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Scanning is associated with better performance in professional ice hockey
August Berg1, Jerk Malmsten1, John Lind2
1Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Journal of Sports Sciences
|November 28, 2024
Summary
Scanning before receiving a pass improves action success in ice hockey. This visual exploratory behavior enhances performance for all players, regardless of gender or position, highlighting its importance in training.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Motor Control
- Human Movement Analysis
Background:
- Active environmental exploration is crucial for action selection in team sports.
- Limited research exists on visual exploratory behavior and action success in ice hockey.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between scanning before pass reception and the success of subsequent actions in professional ice hockey players.
- To determine if gender or player position influences this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 2,545 actions from 22 professional ice hockey matches (Swedish Hockey League and SDHL).
- Observation of visual exploratory behavior (scanning) prior to pass reception.
- Statistical analysis to assess the probability of successful outcomes.
Main Results:
- Scanning before receiving a pass significantly increased the probability of a successful subsequent action (β = 0.12, 95% CI [0.07, 0.17]).
- The positive relationship between scanning and action success was consistent across genders and playing positions.
Conclusions:
- Visual scanning prior to receiving the puck is a key behavior for improving action success in ice hockey.
- Player education and targeted training methods should emphasize developing scanning skills.
- These findings support the integration of visual training into ice hockey coaching strategies.
