Latest research in football - week 41 - 2018

#1 Skeletal maturity and oxygen uptake in youth soccer controlling for concurrent size descriptors
Reference: PLoS One. 2018 Oct 18;13(10):e0205976. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205976. eCollection 2018.
Authors: Teixeira AS, Guglielmo LGA, Fernandes-da-Silva J, Konarski JM, Costa D, Duarte JP, Conde J, Valente-Dos-Santos J, Coelho-E-Silva MJ, Malina RM
Download link: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0205976&type=printable
Summary: Interrelationships among skeletal maturity status, body size, ventilator thresholds (VT) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) were considered in 47 adolescent male soccer players aged 12.5-15.4 years. Body mass, stature, and the triceps and subscapular skinfolds were measured. The latter were used to estimate fat mass and fat-free mass. Skeletal age was assessed with the Fels method. VO2peak and VO2 at the first (VT1) and second (VT2) ventilatory thresholds were determined during an incremental maximal exercise test on a motorized treadmill. Ratio standards and allometric models were used in the analysis. Scaling exponents suggested linearity for all combinations between size descriptors and physiological variables, except between log-transformed values of VT1 and body mass (mL·kg-0.801·min, 95%CI: 0.649 to 0.952). Early maturing players attained greater values than players classified as "on-time" in skeletal maturity for the three ventilatory parameters expressed in absolute terms (d ranged from 0.65 to 0.71). The differences were attenuated after normalizing for mass descriptors using ratio standards and scaled variables (d ranged from 0.00 to 0.31). The results suggested significant variability between maturity groups when moving from VT1 to maximal metabolic conditions expressed by unit of stature (VT1: t = -2.413, p = 0.02, d = 0.60; VT2: t = -2.488, p = 0.02, d = 0.65; VO2peak: t = -2.475, p = 0.02, d = 0.65). Skeletal maturity status and associated variation in overall body size affects VT1, VT2 and VO2peak. The observed scaling of ventilatory outputs for body size may be related to the better running economy and smaller body size of average maturing athletes.


#2 Life skills development and enjoyment in youth soccer: The importance of parental behaviours
Reference: J Sports Sci. 2018 Oct 17:1-7. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2018.1530580. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Mossman GJ, Cronin LD
Summary: This study investigated the relationships between parental behaviours and players' life skills development and enjoyment within youth soccer. In total, 317 players (Mage = 12.83, SD = 1.70, age range = 10-16 years) completed a survey assessing parental behaviours (praise and understanding, directive behaviour, and pressure), perceived life skills development (teamwork, goal setting, time management, emotional skills, interpersonal communication, social skills, leadership, and problem solving and decision making), and enjoyment of soccer. Multiple regression analyses found that praise and understanding was the key contributor to the outcome variables, making the largest unique contribution to teamwork, goal setting, leadership, and total life skills. Directive behaviour made the largest unique contribution to emotional skills, and problem solving and decision making; whereas pressure made the largest unique contribution to participants' time management and social skills. In practice, the results suggest that parents should display praise and understanding behaviours, which were the main contributor to players' development of life skills within soccer.


#3 In-season eccentric-overload training in elite soccer players: Effects on body composition, strength and sprint performance
Reference: PLoS One. 2018 Oct 16;13(10):e0205332. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205332. eCollection 2018.
Authors: Suarez-Arrones L, Saez de Villarreal E, Núñez FJ, Di Salvo V, Petri C, Buccolini A, Maldonado RA, Torreno N, Mendez-Villanueva A
Download link: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0205332&type=printable
Summary: The aim of this study was to describe the changes in body composition, strength and sprint performance in response to an entire competitive season of football training supplemented with 2 inertial eccentric-overload training sessions a week in young male professional soccer players. Whole body and regional composition (assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), power output in half-squat and 40-m sprinting performance were evaluated in fourteen players. The eccentric-overload training consisted of training sessions a week of 1-2 sets of 10 exercises of upper-body and core (Day 1) and lower-body (Day 2), during the entire competitive season (27 weeks). Whole body fat mass decreased (-6.3 ± 3.6%, ES = -0.99 ± 0.54) substantially while lean mass increased (2.5 ± 0.8%, ES = 0.25 ± 0.09), with some regional differences. There was a substantial increase in half-squat power output (from 3% to 14%, ES from 0.45 to 1.73) and sprint performance (from 1.1% to 1.8%, ES from -0.33 to -0.44), however performance changes were not correlated with changes in body composition. A combined soccer and eccentric-overload training program was able to promote positive changes in body composition and physical factors relevant to both on-field performance and injury prevention in elite soccer players.


