Study shows:

Patting on the back increases scoring rate in basketball

Basketball players are more likely to hit the basket with free throws if they are touched beforehand.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Patting on the back increases the chances of scoring in basketball. This was demonstrated by researchers from the University of Basel in a study. As the Swiss scientists showed, female basketball players are more likely to hit the basket during free throws if their teammates have touched them beforehand. "Our results speak for the power of touch," the team wrote about the study in the journal "Psychology of Sport & Exercise".

The scientists examined 835 pairs of free throws in 60 women's games in the US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college basketball league. A player is awarded free throws in basketball if he or she is fouled while attempting a shot. In most cases, there are then two free throws, which the fouled player can convert into one point per shot. Many games are decided by such free throws.

Patting on the back or shaking hands
It was found that the probability of hitting the basket with a free throw increased if the players had previously been touched by their teammates, for example in the form of a pat on the back or a handshake. However, this effect was particularly noticeable after a failed first throw. "Support from teammates is therefore particularly helpful when the stress level is already high because the first of the two throws was missed," said study leader Christiane Büttner, summarizing the results in a press release from the University of Basel.

It cannot be ruled out that male athletes react differently to contact, the statement continued. However, women are better suited for such a study as they have more consistent free-throw rates than men. According to Büttner, it is quite conceivable that a pat on the back or handshake also helps to deal with stress and improve performance in other team situations.