Determining and its effects on perceptual motor skills of soccer players

Objectives: The influence of detraining on the perceptual motor skills of soccer players has been theorized, but not verified empirically (Farrow & Robertson, 2017). The aim of this study was to examine detraining and its effects on the perceptual-motor skills of soccer players by employing a three-week period of no training, immediately post-season. Method: To further examine the effects that three weeks of no training would have on the perceptual-motor and perceptual-cognitive abilities of soccer players, sixteen male club university soccer players (aged 21.10±2.69 years with 12.40±3.18 years of playing experience) participated in this single-cohort longitudinal observation study. The measurements were performed in the following order with sprint testing encompassing the 40-Meter Sprint Test, aerobic performance testing by use of Intermittent Yo-Yo Test (YYIR2), perceptual-motor testing which consisted of the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test and perceptual-cognitive testing undertaken by means of Video-based assessment. Results: A three-week period of no training showed no negligible effects of detraining on sprint performance (F(2, 30) = 1.43, p = .255, ƞp2 = .09), perceptual-motor performance (F(1, 15) = 2.52, p = .133, ƞp2 = .14) nor effects of detraining regarding perceptual-cognitive aptitudes (F(2, 30)= 0.28, p= .813, ƞp 2= .01 ). Results of the study did, however, suggest the potential for increasing aerobic performance (F(1, 15) = 6.17, p = .025, ƞp2 = .29). Additionally, the study results inferred that within Video-based assessment, university club soccer players may develop a response bias due to familiarity or repeated exposure to the testing procedures. Conclusions: Results from the study fail to comprehensively show the effects of detraining on male club university soccer players in all aspects of the perceptual-skill framework, after three weeks of no training. The researcher further discusses the effects of familiarity, repeated exposure and the robustness of these perceptual-cognitive and perceptual-motor abilities as possible reasons for the results returned.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 202