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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.

 

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One of the recent research challenges in the field of attentional focus instructions, are the study of its effects on the performance of elite athletes in continuous tasks. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different attentional focus instructions on performance of agility in elite futsal players. Participants included 12 elite futsal players (mean age 23.91±1.56) that were selected from the first league of Division Qom via convenience sampling method. Participants were asked to perform the agility L run test under three attentional focus  instructions (the internal, external and control) in three trials. Rrepeated measure Analysis of Variance and paired t test were used for analysis of data. The results showed a significant effects of the type of attentional focus  instructions on  test execution time. Analyses showed that performance in the external focus of attention was higher than the internal focus conditions. Also, the result demonstrated that there is no significant difference between internal focus of attention and control conditions, and also between external focus of attention and control condition. The results of this study provide evidence that in skilled athletes, executing the continuous tasks improve through verbal instructions that conduct focus of attention externally.
 

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Coaching is a dynamic and multidimensional process that involves the interaction between the coach, the athlete, the environment and the task, in order to enhance the athlete's performance. Based on the evidence, the coaching method can affect the behavioral aspects of the athlete. In this study, the effectiveness of student-based and coach-based coaching styles on sport self-efficacy and athletic performance of female gymnasts was studied. The research method was quasi-experimental and a pre-test-post-test design was used. The statistical population was female semi-professional gymnasts aged 11-14 in Tehran. The sampling method is one-stage cluster and the research sample was 40 female gymnasts. Variable assessment tools included Sport Self-Efficacy Questionnaire and a researcher-made sports performance Checklist. After the pre-test, the groups performed the athlete- based and coach- based exercises protocol separately for two months and two days a week in one-and-a-half-hour sessions. Covariance analysis was used to test the hypothese. Findings in the post-test stage showed that sport self-efficacy (P <0.001) and athletic performance (P <0.001) of female gymnasts in the student-based group were significantly higher than the coach-based group. It is concluded that student-based exercises style is more effective in increasing Gymnasts' sports self-efficacy and athletic performance compared to coach-based, and coaches are suggested to pay special attention to student-centered exercises in the training program for semi-professional gymnasts.

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The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of auditory focus with high and low cognitive load on adolescent sports performance and working memory. The present study was conducted quasi-experimentally and Its statistical population included adolescent primary and secondary school students in Koohnani. The statistical sample was 20 students with an age range of 11-13 years. Participants were randomly divided into two groups of auditory attention focus with high and low cognitive load and in the pre-test performed working memory task with N-BACK software and 6 football chip hits towards the target. The acquisition stage was performed in 4 days.. 7 days after the final acquisition session, N-BACK working memory test, delay retention and transfer test  were taken from the participants. The results of combined analysis of variance test with repeated measures showed that the effect of auditory focus with high cognitive load on sports performance and working memory was significant (p <0.05) and the other group showed improvement only in working memory (p <0.05). Based on the results of the present, cognitive load manipulation affects work memory and athletic performance.

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The present study aims to investigate the variables of social networks in different positions in basketball. These variables were applied in two levels of analysis: micro (individual) and macro (global interaction of the team). 24 official Chemidoor Club competitions in the 2020 men's Iranian Premier League were selected by available sampling. This research analyzed the network properties of Degree, Betweenness, Closeness, Eigenvector, and Density centrality across teams and positions. The one-way ANOVA for the factor position in the micro-level found statistical differences between the game positions in the dependent variables of  Dc: (F(4,15)= 61/29, p= 0/000), Bc: (F(4,15)= 210/11, p= 0/000), Cc: (F(4,15)= 78/55, p= 0/000). However, no significant difference was observed in the Eig: (F (4, 15) = 1/58, p= 0/184). Results of post hoc test indices were significantly different between position 1 (point guard) and other positions.  Macro-level team density analysis showed a significant difference between performance results in successful and unsuccessful. The guard player role was observed as the situation that establishes the most interactions with teammates during the competition. Therefore, players with higher degrees were not the ones assisting the most shots. The other players with higher degrees were not the ones assisting the most shots. These results may be used as a tool for coaching to improve their teams’ strategies in concrete, measurable ways.