Papers by Daniel Chalkley
Frontiers in Psychology, 2018
Visual exploratory action-scanning movements expressed through left and right rotation of the hea... more Visual exploratory action-scanning movements expressed through left and right rotation of the head-allows perception of a surrounding environment and supports prospective actions. In the dynamically changing football environment, the extent to which exploratory action benefits a player's subsequent performance with the ball is likely influenced by how and when the exploratory action occurs. Although few studies have examined the relationship between visual exploration and on-pitch football performance, it has been reported that a higher frequency of exploratory head movement up to 10-s before receiving the ball increases the likelihood of successful performance with the ball. This study investigated the relationship between head turn frequency and head turn excursion, and how and when exploratory head movement-within 10-s before ball possession-is related to performance with the ball in 11v11 match-play. Thirty-two semi-elite football players competed in 11v11 match-play. Head turn frequency and head turn excursion before ball possession were quantified with wearable inertial measurement units, and actions with the ball were coded via notational analysis. Odds ratio calculations were conducted to determine the associations between exploration variables and on-ball performance outcomes. A total of 783 actions with the ball were analyzed. Results revealed a strong relationship between head turn frequency and head turn excursion. Further, a higher than average head turn frequency and head turn excursion before receiving the ball resulted in a higher likelihood of turning with the ball, playing a pass in the attacking direction, and playing a pass to an area that is opposite to which it was received from. The strength of these outcomes varied for different time periods before receiving the ball. When players explored their environment with higher than average head turn frequency and excursion, they used more complex action opportunities afforded by the surrounding environment. Considerations for future research and practical implications are discussed.
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Ecological Psychology, 2018
Little is known about the actions supporting exploration and their relation to subsequent actions... more Little is known about the actions supporting exploration and their relation to subsequent actions in situations when participants are surrounded by opportunities for action. Here, the movements that support visual exploration were related to performance in an enveloping football (soccer) passing task. Head movements of experienced football players were quantified with inertial measurement units. In a simulated football scenario, participants completed a receiving-passing task that required them to indicate pass direction to one of four surrounding targets, as quickly as they could after they gained simulated ball-possession. The frequency of head movements before and after gaining ball-possession, and pass response times were recorded. We controlled exploration time - the time before gaining simulated ball possession - to be one, two, or three seconds. Exploration time significantly influenced the frequency of head movements, and a higher frequency of head turns before gaining ball possession resulted in faster pass responses. Exploratory action influenced subsequent performatory action. That is, higher frequencies of head movements resulted in faster decisions. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
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Team sports offer a complex and dynamic environment in which skilled perception-action coupling i... more Team sports offer a complex and dynamic environment in which skilled perception-action coupling is vital for successful performance. Visual exploratory behavior, in which the movement of the eyes, head and body allow perception of affordances provided by teammates and opponents, is a key component to skilled perception-action (Reed, 1996). This exploratory behavior informs a player about the environment and supports performatory behavior, in which the player interacts with and manipulates the environment (Gibson, 1979). Indeed in football, increased exploratory behavior before a player receives a pass leads to improved performance with the ball (Jordet, Bloomfield, & Heijmerikx, 2013). A major determining factor to a player's ability to perform comes from the constraints of the task, which constantly change as the match evolves over time. Therefore, it is important to understand how certain task constraints influence a player's ability to perceive affordances and prospectively control their action. For example, a player will be differently constrained depending on how much space they have and whether they are in possession of the ball or not. This study aimed to determine the differences in players' visual exploratory behavior based upon the spatial constraints of the task and whether the player was in possession of the ball or not.
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Papers by Daniel Chalkley