Anticipation

Question 1

What is anticipation

Answer 1

• try to pre-judge a stimulus
• work out what is going to happen before it does, using info from the environment in the form of:
  signals from the opponent or ‘cues’, which may include the body language and positioning of the opponent.
• the info can be learned prior to the game by researching opponents or learning throughout the game

Question 2

Temporal and spatial anticipation

Answer 2

Temporal = pre-judging when the stimulus is going to happen
Spatial = where and what the projected stimuli are going to be

E.g. knowing where on the pitch the ball is going to land and when it will get there (Rugby)

Question 3

Benefits and drawbacks of anticipation for a performer

Answer 3

Benefits - improves response time, as the info processing process is speeded up, the info has been processed before the action has happened, so the movement aspect of the response can happen immediately.
Drawbacks - PRP, if the anticipation is incorrectly judged & the stimulus that is presented is not the one expected, then there will be a delay while the actual & second stimulus are processed

Question 4

How to improve response time

Answer 4

1. Mental practise - response preparation process is improved, action can be predicted quicker
2. Train specific stimulus expected in the game - to the left if the player likes hitting left
3. Focus + concentrate so that the stimulus is picked up early - coach can make the stimulus more intense
4. Improving fitness - improves reaction time e.g. plyometric improve power during the movement part of the response
5. Use anticipation- predict the stimulus, homework on the opponent.