The role of football video games in boosting cognitive abilities critical to football performance
Background and Aim: Football requires rapid decision-making and quick reaction times, crucial cognitive abilities that traditionally develop through physical training. This study explores whether football video games, which simulate real game scenarios, can enhance these cognitive abilities among c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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FEADEF
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación |
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| Online Access: | https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/retos/article/view/109761 |
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| author | Sanjaykumar Swamynathan Baby Salini Karthikeyan Udaichi Ponnusamy Yoga Lakshmi Yuliya Kalmykova Joseph Lobo Edi Setiawan |
| author_facet | Sanjaykumar Swamynathan Baby Salini Karthikeyan Udaichi Ponnusamy Yoga Lakshmi Yuliya Kalmykova Joseph Lobo Edi Setiawan |
| author_sort | Sanjaykumar Swamynathan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background and Aim: Football requires rapid decision-making and quick reaction times, crucial cognitive abilities that traditionally develop through physical training. This study explores whether football video games, which simulate real game scenarios, can enhance these cognitive abilities among college-level male football players. Materials and Methods: The study involved 51 football players from SRM Group of Institutions, divided into three groups: regular video game players (Group A), occasional players (Group B), and non-players (Group C). A mixed-methods approach was used, combining quantitative cognitive abilities tests (decision-making, reaction time, situational awareness). The video game used in the study was eFootball 2024 with participants engaging in gameplay over a period of 6 weeks. Tests were conducted before and after a set period of video game engagement. Data were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation. Results: Significant improvements were observed in Group A across all cognitive abilities tested. Decision-making showed notable group and time effects (F (2, 48) = 5.76, p = 0.005, η² = 0.17; F (1, 48) = 12.54, p < 0.001, η² = 0.25), with interaction effects indicating substantial enhancements over time (F (2, 48) = 3.45, p = 0.035, η² = 0.08). Reaction time and situational awareness followed similar patterns, with significant group, time, and interaction effects. Correlation analysis revealed strong interrelations between the cognitive abilities, indicating that improvements in one area positively influenced others. Conclusion: Regular engagement with football video games significantly enhances cognitive abilities essential for football performance. These findings suggest that integrating video games into training programs could complement traditional methods, offering a valuable tool for cognitive development in sports.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-42409c87e9f14ff8a10065c31c15d829 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1579-1726 1988-2041 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | FEADEF |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación |
| spelling | doaj-art-42409c87e9f14ff8a10065c31c15d8292025-08-20T02:35:12ZengFEADEFRetos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación1579-17261988-20412024-11-016210.47197/retos.v62.109761The role of football video games in boosting cognitive abilities critical to football performanceSanjaykumar Swamynathan0Baby Salini1Karthikeyan Udaichi2Ponnusamy Yoga Lakshmi 3Yuliya Kalmykova4Joseph Lobo5Edi Setiawan6SRM Institute of Science and Technology, IndiaDepartment of Physical Education, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Kerala, IndiaSRM Institute of Science and Technology, IndiaSRM Institute of Science and Technology, IndiaDepartment of Propaedeutics of Internal Medicine and Physical Rehabilitation, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, UkraineCollege of Sports Exercise and Recreation, Bulacan State University, Bulacan, PhilippinesFaculty of Teacher Training and Education, Department of Physical Education, Health and Recreation, Universitas Suryakancana, Cianjur, Indonesia. Background and Aim: Football requires rapid decision-making and quick reaction times, crucial cognitive abilities that traditionally develop through physical training. This study explores whether football video games, which simulate real game scenarios, can enhance these cognitive abilities among college-level male football players. Materials and Methods: The study involved 51 football players from SRM Group of Institutions, divided into three groups: regular video game players (Group A), occasional players (Group B), and non-players (Group C). A mixed-methods approach was used, combining quantitative cognitive abilities tests (decision-making, reaction time, situational awareness). The video game used in the study was eFootball 2024 with participants engaging in gameplay over a period of 6 weeks. Tests were conducted before and after a set period of video game engagement. Data were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation. Results: Significant improvements were observed in Group A across all cognitive abilities tested. Decision-making showed notable group and time effects (F (2, 48) = 5.76, p = 0.005, η² = 0.17; F (1, 48) = 12.54, p < 0.001, η² = 0.25), with interaction effects indicating substantial enhancements over time (F (2, 48) = 3.45, p = 0.035, η² = 0.08). Reaction time and situational awareness followed similar patterns, with significant group, time, and interaction effects. Correlation analysis revealed strong interrelations between the cognitive abilities, indicating that improvements in one area positively influenced others. Conclusion: Regular engagement with football video games significantly enhances cognitive abilities essential for football performance. These findings suggest that integrating video games into training programs could complement traditional methods, offering a valuable tool for cognitive development in sports. https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/retos/article/view/109761Footballcognitive skillsvideo gamestrainingmixed-design |
| spellingShingle | Sanjaykumar Swamynathan Baby Salini Karthikeyan Udaichi Ponnusamy Yoga Lakshmi Yuliya Kalmykova Joseph Lobo Edi Setiawan The role of football video games in boosting cognitive abilities critical to football performance Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación Football cognitive skills video games training mixed-design |
| title | The role of football video games in boosting cognitive abilities critical to football performance |
| title_full | The role of football video games in boosting cognitive abilities critical to football performance |
| title_fullStr | The role of football video games in boosting cognitive abilities critical to football performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of football video games in boosting cognitive abilities critical to football performance |
| title_short | The role of football video games in boosting cognitive abilities critical to football performance |
| title_sort | role of football video games in boosting cognitive abilities critical to football performance |
| topic | Football cognitive skills video games training mixed-design |
| url | https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/retos/article/view/109761 |
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