SynthesisFrontiers in psychology2024
Effects of football training on cognitive performance in children and adolescents: a meta-analytic review.
Synthesis in Frontiers in psychology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- Component-Specific Advantages in Visual Attention Across Experience Groups: A UFOV Study.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- The Impact of Upward Social Comparison on Smartphone Addiction Among Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Football Participation.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Effects of the 11 for Health program on physical performance and executive functions in schoolchildren.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Association between football training experience and attentional networks in boys aged 7-11 years: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Psychosocial correlates of children's football participation: a psychological network analysis of parental support, stereotypes, and dualistic passions.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Effects of virtual reality-based cognitive and technical drills on scanning and passing performance in youth football players: a randomized controlled study.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2025Article
- Effects of aerobic exercise on memory functions and serum levels of BDNF and TrkB in young adult and older adult male football players.Journal of exercise science and fitness · 2025Article
- The role of cerebellar-cortical connectivity in modulating attentional abilities: insight from football athletes.Behavioral and brain functions : BBF · 2025Article
- Promoting effects of campus football activities on the enhancement of adolescents' psychological qualities and the underlying mechanisms.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- The ACDSi 2023-24 study protocol: tracking 50 years of physical fitness trends and their determinants in Slovenian children and youth.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- The impact of badminton participation on attention control in college students: the mediating role of flow experience.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- The effect of 12 weeks of basic soccer training on violence tendency, psychological resilience, social anxiety in 12-14 years old children.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: The cognitive development of children and adolescents is crucial for their academic success and overall well-being. Physical activity has been linked to improved cognitive performance, but the specific effects of football training on cognitive function in this population remain unclear. This meta-analytic review aimed to comprehensively evaluate the impact of football training on cognitive performance in children and adolescents. Methods: Literature was searched through PubMed, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Embase, and Web of Science. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or crossover designs assessing cognitive performance following football training interventions. Outcome measures included attention, inhibitory control, and working memory. Data synthesis and meta-analysis were performed to determine the overall effect sizes. Results: Twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis, comprising 1,574 children and 94 adolescents. Football training demonstrated moderate, statistically significant effects on attention ( Conclusion: Football training holds promise for enhancing cognitive function in children and adolescents, particularly in attention, inhibitory control, and working memory. Theoretical frameworks emphasizing environmental enrichment, cardiovascular fitness, and cognitive component skills help elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Future research should explore how football training compares to other sports and assess whether integrative drills that combine cognitive elements with skill practice offer greater cognitive benefits than skill training alone. These insights support the inclusion of football in educational programs to foster cognitive development.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.