Gaze behavior in basketball shooting: Preliminary investigations

Introduction. One of the main factors influencing the efficiency of basketball shooting is visual control. Proper visual fixation toward the hoop and backboard during shooting is necessary for preprogramming various movement parameters, e.g. direction, force, velocity, timing and limb coordination. Aim of Study. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between gaze behavior and shooting efficiency in basketball. Material and Methods. Six collegiate basketball players performed jump shots off the dribble at six various positions around the goal (perimeter and distance, beyond the three-point line). A mobile binocular Eye Tracking System (SMI ETG 2w, Germany) was used to record the numbers of fixation points, gaze-stabilizing fixation points (quiet-eye) and total fixation time during dynamic shot tasks. SMI BeGaze software and SMI Semantic Gaze Mapping technology were used for data analysis. Differences between the variables related to shot accuracy and distance from the backboard were calculated. Results. The results showed that the average total fixation time for accurate shots was 916 ms, with an average two points of fixation. There was a significant difference in the number of fixation points related to perimeter and distance shots. Distance shots were characterized by a greater number of fixation points than close shots (3.3 vs 2.5, p < 0.05). In contrast, there were no significant differences in the number of fixation points, number of gaze-stabilizing fixation points and total fixation time in relation to shot accuracy. Conclusion. It was concluded that gaze behavior had a partial impact on shooting efficiency. Moreover, the distance from the backboard had a significant influence on the gaze behavior of basketball players during the execution of jump shots.