The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between cognitive functioning, physical fitness, and game performance in a sample of adolescent soccer players. Eighty-five boys from a soccer team in Rincon de la Victoria (Malaga, Spain), aged between 12 and 16 years, participated in the study. The D2 and Global-Local Attention (GLA) tests were used to evaluate selective and divided attention, respectively, and the Coding and Symbol Search tests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) were used for processing speed. To analyze physical fitness, the standing long jump test, speed test, and Course-Navette test of the Alpha-Fitness battery were used. Finally, the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) was used to analyze sports performance in three vs. three small-sided games. The analyses showed that cognitive functioning was related to game performance. The results obtained suggest the importance of cognitive functions for performance in this sport.

Cognitive functioning is acquiring special relevance when studying the factors that influence soccer performance. Although the relationship between cognitive functions and sport performance has an extensive literature in adult soccer players, the same does not happen in young players, where this association has not been explored in depth. This work arises with the objective of knowing the state of the issue and going in depth in this line of research in youth categories, between 8 and 19 years old. For this purpose, a systematic review has been carried out on the existing relationship between cognitive functioning and sports performance in youth soccer players. In order to carry out this systematic review, the articles published on this issue in the last 10 years were analyzed following the PRISMA method. For an exhaustive search of the literature, the database Web of Science (WoS), SCOPUS, Dialnet, PubMed and Google Scholar, among others, were used, including articles published both Spanish and English. Finally, 12 articles were analyzed and included in the review. The results showed significant relationship between cognitive functions and performance in youth soccer players, highlighting variables such as attention, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility or decision making, finding differences between scores obtained by elite soccer players and those obtained by amateur athletes or general population, being significantly higher in the first group. El funcionamiento cognitivo está adquiriendo especial relevancia a la hora de estudiar los factores que influyen en el rendimiento en fútbol. Si bien la relación entre funciones cognitivas y rendimiento deportivo cuenta con una literatura extensa en futbolistas adultos, no ocurre lo mismo en jugadores de edades tempranas, donde dicha asociación no se ha explorado en profundidad. Este trabajo surge con el propósito de conocer el estado de la cuestión y profundizar en esta línea de investigación en categorías infantiles y juveniles, de edades comprendidas entre los 8 y 19 años. Para ello, se ha llevado a cabo una revisión sistemática sobre las relaciones existentes entre el funcionamiento cognitivo y el rendimiento deportivo en jóvenes futbolistas. Para la realización de dicha revisión sistemática se analizaron los artículos publicados sobre esta cuestión en los últimos 10 años siguiendo el método PRISMA. Para una búsqueda exhaustiva de la literatura existente se han utilizado las bases de datos Web of Science (WoS), SCOPUS, Dialnet, PubMed y Google Scholar, entre otras, incluyendo artículos publicados tanto en lengua castellana como inglesa. Finalmente, 12 artículos fueron analizados e incluidos en la revisión. Los resultados mostraron que existen relaciones significativas entre las funciones cognitivas y el rendimiento en jóvenes futbolistas, de entre las cuales destacan variables como la atención, el control inhibitorio, la flexibilidad cognitiva o la toma de decisiones, encontrándose diferencias entre las puntuaciones obtenidas por futbolistas de élite y las obtenidas por deportistas amateurs o población general, siendo significativamente mayores en el primer grupo. O funcionamento cognitivo está adquirindo especial relevância no estudo dos fatores que influenciam o desempenho no futebol. Embora a relação entre funções cognitivas e desempenho esportivo seja extensa na literatura em jogadores de futebol adulto, o mesmo não ocorre em jogadores de tenra idade, onde essa associação ainda não foi explorada em profundidade. Este trabalho surge com o objetivo de conhecer o estado da questão e aprofundar esta linha de pesquisa nas categorias infanto-juvenil, na faixa etária entre 8 e 19 anos. Para tanto, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática sobre as relações entre funcionamento cognitivo e desempenho esportivo em jovens jogadores de futebol. Para a realização desta revisão sistemática, os artigos publicados sobre o assunto nos últimos 10 anos foram analisados ​​segundo o método PRISMA. Para uma busca exaustiva da literatura existente, foram utilizadas as bases de dados Web of Science (WoS), SCOPUS, Dialnet, PubMed e Google Scholar, entre outras, incluindo artigos publicados em espanhol e inglês. Por fim, 12 artigos foram analisados ​​e incluídos na revisão. Os resultados mostraram que existem relações significativas entre funções cognitivas e desempenho em jovens jogadores de futebol, entre as quais se destacam variáveis ​​como atenção, controle inibitório, flexibilidade cognitiva ou tomada de decisão, encontrando diferenças entre os escores obtidos por jogadores de futebol de elite e aqueles. obtidos por atletas amadores ou pela população em geral, sendo significativamente maior no primeiro grupo.

