Attentional Styles
Goal
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In this article we'll talk about Nideffer's attentional style model and the importance of training young players to switch from one style to the other according to the circumstances |
Attention is a cognitive process that filters information between the outside and inside world, excluding what is not relevant for that moment's specific goal. Otherwise, the person could be overwhelmed by so many inputs and continuous stimuli from the world.
In sports field, R. Nideffer in the ’70 suggested a model (still valid today) that includes two dimensions of the attentional focus:
- Width, that is the quantity of information accepted from the subject;
- Direction, that is where the attention focuses, towards the inside or the outside.
These two dimensions combine to create Nideffer's four attentional styles:
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BROAD EXTERNAL
Ability to quickly understand changes in the environment
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NARROW EXTERNAL
Focus on tasks that require precision
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BROAD INTERNAL
Attention to internal thoughts, sensations and feelings,
both physical and mental |
NARROW INTERNAL
Intellectual tasks that require focused attention
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Everyone has a predominant attentional style, that is a more natural way of focusing attention.
Each sport prefers a style over another. For example, a closed-skills sport requires mainly a broad internal style (technique, tactics, physical sensations, internal dialogue...), even if sometimes attention can be directed outside (opponents). Archery requires a narrow external style. But what about an open-skills sport like soccer?
Player should pay attention to various stimuli, but it all depends on the game's phase: during the attacking phase attention is focused on available teammates, opponents, opponents goal, position on the field... So it is required to have a broad external style. Before kicking a penalty, it is better to focus on the inner world (broad internal focus to monitor physical sensations, give encouragements...); then focus shifts towards the goal (narrow external focus). During a duel focus will be narrow. So, attentional focus varies depending on the game's phase.
It's very clear that a good player should be able to switch from one style to another depending on the sport and, talking about soccer or any other open skills sport, depending on specific requests of the moment.
Having a dominant attentional style does not mean one cannot learn to change it.
This change is not automatic though. We have to get our players used to focus on what is relevant in every moment. We have to encourage them to look at their teammates, to see where they are, to feel the opponent approaching, to listen to the goalkeeper, to monitor physical and emotional sensations before entering the pitch, keeping the focus on useful thoughts.
Players should be informed about these different attentional styles, so they can be aware of the situation and understand better what we are asking them for this sport: attention, training, elasticity.
