Finalreactionball.docx

A Study On The Effectiveness Of Reaction Ball Training Hand-Eye Coordination And Reaction Time.

For Novice Cricket Player To Improve

B.Kannabiran, V.S.T.Saikumar, S.Gerald Edwin Raj, G.Sathya Bharathy

INTRODUCTION Cricket has been an established team sport for hundreds of years and is one of the most popular sports in the world. It originated in England and is today very popular in countries such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies and South Africa. It is played by two teams on a pitch and involves batting, fielding and bowling. There are 11 players a side and a game can last anywhere from one day to 5 days. Cricket is a game that would appear to require little muscular strength, agility and hand-eye coordination. In fact, cricket is misleadingly difficult and it also presents major physical training challenges for the athlete, particularly at an elite level. For a cricketer, the most overlooked part is the aspect of good fielding. With good fielding ability & skills, one can save many runs and hold on to those catches that makes a great difference in the game of cricket. Moreover, fielding is not like batting or bowling. Player with fielding skills even when they less contribute from their batting/ bowling they make-up the loss by fielding. Keeping your eyes on the ball right through the game. Improving your fitness, stamina level and hand-eye coordination through exercise and proper training. Practicing catches & improving your ball throwing technique. Practicing to hit the stumps from different areas of the field. Certainly your fielding will only improve through practice. Fielding in cricket requires a range of different skills such a Close catchers require the ability to take quick reaction catches with a high degree of consistency. This can require considerable efforts of concentration on, as a catcher may only be required to take one catch in an entire game, but his success in taking that catch may have a considerable effect on the outcome of the match. Infielders field between 20 to 40 yards away from the batsman. The ball will often be hit at them extremely hard, and they require excellent athleticism as well as courage in stopping it from passing them. Infield catches range from simple, slow moving chances to hard hit balls that require a spectacular diving catch. Finally, infielders are the main source of run outs in a game of cricket, and their ability to get to the ball quickly, throw it straight and hard and make a direct hit on the stumps is an important skill, for this ability a player must possess good agility and hand - eye coordination, Many cricketers are particularly adopt in one fielding position and will usually be found there. Slips and bat pad require fast reactions, an ability to anticipate the trajectory of the ball as soon as it takes the edge, and intense concentration They should see relatively little fielding action with plenty of time to react, allowing them to rest between over’s. Players noted for their agility, acceleration, ground diving and throwing accuracy will often field in the infield positions such as point, cover and mid - wicket. METHODS The study was a pilot quasi-experimental study involving pre- and post-test design. Ten recreational cricketers were randomly selected by random sampling technique. All ten of them were trained with reaction ball drills followed by warm up activities for one session per day for a period of 1 month.

The study was conducted in RVS cricket academy RVS College campus cricket ground, Tamil Nadu, India. Male players aged between 18- 22 years & Dominant hand either right hand or left hand. Players wearing contact lenses or power glasses, any recent trauma or injury, hypomobility of joints, any infections , or under any medications , low back pain and professional cricket players were excluded from participating in the study. Reaction time and hand-eye coordination were measured before and after reaction ball training. first the Pre-test for Reaction Time and Hand-Eye Coordination on all ten subjects, using Ruler Drop Test and Alternate Hand Wall Toss Test followed by Training with Reaction Ball after proper warm up exercises. Finally Post-test for dependant variables for all ten subjects, using Ruler Drop Test and Alternate Hand Wall Toss Test. Steps of procedure Warm-up exercises: The players are trained with warm-up exercises so that there won’t be any discomfort during the training session. The main aim of the warm-up exercises is to elongate and lengthen the muscles. The warm-up exercises also helps the players to rule out the asymmetries in the body and makes the muscles in both sides equal. Mainly the warm-up exercises reinforces the flexibility of the body to optimize the during training session. Reaction ball drills: At first the player is explained about the training with reaction ball, before going for reaction ball drills the player is trained with the reaction ball by simple throw and catch and toss and catch. This will help the player to understand how the ball bounces in different directions and how to react to it. During the beginning the players found difficulty in reacting to ball, by that time the players were taught touching the ball is enough. Later the players were enjoying the training session and the players were quick enough to catch the ball. As a progression smaller reaction ball is introduced to the player this will be much more difficult for the players. The subjects were trained specifically with two drills namely burning ball drill & side step drill. Procedure Burning Ball: Burning Ball involves three different levels of exercises which increase in difficulty. Throughout this exercise, maintain feet at shoulder width with knees slightly bent. This stance provides good balance and enables trainee to “spring” into the necessary step to catch the ball. The player will Catch the ball in one to two bounces without chasing it. Starting to Drop the ball from knee height, waist height and chest high and catch. The Side Step: This exercise involves quick movement using side-to-side steps. The player has to catch ball with a minimal amount of steps. Standing approximately 5 feet away from the wall, facing the wall & Bounce the ball off the wall and catch it using one or both hand then Slide toward the ball using side-toside steps but Do not chase the ball.

DATA ANALYSIS & RESULTS The number of subjects for the study was 10 (n=10). The age group of subjects were 18-22 years males and were assigned in one single group. The subjects were trained for reaction ball drills followed by warm up exercises. The subjects trained with one session per day like that of 2 months. Before starting of the training session the pre-test was conducted for reaction time and hand-eye coordination using ruler drop test and alternate hand wall toss test. Followed by the training program post-test was conducted for reaction time and hand-eye coordination using the same tests. The readings for pre-test and post-test values of ruler drop test and alternate hand wall toss test is given in table 1 and table 2 respectively. The ‘t’ value ruler drop test=8.201 , and for alternate hand wall toss test=16.51,both the test shows significant ‘t’ value signifying that Reaction Ball training for novice cricket player will improve reaction time and hand-eye coordination TABLE 1 : Shows the mean value, mean difference and ‘t’ value between pre- test and posttest in players for Ruler Drop Test.

