Clinical trial NCT06982326: Mental Fatigue and Performance in Young Soccer Players
Official title: Investigation of the Effects of Mental Fatigue on Physical Performance and Perceived Psychophysiological Reactions in Young Soccer Players: A Field Based Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Performance
Soccer
Mental Fatigue
Keywords: Neuromuscular control
Fatigue
Cognitive fatigue
Soccer performance
Lead sponsor: Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-05-21
Enrollment: 16
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 15
Maximum age (years): 16
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Intervention model description: Crossover Assignment
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The study employed a randomized, parallel-group, between-subjects design in which participants were assigned to either the MF+ or MF- condition and completed a single testing session accordingly. All test sessions were conducted on synthetic turf pitches and comprised three stages of testing, which included assessments of aerobic and anaerobic endurance, jumping, agility, and balance. During the familiarization session, players were briefed on the study procedures, practiced the main tasks, and became accustomed to the equipment and environment used during the intervention. During the MF+ session, prior to each physical testing stage, participants completed a 30-minute Color-word Stroop task (CST) to induce MF. To minimize external influence, players were not prompted or verbally encouraged during testing. Immediately, after each session, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE 6--20) were recorded using the category-level Borg scale (29), and enjoyment was assessed using the exercise enjoyment scale, a bipolar instrument consisting of eight items scored on a 1-7 Likert scale.

Detailed description: The study employed a randomized, parallel-group, between-subjects design in which participants were assigned to either the MF+ or MF- condition and completed a single testing session accordingly. Players were recommended to sleep for at least 7-8 hours, refrain from exercising at moderate to high intensity, and avoid consuming alcoholic or caffeinated beverages during the 24 hours before the intervention. Indoor and outdoor temperatures (25-28°C) and humidity levels (35-40%) were kept consistent across all intervention sessions. All test sessions were conducted on synthetic turf pitches and comprised three stages of testing, which included assessments of aerobic and anaerobic endurance, jumping, agility, and balance. During the familiarization session, players were briefed on the study procedures, practiced the main tasks, and became accustomed to the equipment and environment used during the intervention. During the MF+ session, prior to each physical testing stage, participants completed a 30-minute Color-word Stroop task (CST) to induce MF. Four color words (red, blue, green, and yellow) were randomly printed, and participants were required to verbally name the color of each word. During the control (MF-) session, prior to each physical testing stage, participants watched emotionally neutral documentaries for 30 minutes. Each testing session began with a standardized 15-minute warm-up, consisting of 5 minutes of low- to moderate-intensity running followed by 10 minutes of upper- and lower-extremity-specific dynamic stretching, mobility exercises, and change-of-direction drills. To minimize external influence, players were not prompted or verbally encouraged during testing. Immediately, after each session, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE 6--20) were recorded using the category-level Borg scale, and enjoyment was assessed using the exercise enjoyment scale, a bipolar instrument consisting of eight items scored on a 1-7 Likert scale.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Being healthy
* Male soccer players
* Willing to maintain the intervention for all sessions

Exclusion Criteria:

* Being under 14 years old
* Having a chronic disease
* Contraindications for exercise

Primary outcomes:
measure: Aerobic performance assessment
timeFrame: From baseline to the end of measurement at 1 day
measure: Countermovement jump performance assessment
timeFrame: From baseline to the end of measurement at 1 day
measure: Agility performance assessment
timeFrame: From baseline to the end of measurement at 1 day
measure: Balence performance assessment
timeFrame: From baseline to the end of measurement at 1 day
measure: Anaerobic Endurance assessment
timeFrame: From baseline to the end of measurement at 1 day
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Tokat
country: Turkey
facility: Tokat Gaziosmanpasa Universty
Study officials:
References:
citation: Arslan E, Soylu Y, Clemente FM, Hazir T, Kin Isler A, Kilit B. Short-term effects of on-field combined core strength and small-sided games training on physical performance in young soccer players. Biol Sport. 2021 Oct;38(4):609-616. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2021.102865. Epub 2021 Feb 11.
citation: Soylu Y, Ramazanoglu F, Arslan E, Clemente FM. Effects of mental fatigue on the psychophysiological responses, kinematic profiles, and technical performance in different small-sided soccer games. Biol Sport. 2022 Oct;39(4):965-972. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2022.110746. Epub 2021 Dec 30.