Effects of a 12-Week Pickleball Training Program on Cognitive and Motor Skills in Adolescents With Mild Intellectual Disability

This study will be conducted using a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test control group design to examine the effects of a 12-week pickleball training program on physical and cognitive outcomes in individuals with mild intellectual disability. Participants will be recruited from a special education vocational school and will be aged between 14 and 18 years.

Participants will be assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group will participate in a structured pickleball training program for 12 weeks, delivered three times per week. Each session will include two on-court practice sessions and one skill-based training session focusing on fundamental movement and sport-specific skills. Each training session will consist of a 5-minute warm-up, a 40-minute main activity phase, and a 5-minute cool-down period. The control group will continue their regular school-based physical education and daily academic routines without additional intervention.

Outcome assessments will be conducted at four time points: baseline (pre-test), mid-intervention (week 6-7), post-intervention (week 12), and follow-up (4-6 weeks after completion of the intervention). All assessments will be administered by the same research team using standardized protocols to ensure consistency.

Cognitive functions will be evaluated using computer-based tests from the Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL) battery. Sustained attention will be assessed using the Mackworth Clock Test, visuospatial working memory using the Corsi Block Test, selective attention and change detection ability using the Change Detection Test, and processing speed and short-term memory using the Digit Span Test.

Motor performance will be assessed using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2) short form. This standardized assessment evaluates fine motor precision, bilateral coordination, balance, agility, and strength-related motor skills.

In addition, handgrip strength will be measured using a handheld dynamometer, and lower extremity muscular endurance will be assessed using the 30-second sit-to-stand test. Balance performance will also be evaluated through the BOT-2 balance subtests.

All intervention sessions will be adapted to the functional abilities of participants to ensure safety and accessibility. Activities will be delivered by a qualified instructor supported by an assistant instructor, with individualized guidance provided as needed.

Data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods based on distribution assumptions. A mixed-design repeated measures ANOVA will be used to examine group-by-time interactions. The level of significance will be set at p < .05.

Inclusion criteria

• Having a diagnosis of mild intellectual disability
• Being enrolled in a special education vocational high school
• Being between 14 and 18 years of age
• Having the ability to follow simple verbal instructions
• Having no additional severe or secondary disability
• Having no musculoskeletal condition preventing racket use
• Providing voluntary assent and parental consent

Exclusion criteria

• Refusal to participate in the study at any stage
• Irregular school attendance during the intervention period
• Failure to attend pickleball training sessions consistently
• Presence of a chronic medical condition limiting participation
• Participation in racket sports within the last 3 months
• Withdrawal of parental consent during the study