#4 Effects of Prolonging Eccentric Phase Duration in Parallel Back-Squat Training to Momentary Failure on Muscle Cross-Sectional Area, Squat One Repetition Maximum, and Performance Tests in University Soccer Players
Reference: J Strength Cond Res. 2018 Oct 12. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002838. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Shibata K, Takizawa K, Nosaka K, Mizuno M
Summary: This study aimed to compare 2 squat training programs repeated until momentary failure with different eccentric phase duration (2 seconds vs. 4 seconds) on the changes in muscle cross-sectional area, squat 1 repetition maximum (1RM), squat jump (SJ), and countermovement jump (CMJ) height, agility (T-test), and Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (YY-IR2). Male university soccer players (19.9 ± 0.9 years, 172.2 ± 3.8 cm, 66.1 ± 6.6 kg) were randomly assigned to one of the 2 groups; CON for 2 seconds and ECC for 4 seconds (C2/E4, n = 11) or CON for 2 seconds and ECC for 2 seconds (C2/E2, n = 11). They performed parallel back-squat exercises twice a week for 6 weeks using 75% 1RM weight to momentary failure in each set for 3 sets with each protocol. Outcome measurements were taken before (Pre) and after 3 (Mid; 1RM, SJ, and CMJ only), and at 6 weeks (Post). One repetition maximum increased more (p < 0.05) for C2/E2 (Pre: 95.9 ± 12.2 kg, Mid: 108.2 ± 15.4 kg, Post: 113.6 ± 14.8 kg) than C2/E4 (95.5 ± 12.9 kg, 102.7 ± 15.6 kg, 105.5 ± 14.9 kg, respectively). Cross-sectional area (50% of the thigh length: 3.5 ± 2.8%), SJ (6.7 ± 8.9%) and CMJ height (6.3 ± 8.6%) increased similarly between C2/E2 and C2/E4, but no significant changes in T-test or YY-IR2 were evident in either group. These results suggest that increasing the ECC phase duration during squat exercises does not produce greater training effects when compared with a shorter ECC phase-duration program with momentary failure.


#5 Altered brain microstructure in association with repetitive subconcussive head impacts and the potential protective effect of jugular vein compression: a longitudinal study of female soccer athletes
Reference: Br J Sports Med. 2018 Oct 15. pii: bjsports-2018-099571. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099571. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Myer GD, Barber Foss K, Thomas S, Galloway R, DiCesare CA, Dudley J, Gadd B, Leach J, Smith D, Gubanich P, Meehan WP 3rd, Altaye M, Lavin P, Yuan W
Summary:  The purpose was to (1) quantify white matter (WM) alterations in female high school athletes during a soccer season and characterise the potential for normalisation during the off-season rest period, (2) determine the association between WM alterations and exposure to repetitive subconcussive head impacts, and (3) evaluate the efficacy of a jugular vein compression collar to prevent WM alterations associated with head impact exposure. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were prospectively collected from high school female soccer participants (14-18 years) at up to three time points over 9 months. Head impacts were monitored using accelerometers during all practices and games. Participants were assigned to a collar (n=24) or non-collar group (n=22). The Tract-Based Spatial Statistics approach was used in the analysis of within-group longitudinal change and between-group comparisons. DTI analyses revealed significant pre-season to post-season WM changes in the non-collar group in mean diffusivity (2.83%±2.46%), axial diffusivity (2.58%±2.34%) and radial diffusivity (3.52%±2.60%), but there was no significant change in the collar group despite similar head impact exposure. Significant correlation was found between head impact exposure and pre-season to post-season DTI changes in the non-collar group. WM changes in the non-collar group partially resolved at 3 months off-season follow-up. Microstructural changes in WM occurred during a season of female high school soccer among athletes who did not wear the collar device. In comparison, there were no changes in players who wore the collar, suggesting a potential prophylactic effect of the collar device in preventing changes associated with repetitive head impacts. In those without collar use, the microstructural changes showed a reversal towards normal over time in the off-season follow-up period.