The objective of this research is to analyze the performance of actions in a reduced game situation in a sample of young soccer players. This is a game format in which possession of the ball has to be maintained. The sample consisted of 85 young players aged between 12 and 16 years, observing a total of 58 reduced games and using an analysis instrument called the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI). The essential data quality analyses are carried out, including the use of correlation indexes, Cohen’s Kappa and the Phi index for intra- and inter-observer reliability. Generalizability and invariance analyses are also performed to estimate the reliability, validity and precision of the numerical structure and its generalizability to other samples or populations with similar distributions. An observational design of nomothetic, punctual and multidimensional types is used, and subsequently, a sequential analysis of the game actions is carried out from the observations. The results show significant relationships between decision-making behaviors (adequate and inadequate) and technical execution behaviors (adequate and inadequate). The findings have highlighted a clear relationship of interdependence between technical execution and decision making. This information is very useful for the design and planning of training oriented to the optimization of sport performance in soccer.

La infancia y adolescencia son etapas importantes en el desarrollo cerebral y son la base de la vida adulta. En numerosas ocasiones se han demostrado los efectos de la actividad física en la salud, así como en el desarrollo cognitivo y moral. No obstante, no toda actividad física puede llegar a causar efectos en las funciones cognitivas al mismo nivel, siendo la actividad vigorosa y el aumento de actividad cardiorrespiratoria las que aportan mayores beneficios. Esta revisión pretende recoger los estudios de los diez últimos años sobre los efectos de programas de actividad física en la cognición en la infancia y adolescencia. Se busca conocer qué tipo de actividad física es más beneficiosa para qué tipo de habilidad cognitiva. Los datos mostraron que la actividad física produce beneficios en la cognición, aunque es la actividad vigorosa la que genera mayor impacto. Los juegos reducidos y las actividades aeróbicas combinadas con coordinación se han visto mejores para inhibición y flexibilidad cognitiva. Aunque parece ser más importante la intensidad de la actividad. Esto puede beneficiar la planificación de los programas de actividad física y los beneficios que conlleva.

The empowering-disempowering climate model has been widely used to explain athletes’ experiences in competitive and training contexts. This framework suggests that the social environment created by the coach can influence athletes’ motivational processes and psychological responses. The aim of this research was to analyze the relationship between empowering and disempowering climate, ego and task motivational orientation, somatic and cognitive competitive anxiety, and self-confidence in young footballers. A total of 328 male adolescents, aged between 14 and 18 years (M = 15.83; SD = 1.38), participated in this research. Data were collected using the Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire (EDMCQ-C), the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ), and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Revised (CSAI-2R). A structural equation model was used to understand the direct and indirect effects established between the different variables. The results showed positive relationships between empowering climate and task orientation, between disempowering climate and ego orientation, and between task orientation and self-confidence, as well as a negative relationship between task orientation and somatic anxiety. Likewise, negative relationships were observed between empowering climate and somatic anxiety and positive relationships with self-confidence through task orientation. Specifically, the model explained 20% of the variance in self-confidence (R² = .20) and 8% of the variance in somatic anxiety (R² = .08). The results suggest that the development of an empowering climate by coaches, together with a task-oriented motivational orientation among athletes, could promote psychological variables associated with athletes’ well-being and sports performance, such as greater self-confidence and lower somatic anxiety.