Effect of Pre-Game Music on Reaction Time and Accuracy of Dodgeball Players

Dodgeball is a game with a simple objective, to eliminate all opponents while preventing yourself from being eliminated. Unbeknownst to many, Malaysia is one of the best nations when it comes to dodgeball, ranking first and second globally for the men’s and women’s teams. One of the reasons for these excellent achievements may be attributed to the outstanding reaction time of the Malaysian players. In the context of dodgeball, reaction time is needed on multiple occasions, including the opening rush, where players run to retrieve the ball, when dodging an opponent’s throw and to anticipate the opportunities to catch the opponents off guard. Another reason for the Malaysian dodgeball team's success is their accurate defense through blocking, using the ball to block the opponent's shot. The more accurate the tank, the higher the chance of survival. With that in mind, many teams and athletes look to improve their blocking reaction time and accuracy, which may come in the form of pre-game preparation. One of the athletes' most common pre-game preparation techniques is listening to music, which can be used for mental warm-ups and stress management. The benefits of music on performance are dependent on the individuality of both the subject’s preference in genre and response to different tempo, pitch, and loudness from these different genres, whereby the athlete may feel a reduced perceived effort of the task, resulting in improved reaction time and accuracy.

Liew Hung Yang, a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Exercise Science student is working on a research project under the guidance of Ms. Cynthia Anne Cornelius from the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FOAS). The title of their research project is ‘Effect of Pre-Game Music on Reaction Time and Accuracy of Dodgeball Players’. This study aimed to examine the effect of immediate pre-event preferred music genres on the blocking reaction time and accuracy, arousal, and heart rate change of elite Malaysian dodgeball players.

 In this study, participants indicated a preference for specific music genres, with 44% favoring pop music, 32% choosing hip hop, and 24% selecting electronic dance music for pre-event sports preparation. The research revealed significant improvements in both reaction time and accuracy among the participants after listening to their preferred music. Significant improvements in reaction time and accuracy were recorded. Furthermore, participants experienced a notable increase in heart rate. There was no significant difference in any of the domains of the arousal questionnaire. The improvements in reaction time and blocking accuracy were attributed to factors such as participants' existing music listening habits, improved cognitive processing speeds with audio feedback, and selective attention. The study also noted that preferred music may induce more noticeable heart rate variability due to the familiarity and personal fondness for the chosen music. Similar results were observed in other studies using the Multidimensional Mood State Questionnaire, indicating that Likert scales might not accurately reflect slight arousal variations, especially during short durations. The study suggested that the brevity of the music intervention could be a factor in this discrepancy. In conclusion, the research found that listening to preferred music before a dodgeball game positively impacted elite Malaysian dodgeball players, improving their blocking reaction time and accuracy. Future research could explore how manipulating musical elements like tempo, pitch, and composition affects reaction time and accuracy, moving beyond music genre as the primary variable of interest.