Effect of Audience on Concentration and Attentional Demands on the Performance of Athletes on Railwalking by Athletes of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Attention and concentration are crucial indices for successful performance outcome in sports. Therefore, the ability of an athlete to control and maintain attention and concentration for the duration of the athletic competition is often difficult, this may be due to the influence of the audience and significant others which often affects their performance. The study therefore examined the audience effects on attentional and concentration demands of the athletes in the performance of a motor skill (Railwalking) by selected athletes in University of Ibadan. The randomized pre-test, post-test control and experimental group design was used in the study. Forty (40) male athletes, which constituted the samples for the study, they were randomly assigned to each of the two experimental and control groups. Test instrument in railwalking used in the study were standardized. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), was the main statistical method use sin the study. To determine the effect of the two audiences (volitional and captive). All the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that volitional audience had significant effect on the athletes performance on railwalking (F=8.20; P <.0.05). The captive audience also had significant effect of on railwalking (F= 75.93; P < 0.05) but, there was no significant effect on athletes performance on railwalking when the captive and volitional audience where combined. (F = 43.80; P < 0.05). The study established that for a high performance of any motor skill, whether fine or gross in nature, the athletes should be provided with the relevant cues that can and performance. It was, therefore, recommended that coaches, sports trainers, and sports psychologist should expose their athletes to similar environmental and captive audience conditions during practice and training sessions as they occur in real competition.

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-2-04

Publication date: January 31^st 2020