This study aimed to review the existing perceptual-cognitive research and outline the relevance of NeuroTracker for the performance assessment and enhancement of competitive soccer abilities.

What Was Studied

Several papers published on NeuroTracker were reviewed, including ‘Perceptual-Cognitive Training of Athletes’, ‘3D-Multiple Object Tracking task performance improves passing decision-making accuracy in soccer players’, ‘Visual tracking speed is related to Basketball-specific measures of performance in NBA players’, and ‘Enhancing Cognitive Function Using Perceptual-Cognitive Training’.

What Was Found

The combined existing research provides significant evidence for the usefulness of perceptual-cognitive training to assess and enhance soccer abilities. Cognitive abilities are a significant feature of athletic excellence, and elite soccer players differ in their superior perceptual abilities in comparison to amateur players. NeuroTracker training has been found to improve high-level cognitive abilities known to be central factors in predicting soccer performance. Specifically, research has demonstrated that after just 3 hours of 3D multiple object tracking training, soccer players’ experienced a dramatic reduction in passing errors, from an error rate of 47%, down to just 28%. 

Takeaways

Considering the accessibility and practical nature of this training approach, NeuroTracker is deemed to be a role model tool for improving soccer performance, providing rare evidence of far transfer in this domain.

‍

Reference: Jocelyn Faubert and Lee Sidebottom ‘Cognitive Enhancement of Football Performance’ DFB Academy, 2022.

Looking for more information on NeuroTracker research? Feel free to contact us.