Interactive Improvements of Visual and Auditory Function for Enhancing Performance in Youth Soccer Players

Young Hoon Song, Soo-Min Ha, Jang Soo Yook and Min-Seong Ha
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Young Hoon Song: Department of Physical Education, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro1, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
Soo-Min Ha: Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Department of Physical Education, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
Jang Soo Yook: Center for Functional Connectomics, KIST Brain Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology 5, Hwarang-ro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Korea
Min-Seong Ha: Department of Sports Neuroscience, Advanced Research Initiative for Human High Performance (ARIHHP), Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8574, Japan

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-12

Abstract: We analyzed the effects of a regular training program on the health- and skill-related physical fitness (PF) of talented soccer players aged < 12 years; visual reaction time (VRT) and auditory reaction time (ART) were also assessed. In this single-group interventional study, 78 talented male youth soccer players (mean age, 9.54 years) were critically selected by the Korean Educational Development Institute and underwent a 22-week training program consisting of 16 weeks of PF and basic skill training (90 min/week) and 6 weeks of intensive training (3, 150-min sessions/week). We assessed the pre- and post-training body composition, cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength and endurance, and flexibility. We also measured power, agility, coordination and speed, passing ability, VRT, and ART. All variables improved after training. Post-training VRT correlated with ART, muscle mass, power, cardiovascular endurance, 10-m dribble time, 10-m ball touch count, and 10-m successful pass count. ART only correlated with muscle mass. ART and 10-m ball-touch count influenced VRT, and VRT influenced ART. In conclusion, the training program enhanced the PF and visual- and auditory-related reactions in talented youth soccer players. This study suggests the importance of the assessed relationships, indicating that a training program that improves these parameters enhances the players’ performance.

Keywords: talented players; training; physical fitness; visual function; auditory function (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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