The individual training history shapes soccer players’ ability to predict teammates’ and opponents’ moves
Abstract In sports, players constantly engage in understanding others’ actions and intentions. Previous studies have highlighted that possessing the observed action in the individual motor repertoire improves the prediction abilities of the observer. Here, we tested the extent to which players’ abil...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85130-y |
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| author | Simone Paolini Paolo Presti Emilia Scalona Gabriele Boccolini Giacomo Rizzolatti Maddalena Fabbri-Destro Pietro Avanzini |
| author_facet | Simone Paolini Paolo Presti Emilia Scalona Gabriele Boccolini Giacomo Rizzolatti Maddalena Fabbri-Destro Pietro Avanzini |
| author_sort | Simone Paolini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In sports, players constantly engage in understanding others’ actions and intentions. Previous studies have highlighted that possessing the observed action in the individual motor repertoire improves the prediction abilities of the observer. Here, we tested the extent to which players’ ability to predict soccer actions is influenced by their motor repertoire, which is modulated not only by their generic expertise but also by the specific position played on the field. To these aims, two experiments were conducted by asking players to predict the result of typical soccer actions and comparing accuracies with data concerning their soccer career. Results revealed that both general expertise and position-specific experience significantly impacted prediction performance, with the highest accuracy observed when actions aligned with players’ positional expertise. These findings highlight that the motor resonance mechanism is finely attuned to the individual’s motor repertoire, which operates as a continuum – from no experience to advanced expertise in a specific position – enabling a dynamic, experience-driven enhancement of action prediction in sports. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4904db1ec67b454480a69728bdd9d2ce |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-4904db1ec67b454480a69728bdd9d2ce2025-08-20T03:46:05ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-85130-yThe individual training history shapes soccer players’ ability to predict teammates’ and opponents’ movesSimone Paolini0Paolo Presti1Emilia Scalona2Gabriele Boccolini3Giacomo Rizzolatti4Maddalena Fabbri-Destro5Pietro Avanzini6Department of Surgery and Medicine, University of ParmaInstitute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy (CNR)Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health (DSMC), University of BresciaPhysical Performance & Sport Science Department, Atalanta Bergamasca CalcioDepartment of Surgery and Medicine, University of ParmaInstitute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy (CNR)Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy (CNR)Abstract In sports, players constantly engage in understanding others’ actions and intentions. Previous studies have highlighted that possessing the observed action in the individual motor repertoire improves the prediction abilities of the observer. Here, we tested the extent to which players’ ability to predict soccer actions is influenced by their motor repertoire, which is modulated not only by their generic expertise but also by the specific position played on the field. To these aims, two experiments were conducted by asking players to predict the result of typical soccer actions and comparing accuracies with data concerning their soccer career. Results revealed that both general expertise and position-specific experience significantly impacted prediction performance, with the highest accuracy observed when actions aligned with players’ positional expertise. These findings highlight that the motor resonance mechanism is finely attuned to the individual’s motor repertoire, which operates as a continuum – from no experience to advanced expertise in a specific position – enabling a dynamic, experience-driven enhancement of action prediction in sports.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85130-ySportsAction predictionMirror mechanismMotor repertoireMotor skillsMotor resonance |
| spellingShingle | Simone Paolini Paolo Presti Emilia Scalona Gabriele Boccolini Giacomo Rizzolatti Maddalena Fabbri-Destro Pietro Avanzini The individual training history shapes soccer players’ ability to predict teammates’ and opponents’ moves Scientific Reports Sports Action prediction Mirror mechanism Motor repertoire Motor skills Motor resonance |
| title | The individual training history shapes soccer players’ ability to predict teammates’ and opponents’ moves |
| title_full | The individual training history shapes soccer players’ ability to predict teammates’ and opponents’ moves |
| title_fullStr | The individual training history shapes soccer players’ ability to predict teammates’ and opponents’ moves |
| title_full_unstemmed | The individual training history shapes soccer players’ ability to predict teammates’ and opponents’ moves |
| title_short | The individual training history shapes soccer players’ ability to predict teammates’ and opponents’ moves |
| title_sort | individual training history shapes soccer players ability to predict teammates and opponents moves |
| topic | Sports Action prediction Mirror mechanism Motor repertoire Motor skills Motor resonance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85130-y |
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