To optimize speed and accuracy of motor behavior coaches prepare the athlete by teaching the type of movement that must be made and when it should be executed. Anticipating the movement time, in which a response should be performed is called ‘temporal orienting’, whereby efferent nerves carry impulses away from the central nervous system to effectors such as muscles that respond to the stimulus.

Temporal orienting is part of coaching. Temporally informative cues allow athletes to predict when an imminent event will occur.  A coach teaches certain signals and signs to the athlete that something will occur shortly.  These valid clues increase the athletes reaction time, how does this happen?

Temporal orienting or selectively preparing for the motor response recruits a region of the brain called the left intraparietal sulcus (IPS). The IPS principal function is visual attention. The IPS is involved in such things as directing eye movement and motility, such as reaching, grasping and the minds visuospatial working memory that is, your sense of ‘whereness’ and interpreting the intent of others. Co-activating the neuroimaging and neuromuscular portions of the brain makes for a quick athlete.

The cues a coach gives his athlete can reduce reaction time. The more exacting the mental imagery the better the reduction. When using an object like the Rogers Quick Snap Football, study game film and try to replicate the centers habits manipulating the ball before it is snapped. Replicate the angle of the ball and indicate exactly where on the ball you want the player to focus his attention. Make sure the athlete understands how important studying the football can change how he plays and quickly he moves. Get your intraparietal sulcus Strong.