Enhancing physical, technical, tactical, and cognitive performance in female youth football players using...

This study aimed to investigate the effects of an intervention combining eye-tracking and neurofeedback training on technical, tactical, and cognitive performance in young female football players. A cross-sectional study was conducted with eight female youth football players (15.6 ± 1.2 years) recruited from a FIFA-certified training centre. Anthropometric measures (body mass, standing height, and seated height) were recorded, and biological maturity was assessed using the Mirwald equation. Performance was evaluated using standardized tests: Loughborough Football Shooting Test (LSST) for technical skill, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIR1) for endurance, and a system of tactical assessment in football (FUT-SAT) instrument for motor and tactical proficiency. For clarity, we define the measurement moments used throughout this article: baseline assessments are denoted as moment 1 (M1) and post-intervention assessments after the six-week training period as moment 2 (M2). Eye-tracking metrics, decision-making indexes, and neurofeedback parameters were analysed using i-Brain and i-Tracker technologies. Players showed significant improvements in technical and tactical performance, particularly in shooting velocity and offensive unit efficiency, alongside enhanced decision-making stability and defensive coordination. Eye-tracking metrics revealed increased fixation efficiency and reduced revisit counts, indicating more effective visual search strategies. YYIR1 performance improved, suggesting that the intervention did not impair intermittent recovery capacity. The integration of eye-tracking and neurofeedback training demonstrated potential for enhancing cognitive and technical performance in female youth football players. Improvements in shooting accuracy, decision-making speed, and gaze efficiency suggest that these technologies could be valuable additions to traditional training methods.