An After-School Football Session Transiently Improves Cognitive Function in Children

Daniele Magistro (), Simon B. Cooper, Ruth Boat, Fabio Carlevaro, Francesca Magno, Cristian Castagno, Martina Simon and Giovanni Musella
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Daniele Magistro: Department of Sport Science, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK
Simon B. Cooper: Department of Sport Science, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK
Ruth Boat: Department of Sport Science, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK
Fabio Carlevaro: Polo Universitario Asti Studi Superiori (Uni-Astiss), 14100 Asti, Italy
Francesca Magno: Polo Universitario Asti Studi Superiori (Uni-Astiss), 14100 Asti, Italy
Cristian Castagno: Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
Martina Simon: Polo Universitario Asti Studi Superiori (Uni-Astiss), 14100 Asti, Italy
Giovanni Musella: Polo Universitario Asti Studi Superiori (Uni-Astiss), 14100 Asti, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a real-world after-school football session on subsequent cognitive function in primary school children. Following ethical approval, 100 children (aged 8–9 year) from the same after-school football club were randomly assigned to either an intervention (60 min football activity) or control (continued to rest) group. Cognitive function (selective visual attention, short term memory and long-term memory) was assessed prior to, immediately following and 45 min following the football session (and at the respective timepoints in the control group). Data were analysed via two-way (group * time) mixed methods ANOVA. The pattern of change in all domains of cognition over time, was different between the football and control groups (group * time, all p < 0.001). Specifically, performance on all cognitive tasks was greater immediately following the football session in the intervention group compared to the control group (selective visual attention, p = 0.003; short-term memory, p = 0.004; long-term memory, p < 0.001). However, there was no difference between the group 45 min following the football session ( p = 0.132–0.393). These findings suggest that an after-school football session enhances cognition immediately post-activity in primary school children.

Keywords: cognition; children; physical activity; football; attention; memory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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