Introduction: Choking under pressure is a common phenomenon observed in sports competitions performing more poorly than expected given ones skill level and is thought to occur where incentives for optimal performance are at a maximum (Beilock & Gray, 2007). In the current study, we tested whether differential compared to classical repetition oriented basketball free-throw training has a beneficial effect on performance in a high pressure competitive situation. Methods: Thirty-two subjects (mean age = 24.87, age range 21-29 years) participated in the current study. Subjects underwent either classical or differential training for four weeks (2 training sessions per week). All subjects were tested prior to training and after the four week training period under low pressure conditions. Subsequently, follow-up tests were performed three weeks after the last training session in a competing situation including spectators and a jury. Results: Results show a significant main effect of time, F(2,27) = 55.42, p < .001, n2 = .53, with a significant interaction of training and test, F(2,27) = 15.14, p < .001, n2 = .07, but not for training. A separate analysis of variance for the retention test shows a significant main effect of training, F(18,11) = 3.52, p < .05, n2 = .33, with a significant interaction of training and situation, F(18,11) = 2.74, p < .05, n2 = .80. Further analyses show a higher ratio of airballs in classical training (p < .05). Discussion: Results indicate that differential training enables to maintain a more skillful motion in basketball free throws under pressure compared to repetitional training. Results from a previous EEG study show that differential training relies on a sensorimotor motor working memory representation that is more resistant to attention distracting influences than classical repetition oriented training which activates primarily brain areas engaged in executive control of actions (Henz, Hofmann & Schollhorn, 2013). For that reason, we conclude that differential training might contribute to a reduction of choking under pressure.
© Copyright 2014 19th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Amsterdam, 2. - 5. July 2014. Veröffentlicht von VU University Amsterdam. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.