The Effect of Quiet Eye Training on the Gaze Behavior and Performance of Players in Volleyball Service

Until now, many researches have shown the effect of quiet eye (QE) training on motor behaviors have been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of QE training on gaze behavior and performance improvement in volleyball service.

Eighteen male students of the University of Tehran with an age mean of 22±2 participated in this study and were randomly divided into two groups of QE and traditional training. This research was conducted in three stages: pre-test, post-test and retention test. At the beginning, a professional volleyball player was asked to perform a number of volleyball services, and the gaze points and their duration were obtained using eye-tracking glasses. In addition, he was filmed from a side view using a camera. In the next stage, at the pre-test, participants in both groups were told to send 10 simple services. At the same time, their gaze points were recorded using eye-tracking glasses. We also used the Russell Long service test (RLST) to evaluate the accuracy of the services. In the acquisition phase, in three sessions, the traditional training group practiced only the service, but the QE training group practiced QE training. In the post-test, their gaze points were recorded again using eye-tracking glasses, and the accuracy of their services was evaluated by RLST. 24 hours later, the same procedure was performed for the retention test.

The results showed that QE training group to traditional training increased the duration of the fixation and improved performance in volleyball service at the retention.

The results showed that QE training has a positive effect on improving the performance and duration of stabilization period of beginner players and improve their performance in volleyball serve.