Date of Award
Spring 2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS) in Psychology
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
C. Renee Renda
Abstract
Behavioral Skills Training (BST) is an intervention package that involves instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback. BST has been used to enhance athletic performance in several sports (e.g., soccer, field hockey, bowling). In football, two prior studies have shown improved football-specific skills following BST. Although effective, both studies implemented BST individually with each player, which can be time-consuming during football practices. Providing BST to groups of players may be an efficient alternative. Currently, no study has evaluated the effects of group BST in sports. The current research used a multiple baseline design to evaluate the effects of group BST on man coverage skills in six high school football players. Man coverage was assessed using an 11-step task analysis during baseline, group BST, and post-training phases. All participants showed an increase in the percentage of steps completed correctly following group BST. During the follow-up phases, all participants maintained improved performance compared to baseline. Performance assessments conducted during competitive games provided some support for generalization (i.e., improved performance observed during practice carried over to game settings). Social validity results showed positive ratings from the players and the coach. Limitations and implications for future research will be discussed. To conclude, Group BST is an effective, socially valid method for teaching man coverage skills to high school defensive backs.