# Gaze fixation parameters in basketball: examining the link to anxiety, self-talk, and emotional responses in free-throw shooting

## TL;DR

This study explores how eye gaze patterns during basketball free throws relate to anxiety, self-talk, and performance success.

## Contribution

The study links gaze fixation parameters to psychological factors like anxiety and self-talk in basketball free-throw shooting.

## Key findings

- Successful free throws are associated with longer gaze fixation durations and extended quiet eye periods.
- Concentration disruption is negatively correlated with gaze fixation parameters.
- Instructional self-talk correlates positively with gaze parameters, while motivational self-talk correlates neutrally.

## Abstract

The quiet eye (QE) period is the interval of the final gaze fixation before the start of a decisive movement in each sport. QE is considered essential for successful performance in activities that require throwing or aiming at a target, such as basketball free-throw shooting. The purpose of the present study was two-fold, aiming to (a) compare gaze fixation parameters between successful and unsuccessful shots, and (b) investigate the relationships between gaze fixation variables, with eye-hand coordination, self-talk, anxiety, and emotion variables.

Thirty-one basketball players participated in the Hellenic Women and Men U18 National Teams volunteered to participate in the study. Each participant completed ten free-throw shots while wearing the ET Vision system during the trials. The mean of the gaze variables value across these attempts was calculated. The participants filled in the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 based on how they usually feel, the Activation-Deactivation Adjective Checklist, and the Self-Talk Questionnaire based on how they felt before and during, respectively, the free-throw shots.

The results showed significant differences in gaze fixation parameters between successful and unsuccessful shots. There were significant negative correlations between concentration disruption and gaze fixation parameters. Positive and neutral correlations were observed between gaze parameters and instructional and motivational self-talk, respectively.

Successful free throws feature extended QE, onset, and longer fixation duration, and higher proximity of longer fixation to QE. Eye-hand coordination drills should be included in athletes’ physical training, as successful performance is a proactive, not a reactive, process. The application of psychological preparation programs and stress management techniques would help athletes to eliminate the negative effects of anxiety and disrupted concentration on their performance. These findings support a well-rounded basketball training approach that integrates technical instruction, visual strategies, and psychological skill development.