Standing Long Jump Performance With an External Focus of Attention Is Improved as a Result of a More Effective Projection Angle

Abstract

Investigators have recently demonstrated that standing long jump performance is enhanced when participants focus their attention externally instead of their leg action but found no differences when examining peak force. The purpose of this study was to examine kinetic and kinematic properties associated with the standing long jump that may explain disparities between an internal and external focus of attention. It was hypothesized that the external focus condition would exhibit greater impulse values and a more optimal projection angle (45°) than the internal condition. Twenty-one participants each performed 5 total jumps: 1 baseline jump, in which no focus instructions were given, followed by 4 remaining jumps in which either internal or external focus instructions were introduced in a counter-balanced manner. Analysis of variance revealed that the external condition jumped significantly farther than the internal and baseline conditions. Analyses of kinetic measures (i.e., peak force and impulse) revealed no significant differences among conditions. However, there was a significant difference between the internal and baseline conditions compared with the external condition with respect to projection angle. Specifically, participants in the external focus condition exhibited an average projection angle of 45.7°, compared with the internal (49.5°) and baseline (49.0°) conditions. Therefore, the observed difference in jump distance among conditions can be explained by the external condition producing a more optimal projection angle. The results of this study partially support the constrained action hypothesis.

The Influence of External Focus Instruction Characteristics on Children’s Motor Performance

“…For example , Porter, Ostrowski, Nolan, and Wu (2010) found external focus (e.g., jump as far past the start line as possible) instructions enhanced standing long-jump performance compared with internal focus instructions (e.g., "extending your knees as rapidly as possible"). Further replication suggested that this improvement was associated with a more effective jump projection angle (Ducharme, Wu, Lim, Porter, & Geraldo, 2016). Maximum vertical jump and reach height was also improved when directing attention externally (e.g., object being reached for) compared to when internal focus (e.g., focus on reaching with fingers) instructions are provided (Wulf, Zachry, Granados, & Dufek, 2007).…”

Focus of Attention for Diagnostic Testing of the Force-Velocity Curve

“…Researchers have shown that participants exhibit a mean projection angle of 468 when given an external focus condition compared with an internal (508) and a baseline (498) conditions during a standing long jump (6). Therefore, the difference in jump distance among conditions could be explained by the external condition producing a projection angle, which is closer to optimal, which partially supports the "constrained action hypothesis."…”

“…More recently, an external focus of attention has been shown to produce a projection angle that is closer to optimal (6). Researchers have shown that participants exhibit a mean projection angle of 468 when given an external focus condition compared with an internal (508) and a baseline (498) conditions during a standing long jump (6).…”

The Effect of Focus Instructions on Dart Throwing Performance in Children With and Without Developmental Coordination Disorder

“…Participants. Three groups of people participated in this study: adults (20 healthy men aged 19 -23that were students of a university), normal children (20 healthy boys aged [7][8][9][10][11] and DCD children (20 boys aged 7-11 who were diagnosed by the researcher as DCDs). All children were selected from an elementary school.…”

“…Studies on adults have shown that, directing the learners' attention to an external cue (impact of the movement on the environment) is more effectual than an internal cue (body movement) (1)(2)(3) and causes more effective arousal (4). These results have been shown in tasks and sports skills such as balance in healthy people (5), balance in individuals with Parkinson disease (6), long jump (7), endurance activity (8), golf (9), volleyball (10), and Football (11).…”