Peter J. Fadde

The Relationship Between Visual Anticipation and Baseball Batting Game Statistics

Visual anticipation of pitch type in single-A minor league baseball batters (N = 34) was measured using video-based temporal occlusion and correlated with real-world batting statistics. Anticipation of overall pitch type at front-foot impact was significantly correlated with base-on-balls percentage (r =.35), whereas anticipation of fastball/change-up combination at ball release was significantly correlated with base-on-balls percentage (r =.37) and on-base percentage (r =.37). Findings indicate that anticipation is likely one component of baseball batting performance. This helps consolidate a recent expert anticipation model of striking sports. Application of occlusion methodology to player develop programs is discussed.

A SNAPSHOT OF TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION TRAINING IN TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Background and purpose . There is not a consensus on how teacher candi- dates in teacher training programs are prepared to teach with technology. While the National Association of State Boards of Education (2012) held that the training of teachers “too often has not kept pace with advances in technology or new ways of learning” and that educators were not being prepared to use technology effectively in classroom, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (2013) indi- cated that almost all of the teacher candidates are well prepared to integrate techno- logy into their instruction. Aim and method. This study took a snapshot of 83 teacher training programs in two states: Illinois and Nebraska to identify how their teacher training programs prepared their candidates to teach with technology.

Adaptability of expert visual anticipation in baseball batting

ABSTRACT By manipulating stimulus variation in terms of opponent pitcher actions, this study investigated the capability of expert (n = 30) and near-expert (n = 95) professional baseball batters to adapt anticipation skill when using the video simulation temporal occlusion paradigm. Participants watched in-game footage of two pitchers, one after the other, that was temporally occluded at ball release and various points during ball flight. They were required to make a written prediction of pitch types and locations. Per cent accuracy was calculated for pitch type, for pitch location, and for type and location combined. Results indicated that experts and near-experts could adapt their anticipation to predict above guessing level across both pitchers, but adaptation to the left-handed pitcher was poorer than the right-handed pitcher. Small-to-moderate effect sizes were found in terms of superior adaptation by experts over near-experts at the ball release and early ball flight occlusion conditions. The findings of this study extend theoretical and applied knowledge of expertise in striking sports. Practical application of the instruments and findings are discussed in terms of applied researchers, practitioners and high-performance staff in professional sporting organisations.