The effect of sports on mental performance according to skill types in youth athletes

It is known that high-level performance in athletes is not only limited to physical competence and technical skills, but also cognitive functions such as attention, concentration, stress management and reaction time play a decisive role. The aim of this study was to examine the cognitive performance levels of athletes in different skill types (team, individual, combat, racket).

The study was conducted with a total of 214 athletes between the ages of 14-16 with at least three years of regular training history, including team (n = 64), individual (n = 48), racket (n = 27) and combat (n = 75). Cognitive performance measurements were made before training. Attention and concentration levels were assessed using NeuroSky MindWave EEG device, stress level was assessed using HeartMath Inner Balance device and reaction time was assessed using CatchPad device.

Combat athletes demonstrated significantly higher cognitive scores in attention (X̄ = 53.77 ± 24.86 s; F = 26.43, p < .001, η² = 0.318) and concentration (X̄ = 22.51 ± 15.90 s; F = 18.49, p < .001, η² = 0.360) compared to other groups. Racket sports athletes exhibited the fastest reaction times (X̄ = 0.35 ± 0.04 s; F = 11.66, p < .001, η² = 0.184) and the highest inner balance coherence (X̄ = 1.85 ± 0.38; F = 15.54, p < .001, η² = 0.188). Significant group differences were also observed in intrinsic heart rate variability (Inner Balance Avg BPM), with combat athletes recording the highest average (X̄ = 79.48 ± 12.18 bpm; F = 10.80, p < .001, η² = 0.142). Discriminant analysis revealed a high classification success rate for racket (85.2%) and combat athletes (81.3%) based on cognitive and psychophysiological variables.

The findings of this study demonstrate that different sport skill types are associated with distinct cognitive performance profiles. These results may provide valuable insight for coaches, trainers, and sport psychologists in designing branch-specific cognitive training strategies and talent identification protocols. More broadly, the study highlights the critical role of sport participation in shaping not only physical but also neurocognitive development during adolescence.