Dynamic interceptive actions are those actions for which the body, or an implement, must be moved into the right place at the right time in order to accomplish a task. These actions are particularly prevalent in sport, for example reaching to catch a ball or running towards a target to make a tackle. This book is the first to offer a comprehensive review of existing theoretical research on dynamic interceptive actions, as well as close examination of specific, practical applications. The book includes material on: * catching * wielding tennis rackets * putting in golf * controlling and kicking a soccer ball. It is essential reading for anybody with a close interest in motor learning and control or skill acquisition, and will be of interest to students of sport psychology, movement science and coaching science.

Acquisition and Performance of Sports Skills provides students with the theoretical and practical background that is necessary for an understanding of the basics of skill acquisition and performance. This understanding is founded on the student's existing knowledge of sport and leads into the subject, using a student centred, problem-solving approach. The first half of the book examines the nature of sports performance and the second skill acquisition. There is a debate among researchers into psychomotor learning: the ecological versus the cognitive approach. Because this book is aimed clearly at students taking a first course in the subject the author includes examples from both schools of thought thus ensuring a balanced approach. looks at skill acquisition firmly within the context of sports performance takes students' practical experience as a starting point then clearly explains the underlying theories presents both cognitive and ecological approaches to the subject to give a balanced view excellent pedagogy including problem-solving tasks, practical experiments and revision notes at the end of chapters Written by an author with many years teaching, research and practical coaching experience, Acquisition and Performance of Sport Skills proves invaluable for students of sport and exercise science taking a first course in skill acquisition, motor learning and/or motor control. This is the second title to appear in the Wiley SportTexts Series that aims to provide textbooks covering the key disciplines within the academic study of sport.

Athletes are dependent upon a constant supply of accurate and reliable information from the environment whilst performing complex movements. Visual Perception and Action in Sport examines the information which is perceived by the human visual system and the way it is utilised to support actions in sport. It focuses attention on the rich diversity of sport-related studies drawn together from a number of theoretical approaches. Divided into three sections, this book covers: * indirect theories of perception and action * direct theories of perception and action * skill acquisition in the sports context. Each of the sections features learning objectives, summary, and study questions to help facilitate student learning. Throughout the text, the integration of theoretical knowledge and practical expertise is emphasised. All three authors are specialists have expertise in the teaching and researching of motor learning and control in sport.

This book provides a detailed review of much of the existing research on visual perception and sports performance. It summarises and integrates the findings of up to five hundred articles from areas as diverse as cognitive and ecological psychology.

Endorsed by the International Society of Sport Psychology, this classic reference draws on an international roster of experts and scholars in the field who have assembled state-of-the-art knowledge into this thorough, well-rounded, and accessible volume. It is completely updated to reflect the latest research and is an indispensable resource for any student or professional interested in the field of sport psychology.

In the movie Bull Durham, frustrated manager Joe Riggins stresses to his team, "This is a simple game. You throw the ball. You hit the ball. You catch the ball." This simplification works well for biomechanists too, as sports can be broken down into specific physical tasks like throwing, hitting, catching, and running. There have been significant advances in understanding some actions, but not others. In the first ten years of the journal Sports Biomechanics, only 18 of 236 articles were about hitting a ball. This scarcity is startling considering that according to USA Today (May 20, 2005), three of the five hardest things to do in sports involve hitting a ball (#1: baseball batting, #4: golf tee shot, and #5: tennis serve return). This book provides the latest biomechanical research in the under-studied field of hitting a ball. The biomechanics of baseball, cricket, hockey, hurling, softball, table tennis, and tennis are all examined. The chapters are written in a style that will both satisfy the high standards of biomechanists and provide information for instructors and athletes to improve performance. This book is based on a special issue of Sports Biomechanics.

SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGICAL “This book is a joy to read and greatly needed. The overall scholarly quality is very strong, and the chapters are clear, accessible, helpful and interesting - a rare combination. There are few texts that examine sport and exercise from a practitioner’s perspective, and fewer that help students and trainees navigate the complex terrain of practice. The editors should be congratulated on pulling together a book that educates, inspires, provokes, and will be of practical use.” Professor Brett Smith, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham Sport and Exercise Psychology: Practitioner Case Studies is a contemporary text focusing on current issues in the discipline of sport and exercise psychology. Integrating research and practice in order to develop a coherent understanding of existing knowledge, future research directions and applied implications within the field, the text explores issues pertinent to the applied practitioner/supervisor and draws on expert commentary to investigate potential solutions to many key issues. Each chapter uses a case study approach to allow internationally recognized contributors to highlight and evaluate their experience across a broad range of sport and exercise performance areas. Practitioners are provided with a full range of available interventions to address specific types of psychological issue including performing under pressure, working with teams, injury rehabilitation, working with coaches, mental toughness, career transitions, athlete well- being, physical activity promotion, exercise and body image, lifestyle interventions, exercise dependence, and motor learning and control. Sport and Exercise Psychology is supported by a range of online materials designed to help both study and practice. It presents content that is directly applicable to those seeking to enter the profession, and which can also inform the ongoing development of reflective practitioners.