Relationships between gaze behaviour and fencing performance of high-skilled fencing athletes: Perspectives from defensive and offensive phases

This study will explore the relationship between visual processing and fencing performance, focusing on various gaze behaviour indices in a dynamic and interactive sport. Visual processing, particularly the ability to gather and use visual information quickly and accurately, is critical for performance in high-speed sports. We hypothesise that visual behaviour, including the duration of the final fixation (Quiet Eye; QE), the number of fixations and the number of scanned locations, significantly impacts fencing performance during offensive and defensive actions. National-level sabre fencers will perform a ten-minute assault with eye-tracking technology measuring their gaze behaviour. Pilot data (N = 14) indicate that our proposed study is feasible, and our hypotheses appear plausible. Results from our pilot data indica that QE was significantly longer before successful touches compared to unsuccessful ones (t(13) = 2.80, p = .008, dz = 0.75). Additionally, the number of fixations and the number of scanned locations were higher during defensive actions than offensive actions (all ts(13) > 2.39, ps 0.64). This research will provide insights into the cognitive processes underlying sports performance in a realistic context and has implications for training strategies, emphasising the importance of various visual behaviour patterns in fencing.