Highlighted Articles
Quiet eye training improves throw and catch performance in children
Original Research Article, Pages 511-515
Charlotte A.L. Miles, Samuel J. Vine, Greg Wood, Joan N. Vickers, Mark R. Wilson
- Some children find it difficult to perform coordinated movement tasks that underpin sports and playground games.
- Interventions designed to assist children in acquiring these skills more effectively are therefore important.
- The current study tested the efficacy of a quiet eye training (QET) intervention for a throwing and catching task.
- The QET group revealed a greater improvement in performance after training than a control group (technical instructions).
Bayesian networks for unbiased assessment of referee bias in Association Football
Original Research Article, Pages 538-547
Anthony Costa Constantinou, Norman Elliott Fenton, Liam Jackson Hunter Pollock
- Referee bias is assessed with respect to fouls and penalty kicks awarded.
- Explanatory factors are incorporated for assessment of referee bias.
- Being the home team does not in itself result in positive referee bias.
- Significant referee bias discrepancies are justified given the explanatory factors.
- Fairly strong referee bias still was found in favour of title-favourite teams.
Sport Psychology
Cognitive representation of auditory space in blind football experts
Original Research Article, Pages 441-445
Marcella C.C. Velten, Bettina Bläsing, Leonardo Portes, Thomas Hermann, Thomas Schack
- We studied the mental representation of sound directions (MRSD) in blind athletes.
- MRSD of blind athletes was compared to blind non-athletes and sighted participants.
- Blind athletes’ MRSD was more functional and complete than blind non-athletes’.
- Differences reflect sight conditions and expertise in auditory-based orientation.
Comparing sport motivation scales: A response to Pelletier et al.
Original Research Article, Pages 446-452
Chris Lonsdale, Ken Hodge, Elaine A. Hargreaves, Johan Y.Y. Ng
- We compare validity evidence associated with two sport motivation measures.
- Both the SMS-II and BRSQ show relative strengths and weaknesses.
- It is premature to conclude that one scale is superior to the other.
- Future research should administer both measures to the same group of participants.
Validity of the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire in sports and its links with performance satisfaction
Original Research Article, Pages 481-490
Sylvain Laborde, Fabrice Dosseville, Félix Guillén, Enrique Chávez
- Factor structure of trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) replicated in sports.
- Trait EI positively associated with age in a sports sample.
- Path analysis from trait EI to sports performance satisfaction.
Self-controlled practice: Autonomy protects perceptions of competence and enhances motor learning
Original Research Article, Pages 505-510
Suzete Chiviacowsky
- We investigate the effects of self-controlled feedback on motor learning in adults.
- Self and yoked groups receive feedback equally mainly after good trials.
- The self group report greater self-efficacy than the yoked group after practice.
- The self group perform with greater accuracy than the yoked group in retention.
- The results show that autonomy can impact perceived competence and motor learning.
Athletics and executive functioning: How athletic participation and sport type correlate with cognitive performance
Original Research Article, Pages 521-527
Jed Jacobson, Leland Matthaeus
- We tested executive functioning (decision making, problem solving, and inhibition).
- Athletes outperformed non-athletes on problem solving and inhibition.
- Self-paced athletes (e.g., swimmers) scored highest on inhibition.
- Externally paced athletes (e.g., soccer players) scored highest on problem solving.
Parenting experiences in elite youth football: A phenomenological study
Original Research Article, Pages 528-537
Nicola J. Clarke, Chris G. Harwood
- Phenomenological approach provides an in-depth view of parents’ experiences.
- Parents experienced a transition as their child progressed to elite level football.
- Interaction with coaches and peers socialised parents into academy football culture.
- Parent’s identity became closely linked to their child’s football participation.
- Parents felt an increased responsibility to facilitate their child’s development.
Goal-directed and undirected self-talk: Exploring a new perspective for the study of athletes’ self-talk
Original Research Article, Pages 548-558
Alexander T. Latinjak, Nikos Zourbanos, Víctor López-Ros, Antonis Hatzigeorgiadis
- There were differences between spontaneous self-talk and goal-directed self-talk.
- Spontaneous self-talk was structured in terms of valance and time perspective.
- Goal-directed self-talk was structured in terms of activation and time-orientation.
Profile of high-performing college soccer teams: An exploratory multi-level analysis
Original Research Article, Pages 559-568
Edson Filho, Lael Gershgoren, Itay Basevitch, Gershon Tenenbaum
- High levels of social rather than task cohesion may differentiate among high-performing teams.
- International and “local” athletes are likely to differ in team performance expectations.
- Players from different field positions relate differently to team performance in sport settings.
Exercise Psychology
Coach autonomy support predicts autonomous motivation and daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time in youth sport participants
Original Research Article, Pages 453-463
Sally A.M. Fenton, Joan L. Duda, Eleanor Quested, Timothy Barrett
- Coach-provided autonomy support positively predicted autonomous motivation.
- Controlling coach behaviour was positively related to controlled motivation.
- Autonomous motivation was associated with daily MVPA (+) and sedentary time (−).
- Controlled motivation was not related to daily MVPA and sedentary time.
- Autonomy supportive coach behaviours are related to daily MVPA and sedentary time.
Effect of acute aerobic exercise on cognitive performance: Role of cardiovascular fitness
Original Research Article, Pages 464-470
Yu-Kai Chang, Lin Chi, Jennifer L. Etnier, Chun-Chih Wang, Chien-Heng Chu, Chenglin Zhou
- We examine whether fitness and cognitive task type influence the relationship between acute exercise and cognition.
- Individuals improve cognitive performance following exercise regardless of fitness levels.
- No difference in basic information processing as a function of fitness was observed.
- Individuals with extremely high fitness do not perform better than participants at a moderate fitness level.
Need fulfillment and motivation in physical education predict trajectories of change in leisure-time physical activity in early adolescence
Original Research Article, Pages 471-480
Lindley McDavid, Anne E. Cox, Meghan H. McDonough
- PA increased and identified and introjected regulation decreased on average.
- Competence increased and autonomy and relatedness decreased on average.
- Autonomy and relatedness positively predicted change in PA.
- Intrinsic motivation and identified regulation positively predicted change in PA.
- The longitudinal associations between PE experiences and PA behavior are reported.
Blood, sweat, and the influence of others: The effect of descriptive norms on muscular endurance and task self-efficacy
Original Research Article, Pages 491-497
Carly S. Priebe, Kevin S. Spink
- An experimental design is used to examine the effect of descriptive norms on muscular endurance and task self-efficacy.
- Descriptive norm messages result in greater performance of an objectively-measured activity behaviour.
- Descriptive norms result in greater task self-efficacy compared to control.
A daily process analysis of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and perceived cognitive abilities
Original Research Article, Pages 498-504
Patrick T. Fitzsimmons, Jaclyn P. Maher, Shawna E. Doerksen, Steriani Elavsky, Amanda L. Rebar, David E. Conroy
- Perceived cognitive abilities fluctuate considerably from day-to-day.
- Daily physical activity was linked with greater perceived cognitive abilities.
- Overall physical activity was unassociated with perceived cognitive abilities.
- Relations between sedentary behavior and cognitive abilities were mixed.
Planning and preparatory actions facilitate physical activity maintenance
Original Research Article, Pages 516-520
Milena Barz, Linda Parschau, Lisa M. Warner, Daniela Lange, Lena Fleig, Nina Knoll, Ralf Schwarzer
- Analysis of the complex mechanisms of the behavior change process in physical activity.
- Evidence that preparatory behaviors are relevant in increasing physical activity levels.
- Planning and preparation as sequential mediators between intention and physical activity.
