In the current study we aimed to investigate the effect of specific dual task training (SDTT) compared to conventional soccer training (CST) on motor and cognitive performances in U13 elite soccer players. Twenty-four young soccer players (all males) participated in this study. We measured their change of direction ability (CODA) and cognitive performances (cognitive flexibility and inhibition) before and after four weeks in either the SDTT group or the CST group. We administered the Trail-Making Test (TMT) to evaluate cognitive flexibility and the Stroop test to evaluate cognitive inhibition. We assessed CODA using the t test (TT). After training, CODA (p < .001), cognitive flexibility (p < .001), and inhibition (p < .001) were improved only in the SDTT group. These results suggest that SDTT seems more suitable than CST to optimally improve both CODA and cognitive performances in U13 elite soccer players.
AlesiM.GiordanoG.GiacconeM.BasileM.CostaS.BiancoA. (2020). Effects of the enriched sports activities-program on executive functions in Italian children. Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology, 5(2), 26.
2.
ArmstrongV. L.BrunetP. M.HeC.NishimuraM.PooleH. L.SpectorF. J. (2006). What is so critical? A commentary on the reexamination of critical periods. Developmental Psychobiology, 48(4), 326–336. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.20135
3.
BeavanA. F.SpielmannJ.MayerJ.SkorskiS.MeyerT.FransenJ. (2019). Age-related differences in executive functions within high-level youth soccer players. https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/handle/10453/160440
4.
BeckT. W. (2013). The importance of A priori sample size estimation in strength and conditioning research. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 27(8), 2323–2337. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318278eea0
5.
BellgroveM. A.HesterR.GaravanH. (2004). The functional neuroanatomical correlates of response variability: Evidence from a response inhibition task. Neuropsychologia, 42(14), 1910–1916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2004.05.007
6.
BerchicciM.SulpizioV.MentoG.LucciG.CivaleN.GalatiG.PitzalisS.SpinelliD.Di RussoF. (2020). Prompting future events: Effects of temporal cueing and time on task on brain preparation to action. Brain and Cognition, 141, 105565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2020.105565
7.
BinishiN.SkenderiD. (2024). Assessment of speed & agility components for 10-14 years old: A review. Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance, 3(3), 357–369.
8.
BotvinickM. M.CohenJ. D.CarterC. S. (2004). Conflict monitoring and anterior cingulate cortex: An update. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 8(12), 539–546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2004.10.003
9.
BüchelD.GokelerA.HeuvelmansP.BaumeisterJ. (2022). Increased cognitive demands affect agility performance in female athletes-implications for testing and training of agility in team ball sports. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 129(4), 1074–1088.
10.
CarnevaleD.Elferink-GemserM.FilgueirasA.HuijgenB.AndradeC.CastellanoJ.SiIvaD.VasconcellosF. (2022). Executive functions, physical abilities, and their relationship with tactical performance in young soccer players. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 129(5), 1477–1491. https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125221112236
11.
CasanovaF.OliveiraJ.WilliamsM.GargantaJ. (2009). Expertise and perceptual-cognitive performance in soccer: A review. Revista Portuguesa de Ciências do Desporto, 9(1), 115–122.
12.
CasellaA.VenturaE.Di RussoF. (2022). The influence of a specific cognitive-motor training protocol on planning abilities and visual search in young soccer players. Brain Sciences, 12(12). 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12121624
13.
CohenJ. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). L. Erlbaum Associates.
14.
CrovaC.StruzzolinoI.MarchettiR.MasciI.VannozziG.ForteR.PesceC. (2014). Cognitively challenging physical activity benefits executive function in overweight children. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(3), 201–211. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2013.828849
15.
Di RussoF.BerchicciM.BiancoV.PerriR. L.PitzalisS.QuinziF.SpinelliD. (2019). Normative event-related potentials from sensory and cognitive tasks reveal occipital and frontal activities prior and following visual events. NeuroImage, 196(3), 173–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.04.033
ElghoulY.FrikhaM.MasmoudiL.ChtourouH.ChaouachiA.ChamariK.SouissiN. (2014). Diurnal variation of cognitive performance and perceived difficulty in dart-throwing performance in 9–10-year-old boys. Biological Rhythm Research, 45(5), 789–801.
18.
EricksonK. I.ColcombeS. J.WadhwaR.BhererL.PetersonM. S.ScalfP. E.KimJ. S.AlvaradoM.KramerA. F. (2007). Training-induced functional activation changes in dual-task processing: An FMRI study. Cerebral cortex,17(1), 192–204. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhj137
19.
EspositoG.CerusoR.D’EliaF. (2019). The importance of a technical-coordinative work with psychokinetic elements in the youth sectors of soccer academies. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 19(5), 1843–1851.
20.
