Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under CC BY-NC 4.0 license
Authors
University of Tehran
Abstract
Skillful performance in soccer requires not only sound techniques but also quick
and accurate decision making. These decisions are usually made in various
intensities of practice and performance. The main aim of this study was to
investigate the effect of different levels of arousal and training intensity on decision
making (speed and accuracy) of expert female soccer players. For this purpose, 16
expert female soccer players (mean age 22.4±3.8 yr) with 8 or more years of
competitive experience were voluntarily selected from Tehran women's premier
league. Soccer related photographs on a computer monitor were used to evaluate
the decision making task; participants had to decide which action they would
undertake (shoot, pass, dribble). Three different levels of arousal (low: with no
spectators, medium: with silent spectators and high: with cheering spectators) in
three different levels of intensity (resting, 40% of HRmax, 80% of HRmax) were
designed. To measure the accuracy and speed of decision making, parametric
method of MANOVA, 3(training intensity levels) in 3 (arousal levels), was used. To
totally compare the groups, one-way analysis of variance, ANOVA with repeated
measures and Tukey post hoc test were used at α=95%. The results showed no
significant difference in the speed of decision making among different arousal
levels (P>0.05) while a significant difference was observed in the accuracy of
decision making among different arousal levels (P˂0.05). The speed of decision
making improved in the low and medium arousal levels through an increase in
training intensity while no significant difference was observed in the speed of
decision making in high arousal level among different intensity levels (P>0.05).
Furthermore, the accuracy of decision making showed no significant difference in
low and high arousal levels among different intensity levels (P>0.05). The
accuracy of decision making improved in low arousal level through an increase in
training intensity. These finding showed that training intensity and arousal
separately influenced each decision making component.
Keywords
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