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Visual Information in Basketball Jump-Shots: Differences between Youth and Adult Athletes

Marques, R. ; Martins, F. ; Gomes, RG ; Martinho, D. ; Mendes, R. ; Moore, S. ; Coelho-e-Silva, M. ; Dias , G.

Journal of Human Kinetics Vol. 89, Nº 4, pp. 65 - 75, October, 2023.

ISSN (print): 1640-5544
ISSN (online): 1899-7562

Scimago Journal Ranking: 0,81 (in 2023)

Digital Object Identifier: 10.5114/jhk/163447

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Abstract
Basketball shooting is a complex skill that requires visual routines and trained players typically evidence a specific oculomotor pattern. This study aimed to examine visual patterns in male novice youth and professional adult players while performing a jump shot. The sample included 20 basketball players grouped as under-16 youth (n = 10) and professional adult (n = 10) players. Each participant completed 50 shots at two distances (long range: 6.80 m; middle range: 4.23 m). Eye tracking glasses were used to obtain quiet eye (QE), the number of fixations, total fixation duration, duration of first and last fixation. An independent t-test was used to assess differences between groups. Shooting accuracy given by % of efficacy indicated that under-16 players attained poorer scores at both distances: long (t = −4.75, p < 0.01) and middle (t = −2.80, p < 0.012) distance. The groups also differed in QE time (long: 600 ms vs. 551 ms; middle: 572 ms vs. 504 ms) and total duration of the fixations (long: 663 ms vs. 606 ms; middle: 663 ms vs. 564 ms) in both long and middle distance shots. Significant differences also occurred in the last fixation (long distance: t = −4.301, p < 0.01; middle distance: t = −3.656, p < 0.01) with professional adult players presenting the value of, on average, 454–458 ms, while youth shooters 363–372 ms. In summary, visual strategy differed between under-16 youth and professional adult basketball players. To support their long-term sport development, it is recommended that youth basketball players focus their attention with longer final fixation before releasing the ball to improve their shot. Keywords: gaze behavior; motor performance; shooting accuracy; eye tracking; vision