Ice hockey is an open skill sport, which requires cognitive properties such as fast decision-making. In goalies position maybe the most crucial skill is the ability to anticipate the intentions of the opposing players. The purpose of this study was to examine shot reading skill (i.e. anticipation) among hockey goalies. 18 active hockey goalies, from five different experience levels volunteered for the study. Five identical measurement sessions consisted of 3 pre- and 2 post-measurements. All of these sessions included the same three reaction time measurements: 1) simple light stimulus, 2) choice light stimulus, 3) sport specific stimulus. Measurements were performed before and after the 4-week video training-intervention that included 20 different videos of 60 shots faced by goalie, 5 sessions per week. 9 subjects participated (1-2 from each experience level) to the training while 6 subjects served as non-training controls. Subjects kept training diary during the intervention about on ice, off ice and video training. Reacting on sport specific video stimulus was faster than reacting on either light stimulus. Intervention had a positive effect on the amount of successful repetitions in the test of sport specific stimulus (p<.01). Intervention did not change the quickness of reacting on any stimulus. Control group improved in choice reaction time task after intervention period. Level of the goalie correlated with the amount of successful reps in the sport specific test. At whole group, experience level also correlated with the faster reaction time in both light stimulus tests. Fast reaction time in simple light stimulus test predicted quickness in choice reaction time test. The shot reading skill successfully demonstrated trough the fastest reaction time on sport specific stimulus. High-speed video of motor actions during measurements proven the anticipation. Video training seems to be potential way of learning shot reading among competitive level ice hockey goalies. Contact: Pohjanvirta, Ville-Veikko, Ahtiainen, Juha: NeuroMuscular Research Center, Biology of Physical Activity, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
© Copyright 2020 19th International Symposium "Modern Science and Practice for Strength and Endurance Training" October 10-12, 2018. Published by Neuromuscular Research Center and Biology of Physical Activity, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä. All rights reserved.