On Sport Science, they researched what distracts free-throw shooters in basketball games. Random movements in crowds are easily blocked out by tunnel vision. However, when studying a few Dallas Maverick games, it was noted that FT percentage dropped 8 percentage points when crowed movements were coordinated. Sport Science also tested out the theory that noise may be more distracting. They stated that light travels 900,000 times faster than sound, but the human brain processes sound 50 times faster than vision. Studies show that consistent noise of over 85 db can cause fatigue, which can lead to loss of focus. Many college basketball arenas have measured at around 110 db, the equivalent of standing beneath a jet engine.
I found this very interesting, because I have never seen anything scientific about distraction before. I also never realized that loud noise can cause fatigue; I thought it would just make your ears hurt. I've always been intrigued by the mental approach to sports as well. Toward the end of a game, you're usually already tired and your mental focus is probably weakend as well. If you are on the road in a hostile, deafening environment, then making a game-winning free throw will be even tougher. I thought it was cool when they talked about when a crowd coordinates a side-to-side movement, the shooter will sometimes go with the direction and miss. This was a unique perspective on free throw shooting.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6180740
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