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General perceptual-cognitive abilities: Age and position in soccer
Nils Schumacher1, Mike Schmidt1, Kai Wellmann1
1University of Hamburg, Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement, Institute of Human Movement Science, Department Sports and Exercise Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
Plos One
|August 24, 2018
Summary
This study found that age impacts sustained attention in soccer players, with defenders showing improved skills in sustained attention and faster reaction times. General anticipation abilities did not differ significantly across groups.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Cognitive Psychology
- Motor Control
Background:
- Soccer performance relies on sport-specific cognitive and perceptual skills.
- The influence of general perceptual-cognitive abilities and age-related positional differences in soccer remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between age and general perceptual-cognitive abilities in highly talented male soccer players.
- To identify position-specific differences in these abilities across various age groups.
Main Methods:
- 178 elite male soccer players (ages 10-33) completed computer-based tests for sustained attention, anticipation, and reaction time.
- Data analyzed using analysis of variance for group differences and correlation for age-related abilities.
Main Results:
- Significant correlations and group differences were observed for age and sustained attention tasks.
- Defenders demonstrated enhanced sustained attention and faster, more precise figural task performance.
- Midfielders showed faster visual reaction times compared to defenders and strikers; acoustic reaction time differed significantly by position.
Conclusions:
- Age is a significant factor in the development of sustained attention in soccer players.
- Specific perceptual-cognitive abilities, like reaction time and sustained attention, show position-specific variations.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the developmental trajectories of these abilities in elite young soccer players.
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