Background: Soccer requires athletes to make quick decisions in dynamic environments. Several off-court technology-based interventions have been developed to train these perceptual cognitive skills. However, the evidence for training transfer using technologies to athletic performance has been sparse. Previous research found 3-dimensional multiple object tracking (3D MOT) training to cause a significant increase in quality of passing decision-making. Limitations to the research warrant further investigation of this association.
Purpose: To re-examine the effectiveness of 3D MOT on training decision-making.
Methods: Thirty-one NCAA Division III soccer players (female n = 16) were randomized to 3D MOT training or a control task. The experimental group received 10 training sessions over a span of 4 weeks.
Results: The manipulation check indicated a significant training effect in 3D MOT performance for the intervention but not the control group (F(1,29) = 21.46, p < .001, np2 = .43). Non-significant changes with small effect sizes (np2 = .01-.03) in decision-making and measures of near-transfer were found.
Conclusion: The findings challenge the association between 3D MOT training and increased quality of decision-making in soccer.
Keywords: Perceptual cognitive skills; collegiate athletes; decision making; multiple object tracking; technology.