RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SPEED OF SIMPLE AND COMPLEX RESPONSES TO VISUAL STIMULI, COMPARING NATIONAL TEAM PLAYERS IN FENCING AND SQUASH

Abstract

Background. The speed of response is a vital skill crucial to any sport, although its significance varies depending on the specific technical and tactical demands of each sport. Its importance is particularly clear in sports characterized by rapid and dynamic performance, such as fencing, where players must be ready for unexpected moves. Objectives. The objectives are to examine the relationship between simple and complex response speeds to visual stimuli within each team and to compare players from the national squash and fencing teams. Method. A descriptive survey approach was utilized, with a purposive sample of ten players from each national team. Motor response speed was measured using the Batak Micro device, and data were analyzed statistically using SPSS. Results. There is no correlation between simple and complex response speeds to visual stimuli among national fencing players, but there is a correlation among national squash players. Significant statistical differences favoring fencing players were observed in simple response speed to visual stimuli, while no significant differences existed in complex response speed between the two teams. Conclusion. Fencers possess faster simple response speeds due to sport-specific requirements, emphasizing that training should include diverse stimuli tailored to the nature of the specialized sport.