Automatic system for penalty-kickers in soccer

• Main Authors: J.M. Castillo, A. Oña, A. Raya, M.A. Martínez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Asociación Española de Ciencias del Deporte 2010-09-01
• Series: European Journal of Human Movement
• Online Access: https://eurjhm.com/index.php/eurjhm/article/view/73

Despite recognising like the performance’s base of the majority of sports abilities, few trainers recognise that visual function is a learned ability that can be improved. The main aim of this study tries to measure efficacy in goals and individual tactic of high-skill penalty-kickers in soccer using a new automatic system of emission visual stimulus applied in the habitual situation field. Penalty-kickers (n = 9) made a pre-treatment test of 24 trails in real situation opposite the goalkeepers (n = 3). Later, they completed a training of 10 sessions using the automatic system without goalkeepers. Finally, they again repeated the same initial test, then they got more goals in post-treatment test. Furthermore, tactic differences were found based on throwing direction due to the goalkeeper action. Scores suggested that the penalty-kick in soccer may be planned like an open motor ability, depending on the goalkeeper’s action, reducing the information processing time and decision-making. KEY WORDS: Visual training, penalty-kicker, soccer, high-skill, decision-making, motor control.