| The purpose of this study is to provide evidence to the sports community that the use of artificial intelligence and a Web-based training system can modify the behavior of players and improve psychomotor skills. The study seeks to investigate the effects of an intelligent Web-based training system on three psychomotor skills areas for football players ranging in ages 9-11 years of age. The research study used an A-B-A-B single-case between-subjects design with two treatments that integrated a botmaster (the researcher) to train a Chatbot to respond to questions pertaining to the cognitive and affective domains. The 22 participants were evaluated on their ability to block, tackle, and catch to determine psychomotor characteristics, confidence and cognitive skill levels. Data analysis were conducted through treatment inspection using visual analysis of data points across behaviors and implementation of the experimental criterion, standard deviation, and the degrees of freedom methods evaluated treatment effects. Both groups were compared based on blocking, tackling, catching, cognitive skill, and confidence level dependent variables by using eight t tests. Results from the study indicated that there were positive significant differences between blocking, tackling and catching skill levels of players receiving both behavioral Web-based instructional treatments and coaching instruction than those only getting coaching instruction. Additionally, two out of the eight t tests indicated that no significant differences were present between groups. The analysis of the mean scores for the experimental group resulted in a positive improvement in cognitive skills and the stabilization of confidence levels between sessions. The results of this study illustrate the need for intelligent Web-based training tools for sports programs. The study may also assist coaches with incorporating new training tools to teach psychomotor skills and shed light to achieving a greater understanding of players' confidence and its effect on skill development. |
