Concentration Characteristics and Batting Performance In Collegiate Baseball and Softball
This study examined relationships between batting performance, trait anxiety, and concentration style. A predictive analysis was also formed to determine the combination of subscales that may best explain variance in batting performance. To accurately measure these variables, the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT; Martens, Vealey, & Burton, 1990) and the Batting-specific Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style (B-TAIS; Albrecht & Feltz, 1987) were employed. Participants consisted of both male collegiate baseball and female collegiate sofitball players located in the southeastern section of the United States. Participants' 2003 batting statistics were utilized to assess batting performance, and participants must have compiled at least 40 or more at-bats during the 2003 season to participate in the study. To calculate overall batting performance the OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) batting statistic was utilized. Results displayed no significant relationships between OPS and B-TAIS subscales among collegiate baseball participants. Also, no subscales explained variance in OPS. Significant relationships were found between collegiate softball, OPS, and B-TAISsubscales, and 17.3% (SE = .164) of the variance in OPS was explained by subscales INFP and RED. INFP was the best predictor of OPS (beta = .365). Sport competition anxiety was negatively associated with OPS for both baseball and softball participants. There were no significant correlational differences between OPS and B-TAIS subscales for gender.
ETD, Concentration characteristics, Batting performance, Collegiate baseball, Collegiate softball, Trait anxiety, Concentration style, Sport Competition Anxiety Test, SCAT, Kinesiology
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