#6 Hip and Groin Injuries Among Collegiate Male Soccer Players: The 10-Year Epidemiology, Incidence, and Prevention
Reference: Orthopedics. 2018 Oct 15:1-6. doi: 10.3928/01477447-20181010-01. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Tummala SV, Chhabra A, Makovicka JL, Patel KA, Hartigan DE
Summary: The physical and demanding style of play in soccer places these athletes at an elevated risk for hip and groin injuries. Several studies have examined hip and groin injuries in professional and youth soccer in European countries, but few have involved American counterparts. Hip injury data were analyzed retrospectively from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program for the 2004 to 2014 academic years for collegiate men's soccer. This study found that hip and groin injuries among collegiate male soccer players were most often new injuries (87.8%; n=527) that were noncontact in nature (77.3%; n=464) and resulted in time loss of less than 7 days (67.5%; n=405). Hip injuries were significantly more likely during the pre-season (5.72 per 1000 athlete exposures) relative to in-season (injury proportion ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.39-1.94) and post-season (injury proportion ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-2.41). Further, they were more likely in competition relative to practice (injury proportion ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.98-2.74). The most common injuries were adductor strains (46.5%; n=279) followed by hip flexor strains (27.3%; n=164) and hip contusions (10.8%; n=65). Among these injuries, adductor (73.1%; n=204) and hip flexor (59.8%; n=98) strains were more commonly noncontact related and occurred in practice, whereas hip contusions were due to contact and during competition. The study of the complex and lingering nature of hip and groin injuries in soccer players is critical because these injuries not only are prevalent but also have multifactorial risks associated with coexisting pathologies that make them difficult to prevent and treat effectively.


#7 Psychological talent predictors in youth soccer: A systematic review of the prognostic relevance of psychomotor, perceptual-cognitive and personality-related factors
Reference: PLoS One. 2018 Oct 15;13(10):e0205337. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205337. eCollection 2018.
Authors: Murr D, Feichtinger P, Larkin P, O'Connor D, Höner O
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6188900/pdf/pone.0205337.pdf
Summary: Within the multidimensional nature of soccer talent, recently there has been an increasing interest in psychological characteristics. The aim of this present research was to systematically review the predictive value of psychological talent predictors and provide better comprehension of the researchers' methodological approaches and the empirical evidence for individual factors (i.e., psychomotor, perceptual-cognitive and personality-related). Results highlighted heterogeneous study designs (e.g., participants, measurement methods, statistical analyses) which may limit the comparability of studies' findings. Analyzing the number of included studies, psychomotor (n = 10) and personality-related factors (n = 8) received more consideration within the literature than perceptual-cognitive factors (n = 4). In regard to empirical evidence, dribbling (0.47 ≤ d ≤ 1.24), ball control (0.57 ≤ d ≤ 1.28) and decision-making (d = 0.81) demonstrated good predictive values as well as the achievement motives hope for success (0.27 ≤ d ≤ 0.74) and fear of failure (0.21 ≤ d ≤ 0.30). In conclusion, there is growing acceptance of the need for more complex statistical analyses to predict future superior performance based on measures of current talent. New research addresses the necessity for large-scale studies that employ multidisciplinary test batteries to assess youth athletes at different age groups prospectively.


