| Overhand throwing is a popular motor activity that has been extensively studied by exercise scientists, physicians, sociologists and psychologists. A large literature has been devoted to studying the difference between males and females in throwing performance, consistently demonstrating that males throw with a greater level of accuracy and velocity across all ages. One reason for this difference is that females have a larger variation in their throwing performance than do males. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine this variation in female throwing performance.; This study examined 160 females from a diverse background in overhand throwing velocity and accuracy. In addition, each of the participants were measured in a variety of sociological, motor, cognitive, and anthropometric measures; these variables were compared to the two measures of throwing performance using correlational analysis. Five variables were associated with both throwing accuracy and throwing velocity (age, throwing experience, experience in activities similar to throwing, and underhand throwing accuracy). In addition, three variables were correlated with throwing velocity but not accuracy (birth country, Viewfinding task, and overall body size). There were no variables that were correlated with accuracy but not velocity.; In addition to the bivariate analyses, several different multivariate models were constructed to predict throwing velocity and throwing accuracy. In these multivariate models, two consistent themes emerged. First, the single best predictor of overhand throwing velocity was previous throwing experience. Second, while previous throwing experience did to some extent predict throwing accuracy, a much better predictor was underhand throwing accuracy. Thus, previous throwing experience was a better predictor of throwing velocity than accuracy. These results have numerous implications in the fields of physical education and sports medicine. |
