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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07284940

Cognitive-Integrated Soccer Training and Performance

This study will examine whether an 8-week soccer-specific cognitive-motor training program can improve executive functions, decision-making, and soccer skill performance in youth soccer players. Soccer players often need to scan the field, process information quickly, choose appropriate actions, and perform technical skills under pressure. The training program is designed to combine soccer skills with game-like cognitive demands, such as recognizing opponents' movement, selecting passing or dribbling options, and responding to changing play situations.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either a soccer-specific cognitive-motor training group or an active control technical training group. Both groups will train three times per week for eight weeks in addition to their usual soccer training. The study will compare changes in soccer decision-making, executive functions, and skill performance from baseline to post-intervention and to a four-week retention test.

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Key information

Conditions

Executive Function (Cognition) Motor Development Mouth Diseases Performance Salivary Gland Diseases Sialorrhea Soccer Training Stomatognathic Diseases

Age range

16 year–18 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Qingdao University, School of Physical Education

Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male adolescents aged 16-18 years;
  • Healthy students with no recent injury affecting movement or physical activity;
  • Normal or corrected-to-normal vision;
  • Not taking any medication during the study period;

Exclusion criteria

  • Diagnosed neurological disorders;
  • Diagnosed musculoskeletal disorders;
  • Use of medications known to affect cognitive function

Treatment and study plan

Cognitively Engaging Soccer Practice

Behavioral

This intervention integrates cognitive elements into basic soccer skill practice. Participants engage in 20-minute soccer dribbling sessions that include decision-making tasks, attention control, and working memory challenges embedded within motor actions. For example, players must react to color or number cues while performing dribbling drills. The purpose is to enhance both motor learning and cognitive performance through dual-task engagement.Cognitively Engaging Soccer Practice

Conventional Soccer Practice

Behavioral

This intervention consists of traditional soccer dribbling training without added cognitive tasks. Participants perform the same duration and frequency of soccer skill practice (20 minutes) focusing purely on motor performance and technique refinement. No external cognitive demands are introduced.

Primary outcomes

  1. Video-Based Soccer Decision Accuracy

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately after the 8-week intervention, and 4-week retention follow-up.

    Video-based soccer decision accuracy will be used as the primary outcome to assess soccer-specific decision-making performance. Participants will view attacking and transition scenarios from a field-player perspective. Each video will be occluded at a critical decision point, and participants will select the most appropriate action, such as pass, dribble, shoot, switch play, or retain possession. Decision accuracy will be calculated as the percentage of responses that match the expert consensus answer. Higher scores indicate better soccer-specific decision-making performance.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Dribbling performance time

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately after the 8-week intervention, and 4-week retention follow-up.

    Dribbling performance time will be measured as the total time (in seconds) required to complete a standardized cone-dribbling course.

  2. Reaction time on cognitive tasks (Stroop task and 2-back task)

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately after the 8-week intervention, and 4-week retention follow-up.

    Reaction time (in milliseconds) will be recorded for correct responses during computerized Stroop and 2-back tasks. Mean reaction time across trials will be calculated separately for each task at each assessment time point.

  3. Response accuracy on cognitive tasks (Stroop task and 2-back task)

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately after the 8-week intervention, and 4-week retention follow-up.

    Response accuracy will be calculated as the percentage of correct responses during computerized Stroop and 2-back tasks.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Fan Mao

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Soccer-Specific Cognitive-Motor Training on Executive Functions, Decision-Making, and Skill Performance in Soccer Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Dec 16, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 7, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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