A Study of Cognitive Function on Agility of Soccer Players
1)
2)
2)
Fumiaki Onishi , Shinshiro Mineta , Norikazu Hirose

1)Waseda University/NSCA Japan
2)Waseda University<Purpose of the Study>

1. To investigate if the ability to anticipate in a sports-specific situation exists
2. To establish how to quantify the ability to anticipate .

<Introduction>

When reacting to an opponent’s movement, open skills in components of agility, such as anticipating what will happen or recognizing a pre-action andsituation based on cognitive function with knowledge and experience, are important. However, only a few researches study about those open skills, especiallyan ability to anticipate. Also, not many researches study how to quantify the ability. If the existence of the ability and how to quantify that ability are clarified,
it may benefit coaches in getting to know their players’ strong or weak points of open skills on their ability of agility.

<Method> Interpretation of the Time Measured

 Experimental Approach
Video-based reactive agility tests incorporating single-direction andmultiple-direction reactive agility trials were completed. Subjects wereinstructed to move in the direction in which a ball was passed. Subjects
were allowed to anticipate when and which direction the ball is kicked.
 Subject
Collegiate male soccer players (n=15; age, 20.3±0.72 years ) andvolleyball players(n=11; age, 19.7±1.01 years ) were recruited.
 Construction of Video Clips as Test Stimuli
The model was instructed to execute a pass toward a point 7m from thedigital camera’s position. A red circle was placed in the corner of theframe, indicating that the foot had made contact with the ball.
Following types of passes were executed.
1. Inside kicks – a. Right, b. Left
2. Outside kick – a. Right, b. Left

- Subjects know where to move but when to move.
<Task>
1. when to move2)Multiple directions (to the right or left); RTMD
Reacting toward either the right of left from the subject (all types of passes).
The test clip comprised two randomly-selected clips from each of thefour types of passes.
- Subjects don’t know either where to move or when to move.
<Task>
1. when to move
2. which direction to move

MTESRTTimingSystem On

Motor Time(MT)The time taken to
perform the movement=PreR+PostR=PostR+DT

ESRT-MT =(PostR+DT)-(PreR+PostR)=DT-PreR
PreR=DT-(ESRT-MT)
PreR…Time of movement before the framewith the red-circle
PostR…Time of movement after the framewith the red-circle

Timing
System Off

Results On
The frame that theMT appeared on thedisplay

Displaying Time(DT)Time lag between the subject
breaking the timing system gate
and the time when the MT
measurement appeared on thedisplay

Estimated Simple Reaction Time(ESRT)The time between the frame with red-circle
appearing and the MT being displayed“DT” will not be appeared as real value.

High Speed Camera
Monitor of the Timing System Statistical Analysis
Before calculation of subject’s ESRT-MT, the following data were excluded.
1. Two from the fastest and slowest results for the RTSD
2. The fastest and slowest results for the RTMD
Then, a two-way mixed analysis of variance, with a between factor“Tasks” (RTSD, RTMD) and factor “Sports” (Soccer, Volleyball) was
performed to determined the difference between the groups andsituations.

Result
 Subjects in RTSD situation showed asignificantly smaller ESRT-MT thanthose in RTMD situation (P<0.05) .
 The group of soccer players showeda significantly smaller ESRT-MT thanvolleyball players (P<0.05).
 No significant interaction was found.

Screen427.5cm

Table 1. ESRT-MT between Groups
Task
RTSD
RTMD
Soccer
†0.75±0.06
0.76±0.08
Volleyball†0.80±0.09
0.86±0.07†Significantly smaller than RTMD(p ≦0.05)

Conclusion The ability to anticipate in the sports specific situation exists: Pass line
Projector10m

7m

Figure1. The setting for video clip production

 The method used in this study could be one of the ways to quantify itPractical Application

Start Position
202.5cm

7m

Visual Stimulus(the video clip) On

Onset of the action(Red-circle)
The frame indicating themodel’s foot contact the ballOn the equation, a smaller “ESRT-MT″ represents a longer PreR, meaning
moving earlier.

1)Single direction (to the right); RTSD
Reacting toward the right from the subject only (1-a or 2-a only). The test
clip comprised five randomly-selected clips each from only the 1-a and2-a.

Start to dribble here
and make a pass

※Not be appeared on the display

202.5cmStart Sensor

Figure2. The measurement setting Provide an idea that situational training and understanding of sports
specific principles are important for agility training provide an easy and inexpensive method to measure open skills.
※この内容は、第６回NSCA国際カンファレンス（マドリード、スペイン）における口頭発表の内容をポスター形式にしたものです。