Impact of a visual skills training program on visual performance of cricket fielders
- Authors: Bonnesse, Matthew Gregory
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Cricket -- Training , Cricket players Cricket. Vision
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7733 , vital:23440
- Description: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether a cricket specific visual skills training program has an impact on the visual performance of cricket fielders. The specific visual skills included accommodation, visual memory, speed of recognition, peripheral awareness, hand-eye coordination and saccadic eye movement. The study was exploratory and true-experimental in nature and utilized a quantitative approach. The pretest-posttest randomized group design was used. A total number of 20 participants that met the inclusion criteria were included in the study by means of purposive sampling. The 20 participants were randomly assigned to control (n=10) and experimental (n=10) groups. The experimental group underwent six-weeks of visual skills training. The tests used consisted of the Accumulator, Evasion, Corner Stretch and Flash tests on the Batak Pro, Hand-eye-coordination test, Hart Near Far Rock Chart and a Saccadic eye movement chart. Differences between the pre- and post-test scores were all positive and statistically (p<0.05) and practically (d>0.2) significant for the experimental group for the following visual skills tests: Hart Chart (M=7.90±3.73), Saccadic Chart (M=17.50±9.58), Accumulator (M=19.60±5.13), Corner Stretch (M=10.50±9.56) and Flash (M=5.40±3.75). The Evasion test (M=17.50±25.67) also showed a positive but insignificant improvement from pre- to post-test for the experimental group. The control group did not show any statistically significant improvements from pre- to post-test except in the case of Hart Chart (M=3.00±2.16) and Accumulator (M=2.40±2.55). Overall the experimental group produced significantly larger (p<0.05, d>0.20) pre- to post-test mean differences than the control group for six of the seven tests implemented. The Ball Toss test which was one of three hand-eye coordination tests did not show any significant differences between experimental and control groups even though the experimental group produced larger improvements. The other two tests that assessed hand-eye coordination (Accumulator and Corner Stretch) did, however reflect significant improvements for the experimental group. The findings of this study therefore revealed that improvements in visual skill performance of cricket players can be achieved through specific training.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Validity and reliability of an objective test of cricket skills
- Authors: Stretch, Richard Aldworth
- Date: 1985
- Subjects: Cricket , Cricket -- Training , Athletic ability -- Testing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:5134 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005625 , Cricket , Cricket -- Training , Athletic ability -- Testing
- Description: This study was conducted to assess the validity and reliability of four self-designed, objective tests of cricket batting, bowling, fielding and general ability skills. The batting test requires the batsman to hit a suspended ball at a target area as many times as possible in 60 seconds. His score is doubled to give his score for the batting test. In the bowling test the bowler is required to bowl ten balls at target areas marked on the pitch. Each delivery is recorded to give him a score out of 100. The fielding test requires the fielder to catch and field seven balls in a predetermined sequence. Each fielded ball that is not thrown through the target area incurs a penalty of three seconds. The total time taken is used to obtain the fielding test score out of 100. In the general ability test the player is required to hit a ball up and down twenty-five times. He then has to run along a predetermined path and field three balls and then bowl three balls at a target. A penalty of three seconds is added onto the time taken for each ball that does not pass through the target area. The actual score, out of 100, is determined from the total time taken. To determine the validity of the objective tests of batting, bowling, fielding and general ability, 155 subjects were subjectively assessed in these four categories by experienced coaches. The four objective tests were then conducted on these subjects and the scores compared. Forty-four subjects were assessed by experienced and inexperienced testers to determine the reliability of the tests when administered by different testers. To determine the reliability of the tests when repeatedly administered by one tester 23 subjects were assessed on five consecutive days. Significant correlations (p < 0,05) were found for the tests of validity between subjective and objective assessment (0,43 to 0,81) and the test for objectivity between experienced and inexperienced testers (0,41 to 0,78). A significant improvement (p < 0,05) in scores occurred during repeated testing, but most of this improvement took place between the first two tests. The results indicate that the tests are valid and reliable tests of cricket batting, bowling, fielding and general ability, if sufficient pre-test practice is allowed.
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- Date Issued: 1985