The use of spatial manipulation to examine goalkeepers’ anticipation

Abstract

This study investigated whether anticipation and search strategies of goalkeepers are influenced by temporally and spatially manipulated video of a penalty. Participants were clustered into three groups depending on skill: goalkeepers (n = 17), field players (n = 20) and control group (n = 20). An eye tracker was worn whilst watching 40 videos of a striker kicking to four corners of a goal in random order. All 40 videos were temporally occluded at foot-to-ball contact, and the non-kicking leg of 20 videos was spatially manipulated. Results showed that goalkeepers had significantly better predictions than the two groups with no differences between the two testing conditions. According to effect size, the percentage of fixation location and viewing time of the kicking leg and ball were greater for the goalkeepers and field players group than the control group irrespective of testing conditions. The fixations on the kicking leg and ball in conjunction with comparable predictions between spatially manipulated and control conditions suggest that goalkeepers may not rely on the non-kicking leg. Furthermore, goalkeepers appear to use a global perceptual approach by anchoring on a distal fixation point/s of the penalty taker whilst using peripheral vision to obtain additional information.

A systematic review of the technology-based assessment of visual perception and exploration behaviour in association football

“…This process highlighted a further eight papers that met the inclusion criteria and resulted in a total of 38 papers being included in this systematic review. Williams et al (1994); Davids (1997, 1998); Wood and Wilson (2010); Wood and Wilson (2011) When the eye remains in a stationary position for a period equal to or greater than 140ms Helsen and Starkes (1999) The period between the end of one saccade and the onset of the next saccade ; Williams et al (1994); Davids (1997, 1998); Wood and Wilson (2010); Woolley et al (2015) Mean number of fixations per second…”

A review of the key demands for a football goalkeeper

“…In penalty 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 F o r P e e r R e v i e w situations, the successful expert goalkeepers spend significantly more time looking at the non-kicking leg and waiting longer before responding to the kick [30]. However, Woolley et al [31] found that goalkeepers spent longer looking at the kicking foot and the ball at the point of final fixation. Kim and Lee [32] found that the difference in gaze behaviour between successful and unsuccessful penalty save occurred when goalkeepers fixated for a longer time on the approach phase of the kicker and not in the kick-swing phase.…”

“…30 However, Woolley et al. 31 found that goalkeepers spent longer looking at the kicking foot and the ball at the point of final fixation. Kim and Lee 32 found that the difference in gaze behaviour between successful and unsuccessful penalty save occurred when goalkeepers fixated for a longer time on the approach phase of the kicker and not in the kick-swing phase.…”

“…However, Ryu et al [35] went on to show that a combination of guided and non-guided cues produced the most successful results. Woolley et al [31] concluded that when goalkeepers spend more time looking at less things this suggests they know which are the most important cues to focus on. This cue perception could also be used to organise the defence of the unfolding attack, therefore reducing the opportunity for attacking and goal shooting situations [2].…”

Defining cricket batting expertise from the perspective of elite coaches

“…Exploring the different characteristics of expertise has required researchers to develop resourceful and inventive methodologies. Video simulations using occlusion techniques [6,11,12], pattern recall experiments [13] and laboratory-based experiments [14] are all examples of methods that have advanced our understanding of the various skills possessed by experts. However, an issue of ecological validity has been raised when using these methodologies [15,16].…”