#8 Not Every Pass Can Be an Assist: A Data-Driven Model to Measure Pass Effectiveness in Professional Soccer Matches
Reference: Big Data. 2018 Sep 21. doi: 10.1089/big.2018.0067. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Goes FR, Kempe M, Meerhoff LA, Lemmink KAPM
Summary: In professional soccer, nowadays almost every team employs tracking technology to monitor performance during trainings and matches. Over the recent years, there has been a rapid increase in both the quality and quantity of data collected in soccer resulting in large amounts of data collected by teams every single day. The sheer amount of available data provides opportunities as well as challenges to both science and practice. Traditional experimental and statistical methods used in sport science do not seem fully capable to exploit the possibilities of the large amounts of data in modern soccer. As a result, tracking data are mainly used to monitor player loading and physical performance. However, an interesting opportunity exists at the intersection of data science and sport science. By means of tracking data, we could gain valuable insights in the how and why of tactical performance during a soccer match. One of the most interesting and most frequently occurring elements of tactical performance is the pass. Every team has around 500 passing interactions during a single game. Yet, we mainly judge the quality and effectiveness of a pass by means of observational analysis, and whether the pass reaches a teammate. In this article, we present a new approach to quantify pass effectiveness by means of tracking data. We introduce two new measures that quantify the effectiveness of a pass by means of how well a pass disrupts the opposing defense. We demonstrate that our measures are sensitive and valid in the differentiation between effective and less effective passes, as well as between the effective and less effective players. Furthermore, we use this method to study the characteristics of the most effective passes in our data set. The presented approach is the first quantitative model to measure pass effectiveness based on tracking data that are not linked directly to goal-scoring opportunities. As a result, this is the first model that does not overvalue forward passes. Therefore, our model can be used to study the complex dynamics of build-up and space creation in soccer.


#9 Basal Mild Dehydration Increase Salivary Cortisol After a Friendly Match in Young Elite Soccer Players
Reference: Front Physiol. 2018 Sep 26;9:1347. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01347. eCollection 2018.
Authors: Castro-Sepulveda M, Ramirez-Campillo R, Abad-Colil F, Monje C, Peñailillo L, Cancino J, Zbinden-Foncea H
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6168646/pdf/fphys-09-01347.pdf
Summary: A soccer match induce changes in physiological stress biomarkers as testosterone (T), cortisol (C), and testosterone:cortisol (T:C) ration. Hydration state may also modulate these hormones, and therefore may alter the anabolic/catabolic balance in response to soccer match. The role of hydration status before the match in this biomarkers has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to compare the salivary T, C, and the T:C ratio responses after two friendly matches in well-hydrated and mild-dehydrated (MD) elite young male soccer player. Seventeen players (age, 16.8 ± 0.4 years; VO2max 57.2 ± 3.6 ml/kg-1/min-1) were divided into two teams. Before the matches the athletes were assessed for hydration level by the urine specific gravity method and divided for the analysis into well-hydrated (WH; n = 9; USG < 1.010 g/mL-1) and mild-dehydrated (MD; n = 8; USG 1.010 to 1.020 g/mL-1) groups. Hormones were collected before and after each match by saliva samples. The mean (HRmean) and maximal (HRmax) heart rate were measured throughout the matches. A two-way ANOVA was used to compare T, C, and T:C between and within groups. Similar HRmean (WH, 83.1 ± 4.7%; MD, 87.0 ± 4.1; p = 0.12) and HRmax (WH, 93.2 ± 4.4%; MD, 94.7 ± 3.7%; p = 0.52) were found for both groups during the matches. No differences were found before the matches in the T (p = 0.38), C (p = 66), nor T:C (p = 0.38) between groups. No changes within groups were found after matches in neither group for T (WH, p = 0.20; MD, p = 0.36), and T:C (WH, p = 0.94; MD, p = 0.63). Regarding the C, only the MD group showed increases (28%) after the matches (MD, p = 0.03; WH, p = 0.13). In conclusion MD group exacerbate the C response to friendly matches in elite young male soccer players, suggesting that dehydration before match may be an added stress to be considered.


#10 Can compression stockings reduce the degree of soccer match-induced fatigue in females?
Reference: Res Sports Med. 2018 Oct 14:1-14. doi: 10.1080/15438627.2018.1527335. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Pavin LN, Leicht AS, Gimenes SV, da Silva BVC, Simim MAM, Marocolo M, da Mota GR
Summary: Soccer-induced fatigue and performance are different between the sexes. The effect of compression stockings (CS) use on fatigue during the soccer match in females is unknown. Thus, we evaluated the impact of CS use during a female soccer match on match-induced fatigue. Twenty soccer players were randomly allocated to two groups (n = 10 for each group): CS and Control (regular socks), and equally distributed within two teams. At rest (baseline 48-h before the match) and immediately post-match, we assessed agility T-test, standing heel-rise test and YoYo Intermittent Endurance Test level 2 (YoYoIE2) performance. Effort during the match (heart rate and rating of perceived exertion) was similar (p > 0.05) between groups. The YoYoIE2 performance was decreased post-match (p < 0.05) equally for both groups. Otherwise, the CS group exhibited a greater post-match performance (p < 0.05) for the agility T-test and heel-rise test (large effect sizes). Therefore, we conclude that the use of CS during an amateur female soccer match resulted in less match-induced fatigue.


