Effect of Internal vs. External Focus of Attention Instructions on Countermovement Jump Variables in NCAA Division I Student-Athletes. Issue 6 (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kershner, Alexandra L.; Fry, Andrew C.; Cabarkapa, Dimitrije
• Is Part Of: Journal of strength and conditioning research. Volume 33:Issue 6(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: peak velocity -- peak force -- performance -- mean concentric power -- peak power; Physical education and training -- Periodicals; Weight training -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Physical fitness -- Periodicals; 613.7
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003129
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1064-8011

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: Kershner, AL, Fry, AC, and Cabarkapa, D. Effect of internal vs. external focus of attention instructions on countermovement jump variables in NCAA Division I student-athletes. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2019—The purpose of this study was compare the effect of internal and external focus of attention instructions on force-time characteristics of the countermovement jump (CMJ) in collegiate student-athletes. Forty-three resistance-trained men ( ± SD ; age = 20 ± 1.5 years) on an NCAA Division I baseball team volunteered to participate in this study. Each participant performed a total of 16 CMJs on a force platform while holding a wooden dowel on their shoulders to eliminate arm swing. Force and power parameters such as jump height (JH), peak velocity (PV), and mean concentric velocity (MCV) were calculated from force-time and position data. Paired-sample t -tests and Cohen's d effect sizes were used to examine differences between conditions. When subjects were instructed using an external focus, they demonstrated significantly ( p < 0.05) greater JH, PV, and MCV compared with jumps performed with the internal focus (external JH = 48.0 ± 5.6 cm, internal JH = 46.4 ± 5.4 cm; external PV = 3.6 ± 0.3 m·s −1, internal PV = 3.5 ± 0.3 m·s −1 ; and external MCV = 2.31 ± 0.22 m·s −1, internal MCV = 2.25 ± 0.23 m·s −1 ). It is interesting to note that there was superior recall of the internal instructions during the manipulation checks that may suggest that the subjects consciously processed these instructions to a greater extent and reduced internal condition performance. These results indicate that instructions can alter the efficiency and performance of a skill. According to the literature and this study, if an optimum performance metric is desired, external focus of attention instructions should be used.