Examination of the visual search characteristics of netball players

Chris Button , James Croft, Luiz Uehara

Prepared for Sport and Recreation New Zealand by University of Otago

2010

Sport and Recreation New Zealand

Chris Button

email: Chris.Button@otago.ac.nz

Whilst the eye movements made by athletes have been examined in a range of sports (e.g., baseball, soccer, cricket, basketball, volleyball) there is little information available concerning the visual search characteristics of netball players. It is possible that visual search strategies influence the quality of player‟s decision-making. The aims of the study were: 

·     To examine the visual search characteristics employed by netball players whilst playing in simulated game scenarios.

·     To compare the visual search characteristics of netball players as a function of skill level.

Two separate studies were undertaken. The first study involved the creation of realistic netball scenarios from video footage filmed from the perspective of a Wing Attack player in a game. In the second study, a semi-qualitative, case study approach was adopted. One elite (high skill level) player wore the mobile eye tracker device whilst participating in a number of on-court drills varying in the level of defensive pressure. 

For many reasons discussed at length within the report this project was largely explorative and the conclusions and implications should be viewed as tentative at this early stage. SPARC concluded: At this eary stage there was little evidence of any simple measures of visual search which may be used as reliable indicators of potentially talented netball players. 

Keywords:

Visual search; Netball

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Exploratory

National

High performance, Sport

Women

Clubs

Professional, Semi-professional

Delivery, Performance, Professionals

Netball

1946

July 1, 2013

July 18, 2013