The Effect of Altering Focus of Attention on Throwing Accuracy in Highly Skilled Baseball Pitchers

Previous research has consistently demonstrated that using an external focus of attention rather than an internal focus of attention enhances motor skill learning and performance.The purpose of this study was to examine whether using different focus of attention (i.e. internal or external) influenced pitching accuracy. It was hypothesized that highly skilled baseball pitchers utilizing an external focus of attention would display greater pitching accuracy when compared to trials performed following instructions that were designed to direct attention internally. Participants (N=11) completed 60 trials under internal and external conditions, 20 trials per day over a six day period for a total of 120 trials of practice. A univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted for absolute error and constant error. Results of this study indicated that throwing accuracy was not differentially effected by instructing the pitchers to focus attention internally or externally.  

Keywords: motor behavior, practice, bullpen, instructions.