Motor Behavior

The effect of double practice on table tennis forehand learning accuracy: emphasis on the mediating role of sleep quality and quantity

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

nasrin abbasi 1
Shahzad Tahmasebi Boroujeni 2
Mehdi Shahbazi 3
Elahe Arabameri 3

1 Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences in Sport, Alborz Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences in Sport, Faculty .of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22089/mbj.2025.17000.2171
Abstract
Aim: Several factors are considered crucial in the formation of motor memory and learning, including the amount of practice and the role of sleep in memory consolidation. However, it is unclear whether the quantity and quality of sleep before and after training and double training can affect performance. Accordingly, the present study aims to investigate the effects of intensified training on forehand serve accuracy in table tennis learning, with an emphasis on the mediating role of sleep quality and quantity before and after training.
Methods: The statistical population consisted of 200 students aged 13 to 15 years, from which 60 volunteers were randomly assigned to one of two groups: regular or double practice. In the first session, the regular and intensified groups performed 100 and 200 trials, respectively, followed by 30 trials each in a second session two days later. Accuracy and retention indices were calculated based on forehand serve scores. Sleep parameters were measured using a Xiaomi wristband twice: two days before and after training sessions.
Results: One-way ANCOVA results showed that the intensified training group had a higher learning index than that of the regular training group (p=0.017). No significant differences were observed in retention and relearning indices (p≥0.05). Additionally, no significant correlations were found between sleep parameters and learning, retention, or relearning indices (p≥0.05).
Conclusion: It is concluded that double practice resulted in improved performance on the training day, while sleep before and after the training did not have a significant impact on performance improvement.

Keywords

double practice
learning accuracy
sleep quantity
sleep quality
Subjects
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Motor Behavior
Volume 18, Issue 63
Spring 2026
Pages 17-34

  • Receive Date 11 July 2024
  • Revise Date 22 March 2025
  • Accept Date 09 June 2025

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