## 4 Discussion  
This study investigated the impact of a six-week intervention involving Change of Direction (CoD) and reactive agility (RA) on emotional intelligence (EI) and attention in pubertal tennis players. The principal findings indicate that the EXP-G exhibits a positive effect on EI in comparison to the CON-G. The incorporation of CoD training is identified as a key factor in enhancing athletes' cognitive flexibility, defined as the ability to adapt and switch between different tasks, strategies, or perspectives. These results align with prior research, such as the work of [PERSON] et al. [28] which establishes a positive association between cognitive flexibility and EI. The development of cognitive flexibility is particularly evident in CoD training, where athletes are systematically challenged to respond swiftly to changing stimuli. This adaptability, honed through CoD exercises, is postulated to contribute to an improved capacity for emotional intelligence on the tennis court. This study also observed that 6 weeks of agility training significantly improves attention in the EXP-G compared to the CON-G. In the existing literature, consistently with the present results, research suggests that physical exercise, in general, can improve attentional processes. Furthermore, a more contemporary investigation has indicated that the cognitive advantages derived from consistent physical exercise may stem from enhancements in synaptic activity, cerebral blood flow, and brain perfusion, alongside an amelioration in neuronal plasticity [29]. Indeed, agility training, with a focus on swift decision making and rapid motor responses, is likely to engage cognitive processes that contribute to improvements in attention. A relevant investigation by [PERSON] et al. [30] specifically explored the effects of targeted agility training on the attentional abilities of tennis players. The study found significant improvements in attentional capacity and focus following the training intervention. This investigation provides empirical support for the notion that agility training can positively influence cognitive functions, particularly attention, in the context of sports such as tennis. Similarly, [PERSON] et al. [3] conducted a study with young elite tennis players and observed enhanced attentional performance following a short-term agility training intervention. A further study investigated the influence of agility training on attentional abilities and tennis performance in young tennis players and indicated that agility training positively affected attentional processes, including selective attention and inhibitory control, and also led to improvements in tennis performance [31]. Attention is a critical cognitive skill in tennis, as players must quickly process and respond to rapidly changing stimuli on the court. Therefore, tennis players may incorporate agility training into regular practice routines to improve attentional abilities. This training enhances players' ability to react, make split-second decisions, and maintain sustained attention during matches. Research suggests that attentional abilities positively correlate with various performance factors, including reaction time, decision making, and situational awareness on the court [32]. Therefore, improving attention can significantly improve a player's overall game and competitive success. Additionally, agility training not only enhances physical attributes but also exerts positive effects on cognitive functions, including Attention. This study needs to acknowledge some limitations. Firstly, agility not being considered as a dependent variable is a key limitation. Also, monitoring the training load throughout the intervention by collecting the rating perceived exertion (RPE) or other subjective or objective load variables per training session was not conducted. Secondly, it is important to note that an agility test was not included, which constitutes a notable limitation. This omission stems from the lack of established agility tests tailored specifically to tennis players.