Does Perceived Competence and Practice Type Influence Motor Performance in Softball Pitchers Developing a New Pitch Type?

Authors

Anthony W. Fava, Our Lady of the Lake University - San AntonioFollow
Matthew Miller, Auburn UniversityFollow
Emily Sauers, Our Lady of the Lake University - San AntonioFollow
Gretchen Oliver, Auburn UniversityFollow

Abstract

Competence-based motivation frameworks use perceived self-confidence (PSC) to explain performance outcomes. Although PSC has been associated with improved performance on fundamental motor skills, PSC can also be task specific and may change depending on particular contexts within a sport. PURPOSE: To assess whether PSC influenced motor performance in softball pitchers developing a new pitch type under two different practice types. METHODS: Fifty adolescent-aged softball pitchers participated. Pitchers were randomly assigned into two practice types: Constraints-led Approach (CLA), (14.9±1.2y,64.8±10.1kg,1.69±0.1m), and Traditional (Trad), (14.5±1.0y, 65.4±11.4kg, 1.67±0.1m). Recruited pitchers indicated the drop ball (DB) was not their ‘go-to’ pitch nor was it used in their current pitch arsenal. All pitchers read a short informative paragraph about the DB and were provided with information on grip and effective spin direction. The CLA group practiced using a ropes apparatus to achieve a vertical break (VB) without specific movement instructions. The Trad group practiced using coaching cues related to body lean, wrist position, and ball release, also designed to achieve VB. A pretest block (pre) of 15 pitches was performed before the employment of practice conditions. Next, three 15-pitch practice blocks with three minutes of rest between blocks were completed. Lastly, conditions were removed, and pitchers completed a 15-pitch post-transfer test (postTr). A ball tracking unit collected VB performance. Afterwards, participants independently completed a Likert scale motivation survey that included a Perceived Competence (PC) subscale. A linear ANCOVA-style model was fitted to determine if PC predicted VB performance after accounting for practice type and pre VB. Model assumptions were met. RESULTS: Raw score descriptives are reported per group: Pre VB: CLA=-14.1±6.2cm, Trad=-13.9±5.6cm; postTr: VB: CLA=-14.0±6.1cm, Trad=-14.7±4.7cm; PC: CLA=5.04±1.18pt, Trad=5.33±0.95pt. The model explained a statistically significant portion of variance (R²=.814, F(4,43)=46.90,pR² =0.80). The interaction effect (Group*PC) was not statistically significant (b=-0.02[-1.43,1.38],t(43)=-0.03,p=.97), nor were the observed effects of Group (b=-0.82[-2.27,0.63],t(43)=-1.14,p=.26) or PC (b=-0.34[-1.26,0.58],t(43)=-0.75,p=.46). The covariate effect of pre VB was statistically significant (b=0.80[0.66, 0.93],t(43)=11.79,pCONCLUSION: On a short timescale, initial task proficiency was linked with improved pitching performance, whereas PC was not. Designing practice conditions that account for initial task proficiency, alongside efforts to address underlying psychological factors that support motivation and facilitate performance (e.g., difficulty, positive feedback), should be incorporated into practice designs.

Recommended Citation

Fava, Anthony W.; Miller, Matthew; Sauers, Emily; and Oliver, Gretchen (2026) "Does Perceived Competence and Practice Type Influence Motor Performance in Softball Pitchers Developing a New Pitch Type?," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 18, Article 186.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/186