Effects of Recreational Soccer and Team Handball Training on Cognitive and Physical Performance in Male Adolescents

Recreational soccer (RS) and recreational team handball (RTH) have gained recognition for its positive effects on health indices among untrained participants. We aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of regular RS and RTH on selective attention and physical fitness among untrained adolescents. Participants were randomly assigned to participate in a 3-month RS or RTH training program [2 sessions/week, RS group (n = 10; Age: 17.11 ± 0.60 years), RTH (n = 10; Age: 16.85 ± 0.62 years)] and 8 served as a control group [regular Physical Education classes, control group (n = 8; Age: 16.57 ± 0.38 years)]. Before and after the intervention period, the participants were tested for a range of physical fitness variables (explosive strength, horizontal and vertical jump performance, sprint, and aerobic performance) and for selective attentional performance. After the intervention, RTH (20.6%, d = 0.6) and RS (22.4%, d = 0.7) groups showed a significant and moderate improvement in concentration performance compared with the control group (-1.4%, d = 0.14), which decreased its performance. No significant effects were observed on the total number of concentration errors in the intervention groups (F_{time × groups} =0.02). A significant improvement was found for CMJ performance in the RS group with no changes in the control group (F_time = 17.41, small improvement). The RTH and RS groups showed a non-significant but moderate improvement in 10-m sprinting and aerobic performance (YYIR) (Cohen's d > 0.5). In conclusion, RS and RTH training showed a small to moderate improvement in jump and sprint performance with a significant positive effect on concentration performance within a sample of untrained male adolescents.