Etnier, J. L., & Sibley, B. A. (2002). Attention demands during the performance of a volleyball setting task. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(5), Supplement abstract 1200.

This investigation examined the time course of attention during performance of a complex decision-making task that required an accurate response. Skilled volleyball players completed simple and choice forms of a volleyball set while responding to an auditory probe reaction time task. The ball was to be set to a target in the simple task, while in the complex task, the target was not known until a stimulus indicated it.

Both tasks were attentionally demanding. The choice task was more demanding than the simple task. The greatest amount of attention was demanded early in the task rather than at the end.

Implication. Information to perform a complex short-duration is gathered before and early in execution. Mental focusing on intended and early execution of precise complex skills is required.

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