#11 Acute and chronic effects of soccer game on the retinal vessel diameters in middle-aged adults
Reference: J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2018 Oct 10. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.18.09164-8. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Solianik R, Streckis V, Imbrasiene D, Paunksnis A
Summary: Although changes in retinal vessel diameter is a new biomarker for the evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors, limited information is available regarding the effects of endurance exercises on retinal microcirculation. Thus, we aimed to evaluate both chronic and acute effects of soccer game on the diameters of retinal vessels in middle-aged players. Retinal vessel diameters were measured in 12 middle-aged amateur players (44.4 ± 7.0 years of age) with more than four years of soccer playing experience and 12 age matched sedentary adults (49.7 ± 7.1 years of age). In soccer players, diameters were also measured immediately after the soccer game. Cardiovascular risk profiles (anthropometry and body composition and blood pressure (BP)) and physical activity levels were also measured. Soccer players had wider retinal vessels than controls (P<0.05), resulting in greater arteriolar-to-venular diameter ratio (AVR) (P<0.05). Greater sports-related physical activity, lower body mass index (BMI) and fat mass were observed for soccer players compared to the controls (P<0.05), whereas BP did not differ. Physical activity level correlated positively with temporal retinal arteriolar (TRA) diameter and with AVR (P<0.05), whereas TRA diameter correlated negatively with BMI and fat mass (P<0.05). A significant correlation between temporal retinal venule (TRV) diameter and TRA diameter (P<0.05) was observed. The acute soccer game increased BP (P<0.05) and induced TRV dilatation (P<0.05). In middle-aged amateur soccer players, improvement of the retinal microcirculation was observed. Cardiovascular risk factors and physical inactivity were associated with adverse retinal microvascular alterations. In terms of acute effects, soccer play causes venular, but not arteriolar dilatation for middle-aged adults.


#12 Modulation of macrophage polarization by level-1 Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test in young football players
Reference: Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Oct;97(42):e12739. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000012739.
Authors: Chiu CJ, Chi CW, Hsieh HR, Huang YC, Wu HJ, Chen YJ
Download link: https://pdfs.journals.lww.com/md-journal/2018/10190/Modulation_of_macrophage_polarization_by_level_1.21.pdf?token=method|ExpireAbsolute;source|Journals;ttl|1540669179803;payload|mY8D3u1TCCsNvP5E421JYK6N6XICDamxByyYpaNzk7FKjTaa1Yz22MivkHZqjGP4kdS2v0J76WGAnHACH69s21Csk0OpQi3YbjEMdSoz2UhVybFqQxA7lKwSUlA502zQZr96TQRwhVlocEp/sJ586aVbcBFlltKNKo+tbuMfL73hiPqJliudqs17cHeLcLbV/CqjlP3IO0jGHlHQtJWcICDdAyGJMnpi6RlbEJaRheGeh5z5uvqz3FLHgPKVXJzddFRrD2hcIwdDP9eSnSkfs8tQHGPCNVqu4yfd7VFcCxs=;hash|S8jVxvqAc5VVdXOn9m+AOA==
Summary: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the level-1 Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (YYIRT1) on polarization of macrophages in young football players.Fourteen male football players (19.9 ± 1.4 years old) were enrolled in this study. YYIRT1 was performed with 20-meter shuttle runs at increasing speeds and 10-second active recovery in a 5-meter distance between runs till exhaustion. Fasting blood samples were collected before and immediately after YYIRT1. Analysis for macrophage polarization by flow cytometry, reactive oxygen species (ROS) by flow cytometry, biochemical parameters by chemical reactions, and serum cytokines by ELISA were performed. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and cardiovascular parameters were recorded.The time to exhaustion was 714.1 ± 114.4 seconds. The oxygen uptake ((Equation is included in full-text article.)) was 48.7 ± 5.6 mL/min/kg, RPE scale was 19 ± 1, resting heart rate and maximal heart rate were 64.9 ± 8.8 beat/min and 181.9 ± 9.3 beat/min, respectively, indicating a high level of cardiopulmonary fitness. The expression of macrophage-specific CD14 and M1 marker HLA-ABC, but not M2 marker CD206, was down-regulated after YYIRT1. The intracellular ROS levels in macrophages had no significant change. In biochemical profile, the serum levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), a marker of muscle damage, increased after YYIRT1 whereas no significant alteration was noted in creatine phosphokinase (CPK), blood urine nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and C-reactive protein. The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α had no significant change.The YYIRT1 may induce muscle damage accompanied by modulation of macrophage polarization toward suppression of M1 phenotype in young football players.


