Numerical Superiority and Inferiority Compared With Conventional Training on PTK and Executive Functions in Soccer

Effects of a Numerical Superiority and Numerical Inferiority Tactical Training Program Compared With Conventional Training on Procedural Tactical Knowledge and Executive Functions in Soccer Players

There is a great need to establish reliable evaluation and intervention protocols to improve the tactical component, decision making (DM) and procedural tactical knowledge (PTK) in soccer. Objectives: to determine the effects of a 12-week follow up numerical superiority and numerical inferiority tactical training program on PTK, which will be evaluated by calculating offensive, defensive and global effectiveness indexes (EI) of 24 amateur male soccer players, as well as the effect on their executive functions. Method: randomized controlled trial, with two groups in parallel, experimental group (EG) and control group (CG), with different measurements over time (pretest, intermediate test 1, intermediate test 2 and posttest).

Program characteristics: training frequency 5 times/week, 1 competition, frequency of stimulation of small side games (SSGs) and technical-tactical actions (ATT) of numerical superiority and inferiority 2 times/week, specific training time 30 to 42 minutes/session. The PTK will be evaluated through the Football Competence Observation System (FOCOS). Data analysis: Shapiro-Wilk will be applied and according to the results, the data will be summarized with means and standard deviation or with medians and interquartile ranges. A repeated measures design will be performed using ANOVA and MANOVA will also be performed. In addition, the assumption of homogeneity of the variances will be evaluated based on the Levene statistics. For executive functions, intragroup analysis will be performed using dependent Student's t-test or Wilcoxon. For intergroup analysis, t student for independent samples or U Mann Withney will be applied. Confidence intervals (CI95) and effect sizes for two tails will be reported, with an alpha (α) set at 0.05 and statistical power of 0.8 (1-β). Statistical significance (p≤0.05). SPSS version 27 and R version 4.0 will be used. Ethical aspects: the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki (2013) and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (resolution 8430/1993) will be followed, this research is of minimal risk.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Soccer players belonging to a soccer club.
• Who play the role of field players (all except goalkeepers).
• Who compete in the First B category of the Antioquia Soccer League in the 2023 season.
• Players between 17 and 26 years of age.
• Players with at least six months of experience in federated soccer.
• Players who do not present cognitive disorders that hinder learning, which can be identified through monitoring by coaches and/or tests conducted by the Neuropsychology staff.
• They must be affiliated to the contributory or subsidized health system.
• They must agree to participate in the study after knowing and signing the informed consent or assent, as appropriate.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Players with musculoskeletal disorders at the time of sample selection.
• Players recovering from injury.