Mental Fatigue and Performance in Young Soccer Players

NCT ID: NCT06982326

Last Updated: 2025-05-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 16 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-03-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-03-30

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.

Conditions

Performance; Soccer; Mental Fatigue

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Mental Fatigue (MF+)

During the MF+ session, before each physical testing phase, participants completed a 30-min Colour Word Stroop task (CST) to trigger

Group Type: OTHER

MF+

Intervention Type: OTHER

During the MF+ session, before each physical testing phase, participants completed a 30-min Colour Word Stroop task (CST) to trigger MF. The paper-based version of the CST was completed in quiet rooms following the same protocol as in previous studies. This prolonged cognitive task was reported to require sustained attention and automatic response inhibition and effectively induced MF through cognitive manipulation. ThyIt had ben Four colour words (red, blue, green and yellow) were randomly printed and participants were asked to verbalise the colour of each word.

Control (MF-)

Control

Group Type: OTHER

MF-

Intervention Type: OTHER

During the control session, before each physical testing phase, participants watched emotionally neutral documentaries for 30 min.

Interventions

MF+

During the MF+ session, before each physical testing phase, participants completed a 30-min Colour Word Stroop task (CST) to trigger MF. The paper-based version of the CST was completed in quiet rooms following the same protocol as in previous studies. This prolonged cognitive task was reported to require sustained attention and automatic response inhibition and effectively induced MF through cognitive manipulation. ThyIt had ben Four colour words (red, blue, green and yellow) were randomly printed and participants were asked to verbalise the colour of each word.

Intervention Type: OTHER

MF-

During the control session, before each physical testing phase, participants watched emotionally neutral documentaries for 30 min.

Intervention Type: OTHER

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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 15 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 16 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Ersan Arslan

Prof. Dr.

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Tokat Gaziosmanpasa Universty

Tokat Province, Turkey, Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

References

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.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 34937971 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 36247954 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

UGaziosmanpasa-3

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id