www.pelagiaresearchlibrary.com t Available online a Pelagia Research Library European Journal of Experimental Biology, 2013, 3(1):508-512 ISSN: 2248 –9215 CODEN (USA): EJEBAU 508 Pelagia Research Library Comparing the effects of self and expert models observation on performance and learning of futsal side foot pass Neda Ghobadi 1 , Afkham Daneshfar 2 and Masoumeh Shojaei 2 1 Islamic Azad University, Branch Karaj, Ministry of Education, Iran 2 School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Vanak St., Tehran, Iran _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of self and expert models observation on performance and learning of futsal side foot pass. Therefore, 36 non-athlete female students (mean age=21±2.5 yr.) were selected and assigned randomly to the expert model, self-observation, and control (without model) groups. After instruction, participants performed pretest and practiced the skill after receiving the related models (videotape of their last session or an expert player) for 4 sessions. The control group practiced without modeling. In the last session, acquisition test and after a week, retention (in the same condition) and transfer tests (with spectators) were performed without modeling. Movement pattern was measured by a researcher-made scale. The results of 3*4 ANOVA with repeated measures of test factor indicated that acquisition and transfer of expert model group was better than others (p<.05) and modeling had not the significant effect on movement pattern of futsal side foot pass skill in retention test (p>.05). According to the results, futsal instructors have to demonstrate an expert model to teach movement patterns of simple skills in early stages of learning. Key words: futsal pass, modeling, observational learning _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Similar to soccer, futsal is considered as an outstanding sport among people today. In this decade, the women’s futsal has become one of the most attractive women’s sports. As a result, the motor learning researchers and practitioners have focused on the effective methods of teaching the futsal skills. Demonstration or modeling is a method commonly used by the instructors and practitioners to teach sport skills. Modeling facilitates performance and learning of the skills and helps in producing movement patterns during the initial stages of learning in particular [1,2]. The research evidence indicates that the observers understand some phenomena related to the coordination pattern of the skill through observation and the most useful effect of performance takes place when learning of the new coordination pattern is required [3]. The efforts to explain how modeling affects on learning have been resulted in presenting several theories. For instance, according to the Adam’s closed loop theory [4], a perceptual trace will be developed as a reference for comparison with feedback and error detection after observing the pattern. Based on the Bandura’s cognitive mediation theory [5], modeling can develop a cognitive representation as a reference which assists the observer in producing movements. According to the Schmidt’s schema theory [6], the gathered data through observation of the pattern are memorized in the recall and recognition memory and are used during performance of the movement. The advocates of the direct visual perception perspective [7] believe that the visual system processes the information automatically and such information will be changed into actions without the requirement of a cognitive mediator.