Attentional Focus and Cueing for Speed Development

Abstract

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROFESSIONALS COMMONLY DEPEND ON EVIDENCE TO GUIDE “WHAT THEY COACH” (E.G., PROGRAMMING), BUT THE SAME CANNOT ALWAYS BE SAID FOR THEIR APPROACH TO “HOW THEY COACH” (E.G., INSTRUCTION). CONSEQUENTLY, PROFESSIONALS HAVE ADOPTED THE CONVENTIONAL VIEW THAT COACHING IS MORE ART THAN SCIENCE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE DECADES OF RESEARCH ELUCIDATING THE SCIENCE UNDERPINNING THIS SO-CALLED ART. IN LIGHT OF THIS GAP, THIS ARTICLE WILL DELVE INTO THIS UNDERPINNING SCIENCE AND PROVIDE AN EVIDENCE-BASED FRAMEWORK FOR INSTRUCTION AND CUEING THROUGH THE LENS OF LINEAR SPEED DEVELOPMENT.

A Framework for Decision-Making Within Strength and Conditioning Coaching

“…Further, Szedlak et al (92) interviewed athletes to understand their perceptions of S&C coach behaviours showing coaches relationships (e.g., trust, approachability, sense of humour) and actions (e.g., feedback, instruction, communication and organisation) may enhance the S&C coach's effectiveness and may be a model for self-reflection. In addition, recent research has evaluated the effects of cueing (105) and visual feedback (104) on athlete physical performance as ways of assessing the 'how' within S&C. Although a complex and developing area, it is important for the S&C coach to judge and plan 'how' strategies based on their understanding of the 'who' and 'what' to ensure appropriate pedagogical approaches are implemented. Such concepts have recently been promoted within the S&C industry (11).…”

External Cueing Influences Drop Jump Performance in Trained Young Soccer Players

“…Cueing is the use of verbal instructions by a coach to direct an athlete's attentional focus to a particular feature of a movement and plays a vital role in motor learning and performance outcomes (28,29). Cues are classified as internal or external, with the former reflecting instructions that focus attention towards how the body and its segments should move and the latter focus attention towards the environment and an external outcome.…”

Change of Direction Speed and Technique Modification Training Improves 180° Turning Performance, Kinetics, and Kinematics

“…Corroborating previous work [ 23 ], this modality was highly effective in enhancing mod505 completion times, and producing meaningful improvements in turning GCTs, HPFs, technical orientation of PFC braking force and FFC propulsive force, and mechanics including pelvic rotation, PFC HFA, and FFC knee flexion ROM ( Table 2 and Table 3 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 ); which have all been highlighted as determinants of faster 180° COD performance [ 11 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. External cueing has been strongly recommended for speed development [ 32 ], motor skill retention [ 3 , 32 ], while a cutting technique modification which utilised external cues was also effective in improving cutting completion times, COD deficits, and movement quality in youth soccer players [ 22 ]. Practitioners are therefore encouraged to use external verbal cues when implementing COD speed training to promote favourable changes in turning performance, kinetics, and kinematics.…”