Influence of Exercise Intensity on the Decision-Making Performance of Experienced and Inexperienced Soccer Players
in Journal of Sport and Exercise PsychologyClick name to view affiliation
The aim of this study was to examine the decision-making performance of experienced and inexperienced soccer players at four exercise intensities (rest, 40%, 60%, and 80% maximal aerobic power). The decision-making performance of inexperienced players was expected to demonstrate an inverted-U shape with increasing levels of exercise. For the experienced players, decision making was predicted to show no change in performance with increased exercise intensity. Thirty-two adult soccer players (16 experienced, 16 inexperienced) were asked to answer seven decision-making questions as quickly and accurately as possible for each exercise intensity. Results indicated that exercise does not affect the accuracy of decision making; however, the speed of decision making for experienced and inexperienced players improved with increased exercise intensity. These results suggest that physiologically induced arousal only affects speed of decision making.
Fontana is now with the Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services Department, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA; Mazzardo and Gallagher are with the Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; Mokgothu is with the Department of Physical Education, Health, and Recreation, University of Botswana, Botswana; Furtado Jr. is with the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Studies, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL.
© 2023 Human Kinetics