#13 Cam morphology in young male football players mostly develops before proximal femoral growth plate closure: a prospective study with 5-year follow-up
Reference: Br J Sports Med. 2018 Oct 15. pii: bjsports-2018-099328. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099328. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: van Klij P, Heijboer MP, Ginai AZ, Verhaar JAN, Waarsing JH, Agricola R
Summary: Cam morphology is not completely understood. The aim of this study was threefold: (1) to investigate if cam morphology development is associated with growth plate status; (2) to examine whether cam morphology continues to develop after growth plate closure; and (3) to qualitatively describe cam morphology development over 5-year follow-up. Academy male football players (n=49) participated in this prospective 5-year follow-up study (baseline 12-19 years old). Anteroposterior and frog-leg lateral views were obtained at baseline (142 hips), 2.5-year (126 hips) and 5-year follow-up (98 hips). Cam morphology on these time points was defined as: (A) visual scores of the anterior head-neck junction, classified as: (1) normal, (2) flattening, and (3) prominence; and (B) alpha angle ≥60°.Proximal femoral growth plates were classified as open or closed. Cam morphology development was defined as every increase in visual score and/or increase in alpha angle from <60° to ≥60°, between two time points. This resulted in 224 measurements for cam morphology development analysis. Cam morphology development was significantly associated with open growth plates based on visual score (OR: 10.03, 95% CI 3.49 to 28.84, p<0.001) and alpha angle (OR: 2.85, 95% CI 1.18 to 6.88, p=0.020). With both definitions combined, cam developed in 104 of 142 hips during follow-up. Of these 104 hips, cam developed in 86 hips (82.7%) with open growth plate and in 18 hips (17.3%) with a closed growth plate. Cam morphology developed from 12 to 13 years of age until growth plate closure around 18 years. Cam morphology of the hip is more likely to develop with an open growth plate.


#14 The Effect of Blurred Perceptual Training on the Decision Making of Skilled Football Referees
Reference: Front Psychol. 2018 Sep 27;9:1803. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01803. eCollection 2018.
Authors: van Biemen T, Koedijker J, Renden PG, Mann DL
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6170623/pdf/fpsyg-09-01803.pdf
Summary: When judging ambiguous foul situations in football (soccer), referees must attune to the kinematic characteristics inherent in genuine fouls to ensure that they can (i) recognize when a foul has taken place, and (ii) discriminate the presence of deceptive intent on the part of the tackled player. The aim of this study was to determine whether perceptual training that removes superficial visual information would improve the decision-making performance of football referees. Two groups of skilled referees judged ambiguous foul situations on video before and after a training intervention that involved adjudicating foul situations. During the training phase, participants in a blurred-footage training group watched digitally altered, blurred videos that removed superficial visual information, whilst participants in a normal-footage control group viewed the same videos without blur (i.e., with the superficial information present). We hypothesized that blurred-training would train referees to ignore superficial visual information and instead focus on the basic kinematic movements that would better reveal the true nature of the inter-personal interaction. Consistent with this idea, training with blurred footage resulted in a positive change in response accuracy from pre to post-test when compared with normal-footage training. This improvement could not be explained on the basis of changes in response time or bias, but instead reflected a change in the sensitivity to genuine fouls. These findings provide a promising indication of the potential efficacy of blurred-footage training for referees to attune to the kinematic information that characterizes a foul. Blurred training might offer an innovative means of enhancing the decision-making performance of football referees via perceptual training.