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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06982326

Mental Fatigue and Performance in Young Soccer Players

The study employed a randomized, parallel-group, between-subjects design in which participants were assigned to either the MF+ or MF- condition and completed a single testing session accordingly. All test sessions were conducted on synthetic turf pitches and comprised three stages of testing, which included assessments of aerobic and anaerobic endurance, jumping, agility, and balance. During the familiarization session, players were briefed on the study procedures, practiced the main tasks, and became accustomed to the equipment and environment used during the intervention. During the MF+ session, prior to each physical testing stage, participants completed a 30-minute Color-word Stroop task (CST) to induce MF. To minimize external influence, players were not prompted or verbally encouraged during testing. Immediately, after each session, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE 6--20) were recorded using the category-level Borg scale (29), and enjoyment was assessed using the exercise enjoyment scale, a bipolar instrument consisting of eight items scored on a 1-7 Likert scale.

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Key information

Conditions

Performance Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Fatigue Mental Fatigue Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Soccer

Age range

15 year–16 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Tokat Gaziosmanpasa Universty

Tokat Province, Turkey, 6000, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

The study employed a randomized, parallel-group, between-subjects design in which participants were assigned to either the MF+ or MF- condition and completed a single testing session accordingly. Players were recommended to sleep for at least 7-8 hours, refrain from exercising at moderate to high intensity, and avoid consuming alcoholic or caffeinated beverages during the 24 hours before the intervention. Indoor and outdoor temperatures (25-28°C) and humidity levels (35-40%) were kept consistent across all intervention sessions. All test sessions were conducted on synthetic turf pitches and comprised three stages of testing, which included assessments of aerobic and anaerobic endurance, jumping, agility, and balance. During the familiarization session, players were briefed on the study procedures, practiced the main tasks, and became accustomed to the equipment and environment used during the intervention. During the MF+ session, prior to each physical testing stage, participants completed a 30-minute Color-word Stroop task (CST) to induce MF. Four color words (red, blue, green, and yellow) were randomly printed, and participants were required to verbally name the color of each word. During the control (MF-) session, prior to each physical testing stage, participants watched emotionally neutral documentaries for 30 minutes. Each testing session began with a standardized 15-minute warm-up, consisting of 5 minutes of low- to moderate-intensity running followed by 10 minutes of upper- and lower-extremity-specific dynamic stretching, mobility exercises, and change-of-direction drills. To minimize external influence, players were not prompted or verbally encouraged during testing. Immediately, after each session, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE 6--20) were recorded using the category-level Borg scale, and enjoyment was assessed using the exercise enjoyment scale, a bipolar instrument consisting of eight items scored on a 1-7 Likert scale.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Being healthy
  • Male soccer players
  • Willing to maintain the intervention for all sessions

Exclusion criteria

  • Being under 14 years old
  • Having a chronic disease
  • Contraindications for exercise

Treatment and study plan

MF+

Other

During the MF+ session, before each physical testing phase, participants completed a 30-min Colour Word Stroop task (CST) to trigger MF. The paper-based version of the CST was completed in quiet rooms following the same protocol as in previous studies. This prolonged cognitive task was reported to require sustained attention and automatic response inhibition and effectively induced MF through cognitive manipulation. ThyIt had ben Four colour words (red, blue, green and yellow) were randomly printed and participants were asked to verbalise the colour of each word.

MF-

Other

During the control session, before each physical testing phase, participants watched emotionally neutral documentaries for 30 min.

Primary outcomes

  1. Aerobic performance assessment

    Time frame: From baseline to the end of measurement at 1 day

    The test consisted of shuttle runs between two landmarks placed 20 metres apart, and athletes were required to complete a short active recovery period by running or walking within 10 seconds after each shuttle run. The testing protocol typically includes a standardised warm-up followed by progressive shuttle runs until exhaustion. The distance travelled or the level reached before exhaustion is used to measure performance. The test was carried out on an artificial turf field according to the recommended procedures.

  2. Countermovement jump performance assessment

    Time frame: From baseline to the end of measurement at 1 day

    Countermovement jump tests with arms free (CMJf) tests were used to test the performance of the players in the vertical jump test. Each player's CMJf jump height was measured via Optojump photoelectric cells (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy). To ensure proper recovery and reduce fatigue, players were given a passive rest period of 2 minutes between consecutive trials in the same jump test. In addition, there was a rest period of 5 min between the different jump tests.

  3. Agility performance assessment

    Time frame: From baseline to the end of measurement at 1 day

    Players completed three Zig-Zag agility tests with a ball (ZZwB) on a synthetic turf field. Each set was followed by a 3-minute recovery period, and the fastest time recorded from all sets was considered to be the performance of the test. The ZZwB trail comprises four 5-meter sections designed at 100° angles. In a previous study by Mirkov et al. (34), a coefficient of variation of 21.12%, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of 0.81 and 0.84, and typical measurement errors of 0.21 and 0.098 were reported for ZZwB.

  4. Balence performance assessment

    Time frame: From baseline to the end of measurement at 1 day

    The Y balance test was used for balance measurements. Before the test, the length of both legs of each player was measured via a standard tape measure from the anterior superior iliac spine to the most distal medial malleolus in the supine position. The test, consisting of three different directions of movement (anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral), was used to assess dynamic balance with a single-leg stance while reaching these directions. After six trials on each foot for familiarization, each player performed three successful reaches 15 s apart. After the test, the composite score (CS) was calculated via the following formula (37): CS = [(maximum anterior reach + maximum posteromedial reach + maximum posterolateral reach)/(leg length × 3)] × 100.

  5. Anaerobic Endurance assessment

    Time frame: From baseline to the end of measurement at 1 day

    A three-corner run test (TCRT) was used to assess the speed and anaerobic endurance of the players. After the start signal, the players ran to a flagpole 80 m away from the start. The players then turned to the left side and ran to a flagpole, 20 m away from flagpole. After that, the players returned to flagpole 82.4 m from the start. Finally, turning to the right, the players ran to finish line and crossed the line to end the test.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Investigation of the Effects of Mental Fatigue on Physical Performance and Perceived Psychophysiological Reactions in Young Soccer Players: A Field Based Study

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
May 21, 2025
Registry last updated
May 21, 2025

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

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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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