Effects of an external foci of attention at different distances on standing long jump in non-athletes

Abstract

[Purpose] External focus (EF) instructions demonstrate a learning effect on motor performance enhancement. However, the effective EF distance during standing long jump performance of non-athletes has not been clarified. This study aimed to determine the effects of EF at different distances on jumping performance. [Participants and Methods] A total of 40 non-athlete participants were randomly divided among four groups. The no attention line group performed a standing long jump without the attention line on the floor; those in the -20-cm EF group, the ± 0-cm EF group, and +20-cm EF group performed the jump attention line with an attention line 20-cm posterior, at ± 0 cm, and 20-cm anterior as the reference jump distances, respectively. [Results] The mean rate of increase between the first to second jump distances in the +20-cm EF group was higher than that in the no attention line group. The rates at which the jumpers reached the attention line in the ± 0-cm EF group and the +20-cm EF group were lower than the rate in the -20-cm EF group. [Conclusion] Instructions are more effective when the distance to the attention line exceeds jumping performance.