Effects of a Cognitive Intervention Package on the Free-Throw Performance of Varsity Basketball Players during Practice and Competition

Abstract

To examine the effects of a cognitive intervention package on the free-throw shooting performance of basketball players, with 3 Canadian male university caliber basketball players ages 20, 22, and 24 years, during practice and in competition single-subject multiple-baseline design was implemented. Each subject was introduced to the imagery-rehearsal intervention at different times during the 14-week competitive basketball season. Free-throw data were collected during 50 practice sessions and 32 games. Data from both practice and competitive situations were examined using a comparison of graphed means. In the practice condition an increase in free-throw performance for all three subjects occurred during the posttreatment intervention. In the game condition, Subjects A and B showed posttreatment improvement. The cognitive intervention package consisting of visualization and relaxation can be an effective strategy for improving free-throw performance of some basketball players. Further research should involve control-group examination using a larger sample across a variety of tasks.

Full text

Perceptualand Motor Skills,
1992, 75, 1243-1253.
O
Perceptual and Motor Skills
1992
EFFECTS OF A COGNITIVE INTERVENTION PACKAGE ON THE
FREE-THROW PERFORMANCE OF VARSITY BASKETBALL
PLAYERS DURING PRACTICE AND COMPETITION
'
DWIGHT
W.
KEARNS AND JANE CROSSMAN
Summary.-To
examine the effects of a cognitive intervention package on the free-
throw shooting performance of basketball players, with
3
Canadian male university cal-
iber basketball players ages
20,
22, and 24 years, during practice and in competition sin-
gle-subject multiple-baseline design was implemented. Each subject was introduced to
the imagery-rehearsal intervention at different times during the 14-week competitive
basketbd season. Free-throw data were collected during
50
practice sessions and 32
games. Data from both practice and competitive situations were examined using a
comparison of graphed means. In the practice condition an increase
in
free-throw per-
formance for
all
three subjects occurred during the posttreatment intervention. In the
game condition, Subjects
A
and
B
showed posttreatment improvement. The cognitive
intervention package consisting of visualization and relaxation can be an effective strat-
egy for improving free-throw performance of some basketball players. Further research
should involve control-group examination using a larger sample across
a
variety of
tasks.
Several authors have advocated the use of cognitive interventions to im-
prove athletic performance (Rushall, 1981; Vealey, 1986). Cognitive interven-
tions refer to a number of strategies including visualization and relaxation.
Researchers have often used relaxation techniques
in
combination with visual-
ization (also referred to as mental training or mental rehearsal) as a cognitive
intervention in an attempt to control arousal. With greater control over
arousal as a consequence of greater relaxation, improved task concentration
may be realized. Researchers have concluded that athletes who incorporate
cognitive interventions such as visualization and relaxation into their train-
ing programs achieve higher performance than those who only train physi-
cally (Feltz
&
Landers, 1983; Mumford
&
Hall, 1985; Ryan, Blakeslee,
&
Furst, 1986; Suinn, 1980).
Two possible imagery perspectives as related to sport performance have
been identified. The first type, external imagery, is considered to be primar-
ily visual in nature. This type
of
imagery occurs when athletes see them-
selves perform from the outside as if they are viewing themselves on a film
or a videotape. The second type of imagery is internal imagery and it is pri-
marily kinesthetic in nature. Athletes imagine being within their own bodies
while performing (Cox, 1985). They experience feelings and sensations asso-
'Address correspondence to Dr. Jane Crossman, Lakehead University Fieldhouse, Thunder Bay,
Ontario, Canada P7B 5E1.