SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference. Volume VII, May 22 th -23 th , 2020. 84-94 © Rēzeknes Tehnoloģiju akadēmija, 2020 http://dx.doi.org/10.17770/sie2020vol7.4937 DEVELOPING AND MEASURING ATTENTION IN BOXERS: MIXED COACHES’ EXPERTISE AND REACTION TIME MEASURES Aleksandrs Kolesovs University of Latvia, Latvia Deniss Salkovs Boxing Club “Latvijas Cimdi”, Latvia Aleksejs Blinovs Freelance, Latvia Abstract. This study explored the problem of attention and its development in young boxers. A rapidly changing situation and a high level of traumatization in boxing are demanding the development of athletes’ attention. Focusing on technical or motivational training is among the reasons for underestimating the development of attentional skills. Study 1 involved seven expert coaches (males, mean age 45.4, mean working experience 20.3 years). The results revealed a relatively high assessment of the psychological component of training and a low agreement on the development of attentional skills. Coaches indicated that testing is the best measurement of attention. Study 2 focused on the measurement of reaction time (RT) in young boxers. Simple and complex RT of nine athletes, aged 12 to 15 (33% females), were assessed before and after the 15 minutes long warm-up. The results demonstrated no significant change in boxers' simple RT and a decrease (about 30 ms) in complex RT after the warm-up. The feedback was provided for athletes and their coaches. A contrast appeared between coaches’ view of well-known exercises for developing attention and their question “Could you suggest some exercise?” Simultaneously, coaches suggested a more specific RT measurement, including the full time of a punch. Keywords: attention, boxing, coaches’ expertise, reaction time. Introduction Boxing is among sports requiring athletes’ attention during their adaptation to rapidly changing situations (Wang, 2016). A loss of focused attention could result in brain injury with cumulative negative effects (Maroon, Winkelman, Bost, Amos, Mathyssek, & Miele, 2015; McKee et al., 2013; Rabadi & Jordan, 2001). Traumatization of young athletes (e.g., Moser, Schatz, & Jordan, 2005) raised recommendations to participate in alternative sports or to oppose boxing as a sport for any child or adolescent (Purcell & LeBlanc, 2012). It indicates that the development of attentional skills in boxers seems a crucial task for more effective