Action Research Outline

In bringing in the Sense Arena Virtual Reality hockey trainer, Hat Trick Training Academy is embracing the blended learning aspect of training. HTT staff will introduce the Sense Arena to its students in hopes of increasing their overall game play and reaction time in ice hockey. While an overall skill gain is what HTT is hoping for, there are options within the Sense Arena computer program to target and monitor certain aspects of the players game.

Click the picture to see the plan to bring SenseArena to HTT. 

Research Question:

With the advancement of virtual reality in sports training, to what extent does the Sense Arena have the ability to target train for overall skill improvement, as well as read and reaction times, in the youth ice hockey player?

• The purpose of the study is to: Show a correlation between development of specific and overall skill development and improvement to the average hockey player by utilizing the SenseArena Virtual Reality training system.

• Both quantitive and qualitive research will be obtained.  This will help show the benefits in the amount of times utilizing SA and the development of the skills as well as the read and reaction time of the average ice hockey player. In theory the players skills and read and reaction time will improve.

• *Specific form of data will be collected from the SenseArena computer system that is calibrated with skills involved mainly in read and reaction time to specific game play sets. This system is programed with specific skill assessments and cognitive development around set plays and outcomes.

*information will be provided by SenseArena website and literature since HTT does not currently own or operate a SenseArena.

• Literature sources will include, but not limited to, independent research studies performed by Sense Arena and as well University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point. Other sources will be companies who use similar VR products for their training. These training products should be very similar to the type of learning on the SA, just in a different dynamic or skill other than ice hockey.

Since the Sense Arena is so new to the training world, data collection will be an ongoing process between HTT, Sense Arena and other training facilities using Sense Arena or other virtual reality systems. This ongoing collection of data will help to determine the benefits of the Sense Arena in the average and elite ice hockey player and goalie training.

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