Contextual Interference Modulated by Pitcher Skill Level

The purpose of this study was to examine the contextual interference effect modulated by skill level in the throwing of different ball types by pitchers. College and high school baseball pitchers were asked to throw straight balls and breaking balls to the outside half and lower half of the home plate. Twenty pitchers were divided into 4 groups, determined by a combination of practice order (random or blocked) and skill level (high or low). A pretest comprised 10 trials (5 straight balls and 5 breaking balls in random order); 40 trials in a practice session were divided into 4 blocks, 10 trials each; and a posttest and retention test (after one day) involved 10 trials, similar to the pretest. The main finding of interest was an interaction effect of skill level with practice order in the retention test. For the low level pitchers there was no difference of practice order groups. However, for the high level pitchers, those in the random practice order group showed better control than the blocked practice order group. The result suggests that the contextual interference e?ect is modulated by skill level of pitchers.