Empirical study on visual attention characteristics of basketball players of different levels during free-throw shooting

Background: Visual attention is very important in basketball shooting, which is a prerequisite for forming good muscle proprioception and improving the shooting rate. The ability of visual instant searching information in the process of free throw plays an important role in the mobilization of free throw percentage. The aim of this study is to explore the fixation characteristics of athletes at different levels in the process of free throw shooting and to provide scientific basis for improving the free throw training of basketball players.Methods: A total of 20 expert basketball players, 20 general basketball players and 20 novice basketball players participated in the experiment. Participants in the three groups wore eye tracker to make free throws, and analyzed the difference of visual attention among the three groups.Results: The expert group had fewer number of fixations on the front, bottom, top -right, and top-right areas of the basket than the general and novice groups. The expert group also had smaller saccadic amplitudes than the other two groups. In terms of fixation duration, the expert group had longer fixation duration on the front and top areas of the basket than the other two groups, while in the top-right and bottom-right areas, the expert group had shorter fixation durations. The pupil dilation of the expert group was larger than that of the other two groups.Conclusion: During the free throw process, the expert group had a clear attentional focus, concentrated fixation points, efficient information search, and precise processing. Profound basketball knowledge, proficient skills, and accumulated experience are the foundation of visual efficient search and precise processing during free throw attempts, and they are also the prerequisite for ensuring a high free throw shooting percentage.