An After-School Football Session Transiently Improves Cognitive Function in Children
Daniele Magistro1, Simon B Cooper1, Ruth Boat1
1Department of Sport Science, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK.
Summary
An after-school football session significantly improved cognitive functions like attention and memory in primary school children immediately after playing. These cognitive benefits were temporary, lasting only up to 45 minutes post-activity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Exercise Science
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Sports Psychology
Background:
- Physical activity is increasingly recognized for its positive impact on children's cognitive development.
- After-school programs offer a structured environment to integrate physical activity into children's routines.
- Understanding the immediate cognitive effects of specific sports activities is crucial for optimizing educational and developmental outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immediate effects of a real-world after-school football (soccer) session on cognitive functions in primary school children.
- To compare cognitive performance changes between children participating in football and a control group resting.
- To determine the duration of any observed cognitive enhancements.
Main Methods:
- 100 primary school children (8–9 years) were randomly assigned to a 60-minute football intervention or a control (rest) group.
- Cognitive functions, including selective visual attention, short-term memory, and long-term memory, were assessed before, immediately after, and 45 minutes after the session.
- Data were analyzed using a two-way mixed methods ANOVA to examine group and time interactions.
Main Results:
- A significant group-by-time interaction was observed across all cognitive domains (p < 0.001), indicating different patterns of change between groups.
- The football group showed significantly greater performance in selective visual attention (p = 0.003), short-term memory (p = 0.004), and long-term memory (p < 0.001) immediately after the session compared to the control group.
- No significant differences in cognitive performance were found between the groups 45 minutes post-session (p = 0.132–0.393).
Conclusions:
- A single after-school football session can acutely enhance cognitive functions in primary school children.
- The cognitive benefits observed immediately post-football activity appear to be transient, diminishing within 45 minutes.
- These findings highlight the potential of structured physical activity, like football, to provide short-term cognitive boosts in young students.
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