FaulF.ErdfelderE.LangA.-G.BuchnerA. (2007). G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods, 39(2), 175–191. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193146
21.
FinchJ. E.ObradovićJ. (2017). Unique effects of socioeconomic and emotional parental challenges on children’s executive functions. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 52, 126–137.
22.
FisslerP.KüsterO.SchleeW.KolassaI.-T. (2013). Novelty interventions to enhance broad cognitive abilities and prevent dementia: Synergistic approaches for the facilitation of positive plastic change. Progress in Brain Research, 207, 403–434.
23.
HeilmannF.WollnyR.LautenbachF. (2022). Inhibition and calendar age explain variance in game performance of youth soccer athletes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3). 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031138
24.
HeislerS. M.LobingerB. H.MusculusL. (2023). A developmental perspective on decision making in young soccer players: The role of executive functions. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 65, 102362.
25.
HeplerT. J.FeltzD. L. (2012). Take the first heuristic, self-efficacy, and decision-making in sport. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 18(2), 154–161.
26.
HeroldF.HamacherD.SchegaL.MüllerN. G. (2018). Thinking while moving or moving while thinking—concepts of motor-cognitive training for cognitive performance enhancement. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 10(228), 364696. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2018.00228
27.
HowieE. K.SchatzJ.PateR. R. (2015). Acute effects of classroom exercise breaks on executive function and math performance: A dose–response study. Research Quarterly for Exercise & Sport, 86(3), 217–224.
28.
HughesC. (2011). Changes and challenges in 20 years of research into the development of executive functions. Infant and Child Development, 20(3), 251–271.
29.
JuradoM. B.RosselliM. (2007). The elusive nature of executive functions: A review of our current understanding. Neuropsychology Review, 17(3), 213–233. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-007-9040-z
30.
KolbB.GibbR. (2011). Brain plasticity and behaviour in the developing brain. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry = Journal de l'Academie canadienne de psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, 20(4), 265–276.
31.
KorzeniowskiC.IsonM. S.Difabio de AnglatH. (2021). A summary of the developmental trajectory of executive functions from birth to adulthood. In GargiuloP. Á.Mesones ArroyoH. L. (Eds.), Psychiatry and neuroscience update. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61721-9_33
32.
LedochowskiJ.AndradeB. F.ToplakM. E. (2019). A novel unstructured performance-based task of executive function in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 41(5), 445–459.
33.
LezakM. D. (2004). Neuropsychological assessment. Oxford University Press.
34.
LinH.-Y.GauS. S.-F.Huang-GuS. L.ShangC.-Y.WuY.-H.TsengW.-Y. I. (2014). Neural substrates of behavioral variability in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Based on ex-Gaussian reaction time distribution and diffusion spectrum imaging tractography. Psychological Medicine, 44(8), 1751–1764. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291713001955
35.
LovecchioN.ManesG.FilipasL.GiuriatoM.TorreA. L.IaiaF. M.CodellaR. (2021). Screening youth soccer players by means of cognitive function and agility testing. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 128(6), 2710–2724.
36.
LuY.YangT.HatfieldB. D.CongF.ZhouC. (2020). Influence of cognitive-motor expertise on brain dynamics of anticipatory-based outcome processing. Psychophysiology, 57(2), Article e13477. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.13477
37.
LuciaS.BiancoV.BoccacciL.Di RussoF. (2021). Effects of a cognitive-motor training on anticipatory brain functions and sport performance in semi-elite basketball players. Brain Sciences, 12(1), 68.
38.
LuciaS.DignoM.MadinabeitiaI.Di RussoF. (2023). Testing a multicomponent training designed to improve sprint, agility and decision-making in elite basketball players. Brain Sciences, 13(7), 984. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13070984
39.
LucianaM.ConklinH. M.HooperC. J.YargerR. S. (2005). The development of nonverbal working memory and executive control processes in adolescents. Child Development, 76(3), 697–712.
40.
MiyakeA.FriedmanN. P. (2012). The nature and organization of individual differences in executive functions: Four general conclusions. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 21(1), 8–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721411429458
41.
MoreiraP. E. D.DieguezG. T. de O.BredtS. da G. T.PraçaG. M. (2021). The acute and chronic effects of dual-task on the motor and cognitive performances in athletes: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1732.
42.
MussiniE.BerchicciM.BiancoV.PerriR. L.QuinziF.Di RussoF. (2021). Effect of task complexity on motor and cognitive preparatory brain activities. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 159, 11–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.11.008
43.
PauoleK.MadoleK.GarhammerJ.LacourseM.RozenekR. (2000). Reliability and validity of the T-test as a measure of agility. Leg power, and leg speed in college-aged men and women.
44.
PetersS.EngJ. J.Liu-AmbroseT. (2019). Brain activity associated with Dual-task performance of Ankle motor control during cognitive challenge. Brain Behav, 9(8), Article e01349.
