Effects of physiological fatigue on basketball shooting performance: the moderating role of attentional focus
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Objectives This study examined the moderating effect of attentional focus on basketball shooting performance under varying fatigue levels. Methods A 2 (Attentional Focus: External vs. Internal) × 3 (Fatigue Level: No Fatigue, Moderate Fatigue, Severe Fatigue) within-subject design was employed. Thirty male basketball players (mean age: 20.1 ± 0.3 years) completed 20 standardized free-throw attempts under each condition. Shooting accuracy was recorded, and repeated measures ANOVA was performed to analyze main and interaction effects. Results Significant main effects were observed for attentional focus [F (1,29) = 8.15, p = 0.008] and fatigue level [F (2,58) = 26.32, p < 0.001] along with a significant interaction effect between attentional focus and fatigue level [F (2,58) = 4.27, p = 0.018]. Shooting accuracy under external focus (75.0%) was significantly higher than under internal focus (65.0%). Under severe fatigue, external focus resulted in a 15% higher shooting accuracy than internal focus, with this advantage increasing as fatigue levels intensified. Conclusion Fatigue impairs basketball shooting performance; however, adopting an external attentional focus can mitigate its negative impact, particularly under severe fatigue conditions.
Source: Frontiers in Psychology
Authors: Yuanyuan Luo, Yingying Cao, Shuairan Li, Yan Shi, Peng Chen
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W4414607918