Attentional Focus

Being able to focus your attention on the rights things at the right time in sport is essential for optimal performance. Attentional focus is a skill that requires blocking out distractions and focusing on the present challenge. The chart below provides a description of different ways student-athletes focus their attention along with examples, advantages, and disadvantages of each style.

Attentional Focus PDF

 

      Broad
      Narrow
      Internal
      Broad-Internal
      "Analyze your Inner Big Picture"
        Example: Football quarterback scanning the field

        Advantage: Good for dealing with a lot of information at the same time.

        Disadvantage: Mistakes are due to over-analyzing the situation.

      Narrow-Internal
      "Focused Inner Thought"

        Example: Diver imagining specific components of next dive.

        Advantage: Good at focusing on a single thought. Essential for energy management.

        Disadvantage: Mistakes are due to "choking." Student-athletes become distracted by internal thought which effects performance.

      External
      Broad-External
      "Assess Total Environment"

        Example: Athlete mentally preparing entire completion plan.

        Advantage: Good for quickly assessing the situation.

        Disadvantage: Mistakes are due to paying attention to distracting things in environment.
      Narrow-External
      "Single Object Focus"

        Example: Golfer preparing to putt.

        Advantage: Good for blocking out distractions.

        Disadvantage: Mistakes are due to becoming to narrow in focus and missing important cues in environment.

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