Methodology: Subjects for the study comprised 30 male athletes from different sports (table tennis, tennis and badminton) from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi aged between 13 to 21 years and their mean experience was 2.24 years. The tests conducted were Reaction test (RT), Peripheral Perception test (PP) and Time/Movement Anticipation (ZBA) test in the Vienna Test System sport (Schufired).

Results: It was found that the best developed ability in participants was reaction time, while the other abilities showed average development. Participants were able to develop their response abilities to very high levels by means of practice. A correlation coefficient of r=0.61 was found between motor time and tracking deviation, and between time anticipation and the number of correct responses to stimuli appearing in the left (r=0.90) and right (r=0.84) field of vision. Athletes who achieved better results in time anticipation omitted fewer visual stimuli (r=0.71) in the peripheral field of vision. Significant correlations were found between movement anticipation and reaction time to stimuli in the central field of vision (r=0.54).

Conclusions: Perception abilities have a significant effect on time anticipation. The range of one’s field of vision does not determine the reaction time to a visual stimulus. Perception efficiency and divided attention in conjunction with time/movement anticipation create a complex of specific psychomotor skills that is indispensable for achieving success in racquet sports.