45.
Portellano-PérezJ. A. (2005). Cómo desarrollar la inteligencia: Entrenamiento neuropsicológico de la atención y las funciones ejecutivas. Somos, Clínica y Salud.
46.
Reitan. (1979). Manual for administration of neuropsychological test batteries for adults and children. Reitan Neuropsychology Laboratory—Recherche Google.
47.
RichardsonJ. T. E. (2011). Eta squared and partial eta squared as measures of effect size in educational research. Educational Research Review, 6(2), 135–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2010.12.001
48.
SakamotoS.TakeuchiH.IharaN.LigaoB.SuzukawaK. (2018). Possible requirement of executive functions for high performance in soccer. PLoS One, 13(8), e0201871. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201871
49.
Sánchez-CubilloI. 1PeriáñezJ. A.Adrover-RoigD.Rodríguez-SánchezJ. M.Ríos-LagoM.TirapuJ.BarcelóF. (2009). Construct validity of the Trail Making Test: Role of task-switching, working memory, inhibition/interference control, and visuomotor abilities. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 15(3), 438–450.
50.
ScharfenH.-E.MemmertD. (2019). The relationship between cognitive functions and sport-specific motor skills in elite youth soccer players. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 817.
51.
ScharfenH.-E.MemmertD. (2021). Cognitive training in elite soccer players: Evidence of narrow, but not broad transfer to visual and executive function. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, 51(2), 135–145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12662-020-00699-y
52.
SemenickD. (1990). Tests and measurements: The T-test. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 12(1), 36–37.
53.
SilvestriF.CampanellaM.BertolloM.AlbuquerqueM. R.BonavolontàV.PerroniF.BaldariC.GuidettiL.CurziD. (2023). Acute effects of fitlight training on cognitive-motor processes in young basketball players. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(1), 817.
54.
SporisG.JukicI.MilanovicL.VuceticV. (2010). Reliability and factorial validity of agility tests for soccer players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 24(3), 679–686. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c4d324
55.
StroopJ. R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions.
56.
TaitJ. L.DuckhamR. L.MilteC. M.MainL. C.DalyR. M. (2017). Influence of sequential vs. Simultaneous dual-task exercise training on cognitive function in older adults. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 9, 368.
57.
TheofilouG.LadakisI.MavroidiC.KilintzisV.MirachtsisT.ChouvardaI.KouidiE. (2022). The effects of a visual stimuli training program on reaction time, cognitive function, and fitness in young soccer players. Sensors, 22(17), 6680. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22176680
58.
ThieschäferL.BüschD. (2022). Development and trainability of agility in youth: A systematic scoping review. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4, 952779.
59.
ValentiniM.BernardiniC.BerettaA.RaiolaG. (2018). Movement and language development as an early childhood twin strategy: A systematic review. Sport Mont, 16(3), 107–112.
60.
van der NietA. G.SmithJ.OosterlaanJ.ScherderE. J.HartmanE.VisscherC. (2016). Effects of a cognitively demanding aerobic intervention during recess on children’s physical fitness and executive functioning. Pediatric Exercise Science, 28(1), 64–70.
61.
VestbergT.GustafsonR.MaurexL.IngvarM.PetrovicP. (2012). Executive functions predict the success of top-soccer players. PLoS One, 7(4), e34731.
62.
VestbergT.JafariR.AlmeidaR.MaurexL.IngvarM.PetrovicP. (2020). Level of play and coach-rated game intelligence are related to performance on design fluency in elite soccer players. Scientific Reports, 10(1). 1. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-66180-w
63.
VossM. W.HeoS.PrakashR. S.EricksonK. I.AlvesH.ChaddockL.SzaboA. N.MaileyE. L.WójcickiT. R.WhiteS. M.GotheN.McAuleyE.SuttonB. P.KramerA. F. (2013). The influence of aerobic fitness on cerebral white matter integrity and cognitive function in older adults: Results of a one-year exercise intervention. Human Brain Mapping, 34(11), 2972–2985. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.22119
64.
WangC.-H.ChangC.-C.LiangY.-M.ShihC.-M.ChiuW.-S.TsengP.HungD. L.TzengO. J. L.MuggletonN. G.JuanC.-H. (2013). Open vs. closed skill sports and the modulation of inhibitory control. PLoS One, 8(2), e55773. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0055773
65.
YangZ. Q.WeiM. F.ChenL.XiJ. N. (2023). Research progress in the application of motor-cognitive dual-task training in rehabilitation of walking function in stroke patients. Journal of Neurorestoratology, 11(1), 100028.
66.
ZinelabidineK.ElghoulY.JouiraG.SahliS. (2022). The Effect of an 8-Week aerobic dance program on executive function in children. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 129(1), 153–175. https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125211058001
