Effect of Analogy Instructions with an Internal Focus on Learning a Complex Motor Skill

Abstract

This study examined the effects of an analogy in learning breaststroke swimming. Two groups of participants had 20 lessons on how to increase their stroke length. The participants in the experimental condition received an analogy with an internal focus of attention. Inter-limb coordination showed qualitative changes in this group: a greater increase in swimming efficiency (i.e., a coordination closer to anti-phase [−50° before learning and −125° after] and a 10% decrease in the time spent in-phase). The findings showed that an internal focus of attention induced by analogy could be beneficial in improving the quality of inter-limb swimming coordination.