Reaction Time
Reaction time is the interval time between the presentation of a stimulus and the initiation of the muscular response to that stimulus. A primary factor affecting a response is the number of possible stimuli, each requiring their own response, that are presented.
If there is only one possible response (simple reaction time) it will only take a short time to react. If there are several possible responses (choice reaction time) then it will take longer to determine which response to carry out.
Hick discovered that the reaction time increases proportionally to the number of possible responses until a point at which the response time remains constant despite the increases in possible responses (Hick's Law).
Improving Reaction Speed
Reaction Time
Reaction time itself is an inherent ability, but overall response time can be improved by practice. Coach and athletes need to analyse the type of skill and the requirements of their sport and decide where overall response gains can be made. Consider the following:
- Detecting the cue - in a sprint start, focusing on the starter's voice and the sound of the gun and separating this from background crowd noise and negative thoughts
- Detecting relevant cues - a goalkeeper learning to analyse body language at penalties
- Decision making - working on set pieces and game situations
- Change in attention focus - being able to switch quickly from concentration on the opponent to concentration on the field of play in invasion games
- Controlling anxiety - which slows reaction times by adding conflicting information
- Creating optimum levels of motivation - 'psyching up'
- Warm up - to ensure the sense organs and nervous system are ready to transmit information and the muscles to act upon it
Anticipation
Anticipation is a strategy used by athletes to reduce the time they take to respond to a stimulus e.g. the tennis player who anticipates the type of serve the opponent will use (spatial or event anticipation). In this case, the player has learnt to detect certain cues early in the serving sequence that predicts the potential type of serve. This means the player can start to position himself or herself for the return earlier in the sequence than usual and thus give themselves more time to play the shot when the ball arrives. Obviously, there are dangers for the tennis player in anticipating in this way but the advantages of getting it right are great.
Factors influencing response time
Response time is the sum of reaction time plus movement time. Factors that may influence the performer's response are:
Gender and age (see figure opposite) - Stage of learning
- Psychological state
- Level of fitness
- Number of possible responses
- Time available
- Intensity of the stimuli
- Anticipation
- Experience
- Health
- Body Temperature - colder the slower
- Personality - extroverts react quicker
- State of alertness
- Length of neural pathways
Reaction Speed Drills
The objective of reaction speed drills is to improve your reaction time to a stimulus. The drills can include the control of an object (e.g. football or hockey puck). The cue for the reaction to take place can be visual (movement of an object) or a specific command (voice) or sound (starter's gun). The cue should be appropriate to your event or sport - starter's gun for a sprinter.The following are examples of reaction speed drills to an external stimulus.
| Applicable to any event or sport where pure speed over the ground is important | |
| Starting position | Lying on the ground on their back or front |
| Command | Voice or sound |
| Action | To get up and sprint 20 metre to 30 metre to a designated point |
| Notes | The designated point could be the coach who moves from point to point so that the athlete only has the sound of the command to initially determine where the coach is positioned |
| For sports where a ball is to be controlled by the athlete | |
| Starting position | Easy running controlling the ball |
| Command | Voice command of left, right, back or forward |
| Action | To sprint in the direction of the command for a designated distance, whilst controlling the ball, and then return to easy running |
| Notes | Drill can be repeated 3 or 4 times bringing the athlete back to the starting point to pass the ball to the next athlete. |
| For sprinters to improve their reaction to the starting gun | |
| Starting position | Standing tall and relaxed |
| Command | Blow on a whistle or clap of the hands - given from behind the athlete |
| Action | The following should all happen together:
|
| Notes | It is assumed that the right foot is placed in the rear block of the starting blocks on a sprint start - if it is the left foot then change the leg action above |
| For sports where a ball is involved | |
| Starting position | Use any static position - standing, sitting or lying down |
| Command | Coach standing in front drops a ball from shoulder height |
| Action | To sprint and catch the ball before its second bounce |
| Notes | Need to adjust where the coach stands to make the exercise most effective |
Associated Pages
The following Sports Coach pages should be read in conjunction with this page:
Associated Books
The following books provide more information related to this topic:
- Sports Speed, G. Dintiman et al., ISBN 0 88011 607 2
- Speed, T. McNab, ISBN 0 948615 23 0
- Advanced Studies in Physical Education and Sport, P Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 4482345
- Physical Education and the Study of Sport, B. Davis et al., ISBN 0 7234 31752
- Essentials of Exercise Physiology, W.D. McArdle et al., ISBN 0 683 30507 7
- Physical Education and Sport Studies, D. Roscoe et al., ISBN 1 901424 20 0
- The World of Sport Examined, P. Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 438719 9
- Advanced PE for Edexcel, F. Galligan et al., ISBN 0 435 50643 9
- Examining Physical Education, K. Bizley, ISBN 0 435 50660 9
- Sport and PE, K Wesson et al., ISBN 0 340 683821
- PE for you, J. Honeybourne, ISBN 0 7487 3277 2