The Effect of Attentional Focus and Frequency of Feedback on Performance and Kinematics in Basketball Free Throwing

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of attentional focus and frequency of feedback on performance and kinematics in basketball free throwing.Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental research, fifty students were randomly selected using convenience sampling method, and were randomly divided in one control and ۴ experimental groups (internal focus and ۳۳% feedback, internal focus and ۱۰۰% feedback, external focus and ۳۳% feedback, and external focus and ۱۰۰% feedback). Experimental groups conducted six blocks of ten attempts (every day two blocks of ten attempts) in one week, and in three sessions of training, and received internal or external focus feedback with the corresponding frequency (۳۳% or ۱۰۰%). After ۷۲ hours, retention and transfer tests were performed with ten-attempt blocks. Performance (throwing accuracy) and kinematic data (joint angle and range of motion) were collected. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with repeated measures and one way ANOVA.Results: Feedback with external focus (۱۰۰% and ۳۳%) was more effective in improving throwing performance in retention and transfer tests (P < ۰.۰۵۰). Kinematic data analysis showed that external focus feedback groups had the least maximum flexion in the knee joint in retention test compare to acquisition stage (P < ۰.۰۵۰). Moreover, external focus groups had the least maximum flexion at the knee in retention test compared to internal focus groups (P < ۰.۰۵۰). In range of motion of the knee, external focus groups had more range of motion in retention and transfer tests compared to internal focus groups (P < ۰.۰۵۰).Conclusion: Performance improvement in external focus groups may be limited to certain changes in kinematic data, and in line with constrained-action hypothesis.