Efeito do foco atencional no desempenho de uma habilidade motora no futsal: Uma análise da teoria Optimal

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test the theoretical assumptions presented in the OPTIMAL Theory (support for autonomy, increased expectation and attentional direction) in the motor performance of the fundamentals of ball dribbling in futsal, considering the use of different external attentional focuses. Twenty adult university athletes who practiced futsal, with a mean age of 22.85 years (SD = 2.28) and previous experience in the sport of 13.4 years (SD = 3.85), participated in the study. All participants performed the motor task under three conditions: Control; OPTIMAL with proximal external focus; OPTIMAL with distal external focus. The task consisted of dribbling, with the non-dominant foot, in a zig-zag motion, avoiding 6 cones lined up 1.5 meters apart, totaling 9 meters of path. Three days of research were carried out with an interval of 48 hours between them, and on each day the volunteers performed under a different condition. Each participant performed the task 12 times during each day of research, 3 pre-test and 9 test, and the time to perform the task was analyzed. The volunteers also answered an intrinsic motivation questionnaire after the pre-test and later after the test on each day of practice. The results showed better performance in ball conduction time when the task was practiced in OPTIMAL conditions with proximal and distal external focus compared to the control condition. However, no difference was found in performance when the motor task was performed in OPTIMAL conditions with proximal and distal external focus, as well as in the intrinsic motivation of the participants. The results allow us to conclude that the practice conditions proposed in the OPTIMAL theory affect the performance of a futsal motor skill, but do not generate distinct effects from the provision of different distances of external attention focus and in the intrinsic motivation of athletes.