Comparison of cognitive function on reactive agility among soccer players between different performance levels and ages

Abstract

Agility is one of the most important factors in sports performance. In addition to physical qualities such as leg muscle strength, perceptual and decision-making factors such as anticipation are also reported as important components of agility. Those cognitive functions are considered to be based on sport-specific experience. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cognitive functions among soccer players between different performance levels and ages while reacting in soccer-specific situations by using the video-based reactive test. Collegiate (high performance group, 26 players : age 20.0±0.8 years ; low performance group, 20 players : age 19.1±0.6 years) and junior high school (Jr. youth group, 19 players : age 13.2±0.8 years) male soccer players were recruited as participants. The athletes were instructed to react to a pass that was executed by a model in the video. The duration between presentation of stimulus (when the model in the video executed the pass) and initiation of subjective movement (when the subject started to move) was measured and compared between groups in addition to the complexity (single direction, multiple directions) or type of kick (inside kick, outside kick). A questionnaire about the reaction cue was also completed. The results showed that the time between the presentation of stimulus and initiation of subjective movement was significantly delayed in the more complex situation in each group. In addition, there was no difference in the time for inside kicks in the Jr. youth group compared to the high performance group, but the difference became significant in reactions to outside kicks. These results indicate that the experiences in cognitive functions while reacting in sport-specific situations are situation-based.