Challenges to Cognitive Bases for an Especial Motor Skill at the Regulation Baseball Pitching Distance

Abstract

We tested expert baseball pitchers for evidence of especial skills at the regulation pitching distance. Seven college pitchers threw indoors to a target placed at 60.5 feet (18.44 m) and four closer and four further distances away. Accuracy at the regulation distance was significantly better than predicted by regression on the nonregulation distances (p < .02), indicating an especial skill effect emerged despite the absence of normal contextual cues. Self-efficacy data failed to support confidence as a mediating factor in especial skill effect. We concluded that cognitive theories fail to fully account for the patterns of observed data, and therefore theoretical explanations of the especial skills must address noncognitive aspects of motor learning and control.

Key words:

• motor control
• practice specificity
• schema theory
• self-efficacy

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeffery P. Simons

Appreciation is extended to Ward Rodriquez of the Statistics Department, California State University East Bay for helpful assistance with statistical consulting. Please address all correspondence concerning this article to Jeffery P. Simons, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, California State University–East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94542.