Differences between expert and novice soccer players when using movement precues to shoot a penalty kick.

ABSTRACT

In the present study, effects of using precues of the goalkeeper's movements during a penalty kick on the penalty taker's response time and rate of success when selecting the points at which shots were taken were evaluated. 20 male players included 10 expert players (M=25.7 yr., SD=4.2 yr.) and 10 novices (M=22.1 yr., SD=2.5 yr.), whose response time, decision making, and foveal vision in a simulated penalty kick task were evaluated. Analysis showed greater decrease in response time for the expert group (102 msec.) than for the novice one (47 msec.). Mean response time was 172 msec. for experts and 189 msec. for novices. The rate of success (i.e., shooting at the side opposite to the goalkeeper's movement) increased from an initial rate of 58% for both groups to 91.3% in the Expert group and 90.7% in the Novice group. Anticipation of both groups improved with explicit knowledge of precues.