Author(s): HIGASHIURA, T., TAGA, K., Institution: ASIA UNIVERSITY, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 2280

INTRODUCTION:
Athletes in open-skill sports such as soccer must combine physical fitness and technical skills with rapid and accurate decision-making in dynamically changing environments. Cognitive function, particularly executive processes, underpins decision-making, and previous studies have shown that higher-performing soccer players demonstrate superior cognitive function compared with lower-performing players. However, these findings are mainly based on cross-sectional studies, and it remains unclear whether training-related improvements in soccer performance are accompanied by enhancements in cognitive function.
Therefore, this study longitudinally assessed physical fitness, dribbling skills, and cognitive function in youth soccer players aged 15–18 years over a 12-month period and examined the associations between changes in soccer-related performance and cognitive performance.
METHODS:
Nineteen non-elite youth soccer players completed cognitive tests (Stroop Color–Word Test and Trail Making Test Parts A and B), physical fitness tests (e.g., 20-m sprint, change-of-direction test, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test), and technical skill tests (dribbling and ball juggling) on two occasions separated by a 12-month interval. Changes over the 12-month period were calculated for each variable based on pre- and post-test values, and Pearson’s correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among these changes.
RESULTS:
Pearson’s correlation analyses revealed a positive correlation between changes in the change-of-direction test, designed to simulate offensive movements in soccer, and changes in TMT-A performance. Changes in dribbling performance were positively correlated with changes in TMT-B performance. In addition, changes in Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test performance were positively correlated with changes in performance on the word and color conditions of the Stroop Color–Word Test and negatively correlated with changes in TMT-B performance.
CONCLUSION:
Systematic reviews have reported that habitual training, including aerobic exercise, resistance training, and coordination training, contributes to improvements in cognitive function (Ludyga et al., 2020). Soccer training not only enhances fundamental physical capacities such as sprint ability, agility, and aerobic endurance, but also develops coordination skills through ball control while visually tracking the positions of opponents and the ball. The present results suggest that greater training-related improvements in soccer performance may be associated with greater improvements in cognitive function. From a practical perspective, youth training programs that integrate physical, technical, and cognitively demanding tasks may contribute not only to performance development but also to the enhancement of cognitive function.

REFERENCES
Ludyga S, et al.: Systematic review and meta-analysis investigating moderators of long-term effects of exercise on cognition in healthy individuals. Nat Hum Behav 4：603-612, 2020.