A Longitudinal Analysis of the Executive Functions in High-Level Soccer Players

Abstract

Introduction: Assessments of executive functions (EFs) with varying levels of perceptual information or action fidelity are common talent-diagnostic tools in soccer, yet their validity still has to be established. Therefore, a longitudinal development of EFs in high-level players to understand their relationship with increased exposure to training is required. Methods: A total of 304 high-performing male youth soccer players (10–21 years old) in Germany were assessed across three seasons on various sport-specific and non-sport-specific cognitive functioning assessments. Results: The posterior means (90% highest posterior density) of random slopes indicated that both abilities predominantly developed between 10 and 15 years of age. A plateau was apparent for domain-specific abilities during adolescence, whereas domain-generic abilities improved into young adulthood. Conclusion: The developmental trajectories of soccer players’ EFs follow the general populations’ despite long-term exposure to soccer-specific training and game play. This brings into question the relationship between high-level experience and EFs and renders including EFs in talent identification questionable.

Fundamental Relationships of Executive Functions and Physiological Abilities with Game Intelligence, Game Time and Injuries in Elite Soccer Players

“…Although the present results cannot completely resolve that debate, they may suggest that executive functions have a substantial relation to game intelligence and game time representing essential performance parameters of the soccer game. As an important extension to previous ndings and contrary to Beavan et al 33 , these associations are already present in the youngest age group indicating a low probability that this is solely based on natural predispositions. However, the difference in the applied executive function tests (e.g.…”

“…Consequently, the present results suggest that mainly the executive functions (except for inhibition) along with the physiological abilities sprint and RIEA contribute meaningfully to the game time of elite soccer players. As an essential addition, the current ndings may partially answer the question of Beavan et al 33 in terms of the predictive validity of domain-generic executive functions. However, the smaller sample sizes of the physiological parameters RIEA, squat jump and performance-IAT compared to the cognitive parameters also need to be considered.…”

“…nature). Recent ndings of a large longitudinal study of elite soccer players question the nurture approach 33 . Although the present results cannot completely resolve that debate, they may suggest that executive functions have a substantial relation to game intelligence and game time representing essential performance parameters of the soccer game.…”

“…However, the difference in the applied executive function tests (e.g. no working memory or cognitive exibility test in 33 ) and age groups (i.e. no adult elite team in 33 ) need to be considered which probably also contributes to the differing ndings.…”

“…injury prediction) and 2) monophasic by either focusing or adults or adolescents. Although rst investigations of the prognostic value of cognitive performance are promising this area is still in its infancy and also quite debatable 33 . Additionally, the predictive value of coach-rated assessments of this cognitive performance and its interrelation with objective cognitive parameters are mostly unknown and, previous examinations only included adults.…”