attentional cues with higher percentages of focus on the opponent resulted in more quick performances. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that focus on opponent during preparation phase is associated with superior technique execution during real competitions.

 

---

​Many studies have shown the effectiveness of verbal instructions and observational training on the improvement of children’s motor skills; however, there is not enough information about the simultaneous effects of these two variables. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of attention instructions during observation of the model on gaze behavior and accuracy of overarm throwing in children. 24 children 7 to 10 years of age with normal growth selected purposefully and randomly divided into two internal and external attentions during modeling groups. Training in both groups included observation 10 times skilled model overarm throwing’s film with eye movement recording, with the difference that before it each group received its own instruction. The results of mix-ANOVA and paired and independent t-tests showed that both groups showed a significant increase from the pre-test to post-test in the accuracy (p=0.001; p=0.001) and duration of the quiet eye (p=0.005; p=0.001) of overarm throwing. In the post-test, the external attention during modeling group compared to the internal attention during modeling had significantly higher accuracy (p=0.01) and longer quiet eye duration (p=0.001). Also, the external attention during modeling had more percentage viewing time to relevant external cues (ball and trajectory). Therefore, directing visual attention to movement effect of observed pattern cause improvement in motor performance and visual-motor expertise in children.

---

abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mental and physical fatigue on attention and free-throw performance in skilled and novice basketball players. Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted with a pre-test–post-test design on 30 female basketball players (15 skilled and 15 novice) from Tabriz city. Mental fatigue was induced using a complex Stroop task, and physical fatigue was induced via a basketball-specific movement protocol. Selective and distributed attention and free-throw accuracy were assessed as performance indicators. Results: Results showed that mental fatigue significantly decreased attention accuracy and free-throw performance in novices, whereas it had no significant effect on free-throw performance in skilled players. Physical fatigue significantly reduced attention accuracy and free-throw performance in both groups. Conclutions: Findings highlight that skilled players are more resistant to the negative effects of mental fatigue, but physical fatigue still impairs their performance. These results emphasize the importance of targeted training programs to maintain performance under fatigue conditions.