Differences in discriminative reaction time between elite youth football players:  a comparison between age-categories (Diferencias en el tiempo de reacción discriminativo entre jugadores de fútbol juvenil de élite: una comparación entre categorías de ed

Abstract


 Background: Several factors may affect the development of a player during the sports training process. Reaction time is considered an important aspect of perceptual skills in sports and can potentially affect football performance. During the maturation process of a player there may be changes in the cognitive skills, in addition to changes in the training levels that this player is submitted to. The aim of this study is to compare the discriminative reaction time (DRT) in elite young football players between categories U-15 and U-17. Methods: Participants were 236 elite Brazilian young male football players from categories U-15 (n = 139, Mage = 14.21, SD = 0.66 years) and U-17 (n = 97, Mage = 17.99, SD = 0.48 years). The Reaction Test (S5 version), provided by the Vienna Test System SPORTS® (VTS) was applied. Results: statistically significant difference was found in the DRT (p = .04) between football players of categories U-15 and U-17. U-17 players faster (M = 526 ms, sd = 65.30) when compared to the U-15 players (M = 543 ms, sd = 62.40), however with a small effect size (.13). Conclusion: Elite football players in the U17 category have better DRT values than players in the U15 category.
 Resumen. Introducción: Varios factores pueden afectar al desarrollo de un jugador durante el proceso de formación deportiva. El tiempo de reacción se considera un aspecto importante de las habilidades perceptivas en el deporte y puede afectar potencialmente al rendimiento futbolístico. Durante el proceso de maduración de un jugador pueden producirse cambios en las habilidades cognitivas, además de cambios en los niveles de entrenamiento a los que se somete este jugador. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar el tiempo de reacción discriminativo en jóvenes futbolistas de élite entre las categorías sub-15 y sub-17. Métodos: Los participantes fueron 236 jóvenes futbolistas brasileños de élite de las categorías Sub-15 (n = 139, Edad media = 14,21, sd = 0,66 años) y Sub-17 (n = 97, Edad media = 17,99, sd = 0,48 años). Se aplicó el Test de Reacción (versión S5), proporcionado por el Vienna Test System SPORTS® (VTS). Resultados: se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el DRT (p = .04) entre los futbolistas de las categorías sub-15 y sub-17. Los jugadores sub-17 fueron más rápidos (M = 526 ms, sd = 65,30) en comparación con los jugadores sub-15 (M = 543 ms, sd = 62,40), aunque con un tamaño del efecto pequeño (.13). Conclusión: Los jugadores de fútbol de élite de la categoría sub17 tienen mejores valores de tiempo de reacción discriminativo que los jugadores de la categoría sub15.

Evaluation of Reaction Time during the One-Leg Balance Activity in Young Soccer Players: A Pilot Study

“…Much research also reported that perceiving and integrating complex moving patterns while focusing on different task requirements is key to better performance levels [ 7 , 8 , 11 , 55 ]. Pinheiro et al [ 13 ] compared the discriminative RT in elite young soccer players (U-15 and U-17) using the Vienna Test System SPORTS ® to assess RT. Results showed significant differences between categories, with the older players outperforming their younger counterparts.…”

“…Considering the vast perceptual and motor skills required to play soccer, reaction time (RT) has been highlighted as one of the essential physical indicators of performance [ 12 , 13 ], being frequently used as a measure to assess performance levels in many sports [ 4 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. RT is commonly described as how long a person takes to prepare and initiate a movement, and therefore, it can be defined as the time interval between the onset of a not anticipated signal and the beginning of the movement [ 2 , 14 , 19 ].…”