Degree Date
4-2019
Document Type
Dissertation - Public Access
Degree Name
Psy.D. Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Academic Discipline
Clinical Psychology - Florida School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
Sierra Iwanicki, Ph.D
Second Advisor
Gary Howell, Psy.D.
Abstract
Youth athletes are different from adult and elite athletes in several domains that include cognitive resources, working memory, automaticity of motor movements, conscious control for propensity, attentional focus, and acquisition of motor-skills. Due to significant differences between athletes, not all instructions and feedback provided by coaches are best suited for every player. Instructions and feedback may direct an athlete’s attentional focus and cognitive resources incorrectly leading to poor acquisition and performance of motor-skills. Clinical psychologists with knowledge of motor-skill acquisition, cognitive resources, learning theory, conscious control propensity, automaticity of motor movements, constrained action hypothesis, and attentional focus can follow the Youth Sports Consultation Model when working with youth sports programs, coaches, and youth athletes to improve the youth athlete’s experience by improving the language used by coaches and correctly directing the youth athlete’s attentional focus during the performance and acquisition of motor-skills.
Recommended Citation
Wright, Justin, "Effect of Attentional Focus on Learning and Performance in Youth Sports" (2019). Dissertations. 378.
https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/378
Included in
Child Psychology Commons, Clinical Psychology Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Sports Studies Commons