The Effect of Competitive Training on Some Physical Abilities and the Accuracy and Speed of Thrusting with the Épée among Fencing Athletes

Abstract

Visual orientation is considered one of the fundamental sensory systems that plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of skill performance, particularly in executing precise skills such as shooting in football, which represents the decisive final stage in the team's collective performance. Shooting accuracy is a direct indicator of the effectiveness of both individual and team performance during the match.The research problem arises from field observations indicating a noticeable lack of integration of perceptual skills — including visual orientation — in players' training programs. This raises questions about the extent to which this variable contributes to improving shooting accuracy.Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the contribution rate of visual orientation to shooting accuracy among players in the Iraqi Premier League. To achieve this, the researcher designed a specific test to assess visual orientation and selected a test to measure shooting accuracy under pressure.The results indicated that rightward visual orientation is a significant and influential perceptual indicator, as it contributed substantially to improving shooting accuracy, especially among players who predominantly use their right foot during offensive actions.Based on these findings, the researcher recommends designing specialized training units focusing on enhancing effective visual orientations (right, left, and downward) during the execution of shooting skills. These units should employ drills that simulate realistic offensive match scenarios to strengthen the perceptual aspects that support efficient skill performance.