Asymmetry in personal space and distance regulation during one-on-one situations in ball sports

Subtle differences in interpersonal distance often determine performance success or failure in sports. While these distances are perceived differently depending on the game situation and relationship with the opposing player, little is known about how athletes perceive them. In this study, we first investigated whether the same distance is perceived differently using the psychological concept of personal space. We further examined how these differing perceptions affect distance regulation in ball games such as soccer. In ball games, personal space is defined as whether they felt "the ball would be taken away" during offense, or "they would be passed" during defense. In Experiment 1, participants rated how uncomfortable they felt facing an opponent during offensive and defensive situations at 10 points separated by 50-cm intervals along a 5-m line. In offensive situations, being approached by an opponent increases discomfort, because it increases the risk of losing the ball. Conversely, in defensive situations, shorter interpersonal distances reduce discomfort, as they increase the chance of taking the ball. Experiment 2 examined the initial distance of discomfort when facing an opponent with a higher skill level. On perceiving the threat of better-skilled opponents, participants kept a greater distance during offense whilst keeping shorter distance during the defense to overcome discomfort. Taken together, these findings reveal offense-defense asymmetry in distance perception and regulation. This study provides the first quantitative evidence that personal space in sports is context-dependent and strategically modulated. Our findings may be helpful for more concrete and appropriate coaching regarding distance perceptions in educational and sporting contexts.