S. N O

Variables

Important

Reaction Time

Mean

1

Pre- test

2

Post - test

Standard deviation Paired t value

Mean difference

15

2.22

0.81

8.201

12.7

In paired ‘t’ test, the calculated ‘t’ value is 8.201;‘t’ value is 3.250 at 0.005 level above values shows that there is significant improvement in reaction time among the pre-test and the post-test value. TABLE 2: - Shows the mean value, mean difference and ‘t’ value between pre- test and post-test of in players for Alternate Hand Wall Toss Test.

S. N O

Variables

Important

Reaction Time

Mean

1

Pre- test

28.6

2

Post - test

35.3

Standard deviation Paired t value

Mean difference

6.7

1.264

16.51

In paired ‘t’ test, the calculated ‘t’ value is 16.51; ‘t’ value is 3.250 at 0.005 level above values shows that there is significant improvement in hand-eye coordination among the pre-test and the post-test value.

Figure1 : Shows pre-test and post-test mean value in Ruler Drop Test.

RULER DROP TEST 20 15

PRE-TEST MEAN

10 15

5

POST-TEST MEAN

12.7

MEAN DIFFERENCE 2.22

0 PRE-TEST MEAN

POST-TEST MEAN MEAN DIFFERENCE

Figure 2:Shows pre-test and post-test mean value of Alternate Hand Wall Toss Test

ALTERNATE HAND WALL TOSS 40 30

PRE-TEST MEAN

20 28.6

10

35.5

POST-TEST MEAN 6.7

0 PRE-TEST MEAN

MEAN DIFFERENCE

POST-TEST MEAN MEAN DIFFERENCE

DISCUSSION In the game of cricket agility and quickness plays an important role rather than fitness, to perform well in the field it is essential to have these qualities for a player. The study shows that reaction ball training will improve reaction time and hand-eye coordination for novice cricket players, thereby improves the fielding skills and agility of a player. The number of subjects for the study was 10 (n=10). The subjects were trained for reaction ball drills followed by warm up exercises. The subjects were trained for one session per day for a period of 1 month. During the initial period of training the players found difficulty in reacting to the ball after certain training showed improvement and were able catch the ball easily. Mark verstegan (2009) proved that reaction ball training will improve a players reaction time, hand-eye coordination, agility and quickness. When a player is good in these aspects the fielding skills and batting skills, it is essential to possess the ability to react quickly to a ball. CONCLUSION Reaction ball training & drills with burning ball & side step are effective in improving the hand eye coordination & reaction time among non-regular cricket players

REFERENCES                        

Susan O Sullivan, Physical Rehabilitation. Carolyn Kishner, Therapeutic Exercises. Davis B, Physical Education and Study of Sports. Beashel P & Taylor J, Advanced Studies In Physical Education and Sports. Beashel P & Taylor J, The World of Sport Examined. Bartlett, RM. (2003). The science and medicine of cricket: an overview and update. Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol.21, pp. 733-752. Burnett, AF; Khangure, MS.; Elliott, BC; Foster, DH; Marshall, RN. & Hardcastle, PH. (1996). Thoracolumbar disc degeneration in young fast bowlers in cricket: a follow-up study. Clinical Biomechanics, Vol. 11, No., pp 305-310, ISSN 0268-033 Christie, CJ. & King, GA. (2008). Heart rate and perceived strain during batting in a warm and cool environment. International Journal of Fitness, Vol.4, No., pp 33- 38. Christie, CJ; Pote, L. & Sheppard, B. (2011a). Changes in physiological and perceptual responses over time during a simulated high scoring batting work bout. Proceedings of the 4th World Congress on Science and Medicine in Cricket, pp. 83, Chandigarh, India, 31 March–01 April, 2011 Fletcher (1955). Calories and cricket. Lancet Vol.1, pp 1165-1166, ISSN 0104-6736 Gore, CJ; Bourdon, PC; Woolford, SM. & Pederson, DG. (1993). Involuntary dehydration during cricket. International Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol.14, pp 387-395 ISSN 0172-4622 Hurion, PD.; Dyson, R. & Hale, T. (2000). Simultaneous measurement of back and front foot ground reaction forces during the same delivery stried of the fast-medium bowler. Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol.18, pp 993-997, Joydeep M Banerjee and John J McPhee / Procedia Engineering 34 ( 2012 ) 676 – 681 Simulation of the three-dimensional motion of a cricket ball using a volumetric contact model James A. Scobie et al. / Procedia Engineering 72 ( 2014 ) 738 – 743 Flow visualisation experiments on sports balls K.Alparslan Erman et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 93 ( 2013 ) 1800 – 1804 The effect of one and two-handed backhand strokes on hand-eye coordination in tennis King, GA.; Christie, CJ. & Todd, AI. (2001). Effect of protective gear on skin temperature responses and sweat loss during cricket batting activity. The South African Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol.9, No.2, pp 30-35, Mihaela Chraif et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 128 ( 2014 ) 251 – 255 Differences in multiple response stimuli regarding two eyes versus one eye vision in a executive motor task a pilot study Noakes, TD. & Durandt, JJ. (2000). Physiological requirements of cricket. Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol.18, pp 919-929. Orchard, J.; James, T. & Portus, M. (2006). Injuries to elite male cricketers in Australia over a ten year period. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol.9, pp 459-467. Petersen, CJ; Pyne, D.; Dawson, B.; Portus, M. & Kellett, A. (2010). Movement patterns in cricket vary by both position and game format. Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol.28, No.1, pp 45- 152. www.coreperformance.com. www.brainomac.com. www.aliciaweber.com. www.strengthspeedagility.com.