Alasdair Dempsey

Visual anticipation skill differentiates players across the skill continuum and enables the capability to cope with high time constraints in striking sports. Literature investigating methods for training and transfer of visual anticipation is scant particularly in skilled players. The purpose of this on-going study is to determine the value of perceptual-only and perceptual-motor training to learning and transfer of visual anticipation in skilled cricket batsmen. A pre- and post-test design with transfer tests was employed. Batsmen from two elite level clubs were randomized into three groups. A perceptual-only group (n=7) received temporal occlusion point-light display training. A perceptual-motor group (n=7) received the same point-light display training, but were also required to bowl what they viewed. A control group (n=7) participated only in the testing phases. The intervention groups received two training sessions per week over a four week period. The point-light displays were temporally occluded at and after ball release to progressively challenge learning. Feedback was available through an un-occluded replay of the point-light training trial or by perceiving the outcome of the bowled balls trajectory. The pre and post-tests consisted of a video-based temporal occlusion test of a fast bowler, whilst the transfer tests included different fast and slow bowlers. All tests included occlusion conditions prior to ball flight. During test and training phases participants responded to the videos with a simulated sport-specific motor response. Preliminary analysis indicates that both intervention groups, but not the control group, improved anticipation from below to above chance level from pre to post-tests. Only the perceptual-motor group performed above chance across all temporal occlusion conditions in the transfer tests. These findings will be discussed in relation to the common-coding and motor system simulation theoretical frameworks, with practical application for players and coaches.