TY  - JOUR
AU  - Feria-Madueño, Adrian
AU  - Monterrubio-Fernández, Germán
AU  - Mateo Cortes, Jesus
AU  - Carnero-Diaz, Angel
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/5/27
TI  - The Effect of a Novel Video Game on Young Soccer Players' Sports Performance and Attention: Randomized Controlled Trial
JO  - JMIR Serious Games
SP  - e52275
VL  - 12
KW  - reaction time
KW  - serious games
KW  - executive function
KW  - decision making
KW  - game
KW  - games
KW  - gaming
KW  - sport
KW  - sports
KW  - soccer
KW  - football
KW  - athlete
KW  - athletes
KW  - athletic
KW  - training
KW  - performance
KW  - physiological
KW  - muscle
KW  - muscular
KW  - sweat
KW  - sweating
KW  - attention training
KW  - attentional
KW  - ball
KW  - exercise
KW  - physical activity
KW  - exergame
KW  - exergames
KW  - interview
KW  - interviews
AB  - Background: Currently, the fusion of technology and sports is inevitable. The integration of various systems and devices has brought about significant transformations in established sports practices, impacting not only the rules but also physiological, biomechanical, and even psychological aspects. Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of an attention intervention through a video game on young soccer players. Methods: Twelve young male soccer players (age: mean 8.5, SD 1 years) were divided into 2 groups: a control group (CG; n=10) and an experimental group (EG; n=10). During the 6-week training program, the EG received attention training through a video game twice a week for 15 minutes per session. Pre- and postintervention measurements included a specific decision-making soccer test and interviews with coaching staff. Additionally, success in the video game, muscular activity, and sweat levels were monitored. Results: The EG demonstrated a significant improvement in video game success following the intervention program, as indicated by the achieved level (P<.001). However, no significant differences were found between groups regarding electromyographic (EMG) activity (P=.21) and sweating (P=.20). Prior to implementing the attention training program, both groups exhibited similar data for variables related to decision-making and execution mechanisms (≤10%). Only 2 decision-making variables exceeded 10% but remained below 15% (Shot_D=13.35%; Marking_with_Ball_D=−12.64%). Furthermore, changes in attacking action variables were more pronounced in execution-related variables, except for dribbling and fixing. Conversely, in defensive action variables, changes were greater in decision-related variables, except for marking with the ball and marking without the ball. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that incorporating a specific attentional video game into a soccer training program enhances decision-making compared to a program without the video game. Therefore, it is advisable for practitioners to consider using this tool due to its high efficiency in terms of economic and temporal costs, particularly in improving a key psychological variable. Trial Registration: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN12742775; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12742775 
SN  - 2291-9279
UR  - https://games.jmir.org/2024/1/e52275
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/52275
DO  - 10.2196/52275
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/52275
ER  -