Effects of Training Programs on Decision-Making in Youth Team Sports Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Ana Filipa Silva; Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo; Hugo Sarmento; José Afonso; Filipe Manuel Clemente

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.663867

Effects of Training Programs on Decision-Making in Youth Team Sports Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Front Psychol. 2021 May 31:12:663867. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.663867. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Ana Filipa Silva^{1

2}, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo^{3

4}, Hugo Sarmento⁵, José Afonso⁶, Filipe Manuel Clemente^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ N2i, Polytechnic Institute of Maia, Maia, Portugal.
² The Research Centre in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal.
³ Human Performance Laboratory, Quality of Life and Wellness Research Group, Department of Physical Activity Sciences, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile.
⁴ Centro de Investigación en Fisiología del Ejercicio, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.
⁵ University of Coimbra, Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Coimbra, Portugal.
⁶ Centre for Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
⁷ Escola Superior Desporto e Lazer, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun'Álvares, Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
⁸ Instituto de Telecomunicações, Delegação da Covilhã, Lisbon, Portugal.

Abstract

Background: The use of dedicated training programs for improving decision-making (DM) in team sports players has grown in the last several years. Approaches such as imagery training, video-based training, or game-based drills are some of the interventions used in youth players in order to improve DM. However, no systematic reviews or meta-analyses have been conducted to summarize the main evidence regarding the effects of these programs on the players and identify the magnitude of the effects compared to control groups.

Objective: This systematic review (with meta-analysis) was conducted to assess the effects of training programs on the DM of youth team sports players.

Data sources: The data sources utilized were PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science.

Study eligibility criteria: The criteria included the following: (i) youth (≤ 18 years old) team sports players with no restriction on sex or competitive level; (ii) players subjected to training programs to develop DM; (iii) control groups; (iv) pre-post outcomes related to tactical behavior, technical execution, reaction, and decision time; and (v) controlled trials.

Results: The database search initially identified 2497 titles. From these, six articles were eligible for the systematic review and meta-analysis. The results showed a significant beneficial effect of DM interventions on tactical behavior (ES = 1.12; p = 0.035; I ² = 80.0%; Egger's test p = 0.066), whereas no significant effect of DM interventions on technical execution was found (ES = 0.74; p = 0.180; I ² = 69.1%; Egger's test p = 0.873).

Conclusion: The DM interventions were significantly effective in improving tactical behavior in youth team sports players independently from the number of sessions to which players were exposed. In addition, DM interventions were significantly effective in improving technical execution. However, the results should be carefully interpreted due to the heterogeneity of the articles' overall methodological quality. Future DM interventions should consider using combined approaches that allow players to develop both tactical behavior and technical execution.

Keywords: decision-making; motor learning; motor skill; psychomotor performance; youth sports.

Publication types

Review