Performance of gymnastics skill benefits from an external focus of attention.

The present study was designed to fill a gap in the literature on attentional focus and sports performance. Specifically, in contrast to most previous studies in which an external focus was directed at an implement, we used a gymnastics skill that did not involve the use of an implement. Furthermore, while most studies used only outcome measures of performance, we also assessed movement quality. Twelve-year-old gymnasts performed a maximum vertical jump with a 180-degree turn while airborne, with their hands crossing in front of their chest during the turn under three different focus conditions. Under the external focus condition, participants were asked to focus on the direction in which a tape marker, which was attached to their chest, was pointing after the turn. Under the internal focus condition, they were asked to focus on the direction in which their hands were pointing after the turn. Under the control condition, no focus instructions were given. The external focus condition resulted in both superior movement form and greater jump height than did the other two conditions, which produced comparable results. The present findings show that, similar to other tasks, the performance of form-based skills can be enhanced relatively easily by appropriate external focus instructions.

Inteligencia Emocional en el Deporte: Validación española del Schutte Self Report Inventory (SSRI) en deportistas españoles / Emotional Inteligence in Sport: Validation of the Schutte Self Report Inventory (SSRI) in Spanish athletes / Inteligência emocional no esporte: validação espanhola do schutte self report inventory (SSRI) em esportistas espanhois

El propósito del estudio fue validar el Inventario de Inteligencia Emocional (SSRI) de Schutte et al. (1998) en una muestra de deportistas españoles de diferente nivel de pericia. Participaron 2091 deportistas (1519 hombres y 572 mujeres) de edades comprendidas entre los 11 y los 59 años (M= 20.8; DT= 6.14). Los resultados de los AFE y AFC mostraron que el cuestionario presenta una estructura de cuatro dimensiones (percepción emocional, gestión auto-emocional, gestión hetero-emocional y utilización emocional), además de permitir obtener un valor de la escala general denominado Inteligencia Emocional en el Deporte. Las propiedades psicométricas y fiabilidad de la escala permiten presentar un inventario apto para la medición de la inteligencia emocional en el deporte (AU)

In this study we analyzed the validation and reliability of the SSRI Schutte's et al. (1998) Inventory of Emotional Intelligence using EFA and CFA with Spanish athletes of different expertise level. This sample was comprised of 2091 athletes (1519 males and 572 females) with a mean age of 20.8 years (ST: 6.14) and an age range of 11 to 59 years. The results obtained in this study presented a four dimensions structure (Emotional perception, self-emotional management, hetero-emotional management and emotional utilization), and a global score of emotional intelligence in Sport. Psychometric properties and reliability of this instrument permits to offer an inventory apt to be applied in sport contexts (AU)

O propósito desse estudo foi de validar o inventario de Inteligência Emocional (SSRI) de Schutte et al. (1998), em uma mostra de esportista espanhóis de diferentes níveis de habilidades. Participaram 2091 esportistas (1519 homens e 572 mulheres) de idades compreendidas entre 11 e 59 anos de idade (M= 20.8; DT= 6.14). Os resultados dos AFE e AFC mostraram que o questionário apresenta uma estrutura de quatro dimensões (percepção emocional, gestão auto- emocional gestão hetero-emocional e utilização emocional), ademais de permitir obter um valor de escala geral denominada Inteligência Emocional no Esporte. As propriedades psicométricas e fiabilidade da escala permitiram apresentar um inventario apto para medir a inteligência emocional de esportistas (AU)